Head of Data Science

hackajob is collaborating with loveholidays to connect them with exceptional professionals for this role.

Why Technology at loveholidays?

At loveholidays - we trailblaze together. We're on a mission to open the world to everyone, giving our customers' unlimited choice, unmatched ease and unmissable value for their next getaway. Our team is the driving force behind our role as our customers' personal holiday expert - the smart way to get away. Technology at loveholidays underpins our vision to become the global leader in packaged holidays. We drive cutting-edge innovation and technical excellence to futureproof the business. Our systems process trillions of daily holiday offers, we deploy over a thousand times a month, serving thousands of requests per second. This is where you accelerate your growth by solving complex challenges and broadening your skillset. Join us to create impact for our future in an exciting new chapter, owning your success and contributing to shared goals. We actively talk about technology and adhere to our key technology principles that have guided us this far. We are growing and have ambitious plans to expand across Europe, employing the best minds and technology to let us do this.

About The Team

Our data science team (currently six data scientists) work across the business to deploy machine learning approaches that are helping us realise our ambition of becoming the global leader in packaged holidays. The team focuses on building value for our customers, suppliers and loveholidays through deployment of advanced machine learning techniques.

The Impact You'll Have

Reporting directly to the VP of Data, you will lead the function that embeds intelligence at the heart of how we grow.

You will define and drive Data Science's contribution to core commercial outcomes; from conversion and pricing performance to acquisition efficiency and experimentation velocity. Your work will shape where we invest in Machine Learning and AI, and ensure those investments translate into measurable advantage.

You will partner with Product and Commercial leadership to identify the highest-leverage opportunities for machine learning, and lead their delivery end-to-end.

You will ensure our systems are production-grade, scalable and embedded within our engineering standards; transforming intelligence from isolated projects into durable capability.

And you will build a high-performing Data Science organisation with visible leadership depth, clear progression and develop a strong reputation for Data Science at loveholidays within the industry.

Your Day-to-day

Shape the opportunity

• Define and evolve our Data Science strategy in line with company priorities.
• Partner with Platform and Commercial leaders to identify where intelligence can unlock step-change improvements.
• Bring a clear point of view on AI investment, ML investment, experimentation evolution and long-term capability.
• Bring a clear playbook for build vs buy decisions in an evolving vendor space.

Deliver real-world impact

• Lead the development and productionisation of ML systems across search, pricing, recommendation, marketing optimisation and elsewhere.
• Drive measurable value through direct delivery and by scaling ML capability across the organisation.
• Ensure our experimentation and modelling approaches are rigorous, scalable and commercially grounded.
• Translate complex technical work into clear business insight, action and outcomes.

Build a world-class team

• Attract, develop and retain exceptional Data Scientists.
• Create an environment where embedded Data Scientists operate as proactive partners within platform teams.
• Establish clear standards for technical excellence and engineering maturity.

Operate at leadership level

• Represent Data Science in senior forums with clarity and conviction.
• Influence cross-functional decisions through evidence, credibility and strategic thinking.
• Elevate how the organisation thinks about AI, Machine Learning, Data Science and experimentation.

Your Skillset

• Proven experience leading a high impact data science function in a digital product or marketplace environment.
• Strong commercial instinct; you understand how models connect to revenue, margin and customer experience.
• Track record of building and scaling high-performing Data Science teams.
• Deep expertise in applied machine learning in production systems, including performance, scalability and reliability (e.g. DORA metrics).
• Strong Python background and comfort working across modern engineering ecosystems (our systems are written in TypeScript, Java, Golang, Rust, Python and others).
• Confident operating at senior leadership level and influencing across functions.

Desirable

• Google Cloud Platform including BigQuery & AI Platform.
• Bayesian statistics.
• Agent based simulation and reinforcement learning.

The Interview Journey

• 1st stage interview with two engineers from the team.
• Tech challenge - you can choose between a live and take home option.
• Final stage - consisting of discussions around three key areas.

Perks Of Joining Us

• Company pension contributions at 5%.
• Individualised training budget for you to learn on the job and level yourself up.
• Discounted holidays for you, your family and friends.
• 25 days of holidays per annum (plus 8 public holidays) increases by 1 day for every second year of service, up to a maximum 30 days per annum.
• Ability to buy and sell annual leave.
• Cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan and eye care vouchers.

At loveholidays, we focus on developing an inclusive culture and environment that encourages personal growth and collective success. Each individual offers unique perspectives and ideas that increase the diversity and effectiveness of our teams. And we value the insight and potential you could bring on our continued journey.