Data Scientist - Forecasting

Fantastic opportunity for a Data Scientist to join our Technology forecasting team – an impactful team with an enviable reputation and a wide influence across the Business. We are a team of 4 within the Network Business Planning function, responsible for all technological demand forecasting and network capacity management.

It is our responsibility to accurately forecast technology demand and ensure teams are adequately dimensioning the network using these forecasts. Through the ingestion of copious amounts of data, we are also experts in understanding what our customers do on the network and how their behaviour drives peak utilisation.

You will be responsible for contributing to the demand forecast, continually driving accuracy and relevance, as well as maintaining all our data pipelines and building automated reports/dashboards. 

As part of the Network Business Planning team, you will transform our reporting and analytical landscape, leveraging diverse data sources to build a robust internal data science service. Your role includes providing Data Science thought leadership, addressing complex forecasting challenges, and collaborating with Technology, Finance, and Commercial teams to ensure alignment and consistency. 

• Responsible for all data-driven aspects of the production of the quarterly service demand forecasts which includes analysis of actuals, validation of inputs from across the Business and forecast model generation on an 18-month horizon. Collaborate widely across Technology to continuously improve the accuracy/relevance of all forecasts, to facilitate accurate demand and capacity forecasting. 
• Acting as a consultant, generate actionable insight for key Business stakeholders to bring to life what our customers do and how that drives demand and capacity utilisation.
• Maintain end-to-end data pipelines to ensure robust data flow and integration across systems, and design, build, implement, and sustain reporting and forecasting automation, including the development of interactive dashboards (e.g., Tableau)
• Drive continuous improvement in data quality, insight generation, and automation by regularly reviewing and optimising data architecture. Champion best practices in data management, with a strong focus on the democratisation of data. Collaborate with, challenge, and persuade other teams to adopt efficient data practices while protecting current processes from conflicting priorities where appropriate.

• Experience in a Data Scientist role or equivalent, demonstrating expert knowledge of R, including proficiency in the Tidyverse, and SQL. While R is our primary code stack, applicants with strong Python skills will also be considered. Strong knowledge of data engineering with experience in integrating large datasets from different sources and creating, maintaining and automating data pipelines. Experience with Databricks is a plus.
• Proficiency in data visualization tools such as Tableau, PowerBI and ggplot.
• Experience of using a range of time series frameworks such as ARIMA, ETS and Prophet to forecast future demand.
• Ability to drive continuous improvements in data management, including data quality and automation, optimising architecture and collaborating widely to achieve this.
• Understanding of technical environments and how to source and model relevant data to forecast service demand KBIs. Experience of analysing, articulating and presenting actionable insight and demand forecasts, to contribute to technology and business decisions.
• Will have a keen eye for detail and be passionate about the use of data and insight to make informed decisions, solve problems and input to operational and strategic plans. Demonstrable track record of ability to influence and present at all levels and drive results.

• Competitive annual salary, car cash allowance, a performance based annual bonus & an additional 'flexible allowance' to spend on additional benefits, topping up your pension, or to be added to your salary.
• Hybrid working between your home (2-3 days a week) and our brand new Reading HQ office at Green Park (2-3 days a week)
• 28 days annual leave + 8 bank holidays + 3 personal days annually, which increases with length of service
• Private Medical Insurance, Life Assurance and Income Protection
• Free mobile phone package & unlimited sim-card
• Free on-site car parking 
• Plus lots more including well-being and learning & development benefits!

Salary range for this role start's at £59,120, and exact salary will differ by job and experience

Our people make us who we are. We’re a diverse and inclusive bunch, and it’s important you can feel you belong here. We value everybody for who they are and what they bring to the table, supporting one another as we continue to deliver for our customers.

With that in mind, if you do not ‘tick every box’ in the job advert above, there are likely other valuable attributes and skills you have that would make you a great addition for the team. So, if you feel this role is for you, then please apply! We are committed to equality in employment and growing a diverse workforce. We embrace those of any race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, marital status, family status or civil status and we want our teams to reflect this!

We are a Disability Confident Committed Employer. Need any reasonable adjustments? Let us know when you apply so we can support you throughout the interview process.

At Three we have a hybrid working arrangement in place as standard for office based employees, where employees work from a mix of office based location and working from their home in the UK to carry on their role.

Excluding retail, our core hours at Three are between 10:00 and 16:00, with operating hours between 08:00 & 18:30. This allows employees to have a start time between 08:00 and 10:00 and finish time between 16:00 and 18:30.