Principal Data Scientist

We're hiring: Principal Data Scientist | Chester (Hybrid) | £70K–£80K

Join Forge Holiday Group—the team behind Sykes Holiday Cottages, Forest Holidays, UKcaravans4hire, and Bachcare (NZ).

We're looking for a Principal Data Scientist to lead and shape the future of data science across our brands. This is a high-impact, high-visibility role for someone ready to drive machine learning at scale within a flexible hybrid model (minimum 2 days a week in our Chester HQ).

What you’ll do:

Lead design, development, and delivery of production-grade ML & AI solutions

Own our most complex, business-critical data science initiatives

Drive system-level thinking—architecture, data integration, model lifecycle

Champion MLOps practices: CI/CD, testing, monitoring, governance

Translate business strategy into technical solutions that deliver impact

Partner with Engineering, Product, and Analytics to align on goals and execution

Mentor the data science team, guiding both technical and professional growth

Champion ethical AI, explainability, and responsible innovation

What you bring:

Extensive experience delivering ML/AI solutions in production

Strong grasp of modern ML techniques (transformers, transfer learning, etc.)

Hands-on expertise with Python (e.g. Scikit-learn, PyTorch/TensorFlow) & SQL

Deep understanding of model validation, monitoring, and retraining strategies

Proven track record of leading cross-functional technical direction

Familiarity with CI/CD, MLOps tools, and cloud ML (e.g. SageMaker, GCP, Azure)

Excellent communication skills and commercial awareness

Nice to have:

Experience influencing data science strategy at org-wide level

Background in eCommerce or consumer analytics

Contributions to open source, publications, or industry communities

MSc or PhD in a quantitative field (e.g. statistics, computer science, maths)

What’s in it for you?

Bonus scheme (up to 10%), 33 days holiday & your birthday off

BCorp certified, wellbeing perks & volunteering days

Enhanced parental leave + hybrid working

Work with modern tools & shape strategic AI use across the business

Training, development, gym access & supportive leadership

Exclusive discounts on stays across our brands

We believe in Being One Team, Owning It, Communicating Honestly, and Learning, Growing, Innovating together.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds—your unique perspective matters here. Need support during the application process? Just let us know.

Ready to lead the future of data science? Click 'apply' to see the full job description and more info.

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