Data Scientist - FMCG, Distribution & Operations

Data Scientist

£400 per day | Outside IR35 | Six months | Remote, UK-based

We are working with a specialist Data Science consultancy that is looking for a Data Scientist to join a major engagement with a global FMCG business.

The role will focus on distribution and operations, using Data Science to improve areas such as logistics performance, forecasting, territory planning and operational decision-making.

This is a strong opportunity for a Data Scientist with three or more years of experience who has built solid technical foundations and is ready to take greater ownership of their work. You do not need to be the finished article, but you must be able to work independently, communicate confidently and apply Data Science to genuine business problems.

Working pattern

The role will be completed remotely from the UK. However, the end client's main stakeholders are based on the US West Coast.

Candidates must be comfortable adjusting their working hours and remaining available until approximately 7pm UK time. This will provide at least two hours of daily overlap with the US team.

The company

The consultancy specialises in solving complex commercial problems through Data Science and advanced analytics.

You will join a small, experienced delivery team supporting an established global consumer goods business. The working environment is collaborative and fast-moving, with the opportunity to contribute to how analytical models, processes and products are developed.

The consultancy places significant value on attitude and personality. They are looking for someone who is approachable, proactive and able to build trusted relationships with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

The role

You will work across the full analytical lifecycle, including:

• Working with stakeholders across Sales, Operations and Distribution to understand their challenges.

• Turning loosely defined business problems into clear analytical plans.

• Identifying, acquiring and assessing the quality of relevant data.

• Using Python, SQL and Snowflake to explore and structure large datasets.

• Building forecasting, classification, clustering, regression and optimisation models.

• Developing repeatable analytical models and pipelines rather than one-off analyses.

• Applying experimentation and causal inference methods to measure the impact of business decisions.

• Connecting analytical outputs to measurable operational and commercial outcomes.

• Presenting findings and recommendations clearly to non-technical stakeholders.

• Managing your own work and providing proactive updates on progress, risks and dependencies.

• Using tools such as Claude Code, Cursor or GitHub Copilot within a structured development workflow.

• Contributing to daily stand-ups, planning sessions, technical discussions and peer reviews.

This is not a pure modelling position. You will be expected to understand the business problem behind the analysis and explain how your work should influence real decisions.

Your skills and experience

The successful candidate will have:

• Three or more years of commercial Data Science or applied analytics experience.

• Strong Python skills, including pandas, scikit-learn and common Data Science libraries.

• Advanced SQL skills and experience working with large or varied datasets.

• Commercial experience using Snowflake.

• A good grounding in statistics, machine learning and model validation.

• Experience applying forecasting, classification, clustering, regression or optimisation in a business environment.

• Experience handling messy real-world data and making sensible decisions around data quality.

• Practical experience using AI-assisted development tools such as Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot or similar.

• Experience within FMCG, consumer goods, retail, logistics, distribution or supply chain.

• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.

• The ability to take ownership of a problem and deliver with limited supervision.

• A personable, positive and collaborative working style.

• Availability to work until approximately 7pm UK time.

Desirable experience

Experience in any of the following areas would be beneficial:

• Distribution or logistics analytics.

• Direct Store Delivery or route-to-market operations.

• Time-series forecasting.

• Mathematical optimisation or operations research.

• Vehicle routing or territory planning.

• Geospatial analytics.

• Google OR-Tools, Gurobi or SciPy.

• Streamlit, Shiny for Python or similar analytical applications.

• Consulting or embedded client delivery.

Contract details

• £400 per day.

• Outside IR35.

• Initial six-month contract.

• Remote working from the UK.

• Later working hours, with availability required until approximately 7pm UK time.

• Two-stage interview process.

How to apply

Please apply with an up-to-date CV highlighting your experience with Python, SQL, Snowflake and applied Data Science within an operational, retail, FMCG, logistics or supply-chain environment.