Head of Data Science

Head of Data Science

Full-time, Permanent

Hybrid role - based from either Bristol or London

As the Head of Data Science and Advanced Analytics, you will drive the strategic use of data and artificial intelligence to solve complex business challenges and unlock new opportunities.

In this role you will be at the forefront of transforming Dentistry at Bupa, harnessing the power of Data, Analytics and AI within a rapidly growing business. You will be a key member of the D&A (Data &Analytics) leadership team working across the Bupa Dental Care (BDC) and Market Unit Executive team to influence, inspire and to challenge how we use data ensuring solutions are impactful, ethical, scalable, and aligned with Bupa's commitment to improving health outcomes.

The role combines strategic vision with hands-on delivery—requiring the ability to shape direction while actively contributing to the development and deployment of high-impact solutions.

Responsibilities

Stakeholder Management

• Build credibility and trust across Data, Tech, and business teams within BDC and the Market Unit, communicating openly and professionally.
• Lead and mentor a team of data scientists, fostering collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with senior leaders and cross-functional teams to identify opportunities, shape roadmaps, and ensure alignment with business priorities.
• Translate complex insights into clear, actionable recommendations for key decision-makers.
• Develop strong external relationships with software vendors, research partners, and industry bodies to stay ahead of emerging Data Science and AI best practices.

Leadership

As part of the D&A Leadership Team, you'll combine strong technical expertise with authentic, people-focused leadership.

• Operate with ownership and autonomy, knowing when to involve senior stakeholders.
• Lead, coach, and inspire your team, building capability and developing future leaders.
• Take an active role in hiring top talent and shaping a high-performing data function.
• Champion innovation and collaboration across Bupa's global Data Science community, sharing knowledge and promoting best practice.
• Play a key role in defining the direction and growth of the Data Science function, helping to strengthen BDC's reputation as a forward-thinking, innovative team.

Strategy

• Shape and deliver the data science and advanced analytics strategy for Bupa Dental, ensuring it supports clinical, operational, and commercial goals.
• Drive the use of data in decision-making, promoting a data-driven culture across the business.
• Bring an external perspective — using your industry experience to introduce best practices and new ideas.
• Develop and present business cases for Data Science and AI initiatives, clearly defining measurable outcomes and value.

Technical Assurance & Delivery

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of AI and machine learning solutions that enhance customer outcomes and business performance.
• Balance strategic and hands-on delivery, ensuring rapid, iterative development while maintaining best practice in Data Science and advanced analytics.
• Oversee the AI use case pipeline, ensuring initiatives align with business goals and deliver measurable value.
• Champion scalable, cloud-native tools and ensure compliance with Bupa's Responsible AI Framework and governance standards.
• Work with diverse healthcare data types (EHRs, clinical notes, imaging) to develop ethical, high-impact solutions.
• Ensure adherence to data privacy, security, and regulatory standards (GDPR, DPA, MHRA).
• Embed MLOps and model governance best practices to ensure sustainable and responsible AI deployment.
• Define and track performance metrics to drive continuous improvement and demonstrate business impact.

Skills/Qualifications

Essential:

• Deep technical expertise in AI/ML, including hands-on experience with Python, SQL, and cloud platforms such as Azure, GCP, or Snowflake.
• Strong understanding of cloud-native ML infrastructure, MLOps practices, and scalable architecture design.
• Familiarity with model governance, lifecycle management, and responsible innovation practices.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with the ability to influence across technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience working in close proximity to business units, owning relationships and aligning AI delivery with strategic priorities.
• Curious, adaptable, and passionate about improving health outcomes through data and technology.
• Recruited and developed data teams
• Strong sense of accountability and commitment to continuous learning.
• Developed and grown Communities of practice, demonstrating the importance of the engagement and stealing with pride to create best practices and consistency

Desirable:

• Proven ability to communicate complex AI concepts and outcomes to executive leadership and influence strategic decisions
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor high-performing, cross-functional teams.
• Experience of managing a remote workforce
• Extensive experience leading the delivery of impactful AI/ML solutions in a healthcare setting.
• Experience working with multi-modal healthcare data (e.g. EHRs, clinical notes, imaging data).
• Proficiency in agile delivery environments and tools such as Azure DevOps (Boards, Repos, Pipelines).
• Passion for ethical AI, with a commitment to applying Bupa's Responsible AI Framework and ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks (e.g. GDPR, DPA, MHRA).
• Strategic thinker with a growth mindset.
• Master's degree or PhD in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Artificial Intelligence, or a related quantitative field.

Benefits

The benefits here are industry-leading, and we'll be able to tell you more about them in the process (or jump to the benefits and rewards page on our careers site for a flavour). But here's a snapshot:

• 25 days holiday, plus the option to buy more.
• Management Bonus Scheme
• Discounts in over 7,000 retailers, discounted gym membership
• Health Trust - our bespoke employee private healthcare plan, providing healthcare cover with no medical underwriting for colleagues and their families.
• Access to remote GP and nurse services, physiotherapy, and mental health support.
• MyHealthcare Allowance, an annual allowance which is redeemable against a menu of Bupa healthcare products.
• Early access to your earned wages through Wagestream.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• And many more, just ask…

If you or someone you know would be interested in working with a dynamic and expanding healthcare business, with lots of support on offer, great benefits and friendly teams, we would love to hear from you

To find out more about working with us, find us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Here you'll be welcomed. We champion diversity and we understand the importance of our people representing the communities and customers we serve. You'll find an inclusive environment where you can be yourself and where everyone is driven by the same purpose – helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world.

Bupa takes pride in being a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer and will aim to offer an interview/assessment to disabled applicants who best meet the minimum criteria for the role. We are committed to ensuring you are treated fairly during the recruitment process and offer reasonable adjustments to anyone who may benefit from accommodations to the recruitment process.

Bupa Dental Care is an equal opportunities employer.