Data Science Manager, Advanced Analytics

Predictive analytics is central to how we decide the right messages to send to our customers that will help them with their financial needs at the moments that matter most. As a Manager, Predictive Analytics at Nationwide Building Society within our Advanced Analytics team, you’ll be responsible for creating models to predict customer needs using advanced machine learning techniques, helping us develop a uniquely personalised experience for every customer.

You will work with across a broader team within the Customer, Brand and Engagement function to help determine the underlying dynamics of our complex marketing ecosystem and use this to deliver a wide variety of sophisticated targeting models for automated campaign decisioning, models that are able to adapt and learn based on the interaction and changing needs of our customers.

With the proliferation of data, and the increased use of AI, automation and transformation is changing the way that marketing operates. In such a fast-paced environment, we are continuously looking to improve how we engage with our customers to provide value to them. We do this by being more data led and using new and innovative techniques.

At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.

For this job you'll spend at least two days per week, or if part time you'll spend 40% of your working time, at one of our offices. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works. You can also find out more about our approach to hybrid working here.

If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can.

What you’ll be doing

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Advanced Analytics, you will:

• Developing advanced machine learning models for predicting customer needs to enhance our marketing activity and deliver great customer outcomes.
• Evaluating the performance of our targeting models and finding ways to optimise their performance to improve customer experiences.
• Identifying and prioritising analytics deliverables to meet the broader team and functional goals and targets, helping teams across the function understand how Advanced Analytics can shape our approach.
• Championing the use of Data Science techniques to provide deeper insight into the risk universe.
• Be a beacon for innovation. Using tools and techniques available to help develop a suite of analytics solutions that will increase the usage of data and draw out insight.
• Working with the wider team, senior leadership team, key stakeholders, and data owners across the Society to ensure that an extensive range of data is available to Marketing and used effectively.
• Using your knowledge and expertise to enable Marketing to enhance its usage of data from across the Society and to develop and deepen colleagues’ technical and data literacy skills.

About you

We are looking for someone who is up for a challenge – tenacious, positive, passionate about analytics and data and willing to try new approaches with a learning mindset. 

As a Manager, Advanced Analytics, you will have proven experience in using data to drive tangible deliverables is important, but you’ll also be someone who displays the right values, attitude, and behaviours– not only to fit in with our highly professional and friendly team, but also to be an ambassador for our function across Nationwide. Any previous experience within a marketing function would be advantageous.

Experience of SAS, Python and other modelling software / techniques is required.

As a minimum you’ll have:

• Have a relevant qualification in a Data Science, mathematics, statistics, computer science or related field, and/or a track record which demonstrates capability in these areas.
• Have demonstratable experience with developing machine learning models using Advanced Analytics techniques to make decisions both tactically and strategically.
• Show the ability to think laterally to solve problems and evidence strong communication skills.
• Be able to demonstrate your analytical skills and industry knowledge through an understanding and interpretation of business data in a variety of areas.
• Be confident in influencing others and building professional business relationships at various levels across the Society, showing your proven negotiating skills.
• Have extensive experience of analytical software and techniques and the ability to utilise them in a commercial sense.
• Be highly proficient in advanced Excel skills with knowledge of BI tools such as Power BI or QlikSense desirable.
• Experience on leading on Data Science projects as well as people management experience.

Our Customer First behaviours are all about putting customers and members at the heart of how we work together. You can strengthen your application by showing the behaviours that resonate with you, and how you might have already demonstrated these.

• Say it straight - This is about being honest and direct with good intent and saying what needs to be said in the room. It’s also about being clear, precise, and using language that we and, importantly, our customers and members can understand.
• Push for better - This is about aiming high and constantly looking for better in how we work together and serve our customers and members.
• Get it done - This is about prioritising what will have the greatest impact, being decisive and taking accountability for delivering on the end-to-end outcome.

We know applying for jobs can sometimes feel like you’re sending an application into a black hole. We review each application individually. So, it’s a good idea to call out your most relevant experience on your application to give yourself the best chance.

The extras you’ll get

There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:

• A personal pension – if you put in 7% of your salary, we’ll top up by a further 16%
• Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year
• Life assurance worth 8x your salary
• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme
• Wellhub – Access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness.
• Access to an annual performance related bonus
• Access to training to help you develop and progress your career
• 25 days holiday, pro rata

What makes us different

Nationwide is the world’s largest building society. With over 15 million customers, we have a relationship with almost a quarter of the UK’s population. We’ve got the scale to compete with the big banks, but we’re not a bank.  

As a building society, we’re owned by our members – that’s our customers who have their current account, mortgage or savings with us. It means we can do things differently to deliver our Purpose – Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society.  

When you work at Nationwide, you can experience that difference for yourself. You’ll be part of a high-performing, purpose-driven organisation that offers rewarding career experiences and a highly competitive range of benefits to match. You’ll also be joining us at an important time as we seek to reach more and more people in the UK. We want everyone in the UK to know that they don’t have to bank with a bank. They can choose a modern mutual instead.  

What to do next

If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. You’ll need to attach your up-to-date CV and answer a few quick questions for us.

We respond to everyone, so we will be in contact shortly after the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application..

Please note that should you be successful in securing this role the job title on our internal systems will be Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager

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