Graduate Data Scientist
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Hatfield (Blended working – 3 days in the office)
Working hours per week: 40 hours
Level: Entry Level – Graduate
Starting Salary: £32,000
Application closing date: Sunday 9th November 2025
To read more about Ocado Retail and our Graduate schemes, visit our Careers Page!
About Us
Our mission is to deliver joy in every shop, through unbeatable choice, unrivalled service, and reassuringly good value.
We’re Ocado Retail, a market-leading, joint venture between Ocado Group and M&S and the world’s largest dedicated online supermarket ocado.com. Not only is Ocado.com the only place to shop a full range of M&S food online, it’s also the home to the widest online supermarket range in the UK and champion of small, independent brands. We’re also the brains behind Zoom by Ocado, our same-day grocery delivery service.
About the team and the role
Data is core to our decision making, and we have one of the richest datasets in the industry. The Data Science team develops models which turn our data into actionable insights. It is our mission to leverage data to give the best value and experience to our customers and suppliers whilst increasing profitability and growth for Ocado Retail.
The Data Science team is responsible for understanding the complexities in the data, generating appropriate models to answer business questions, and delivering the outputs of these models to stakeholders in diverse areas of the business . It is our responsibility to work across functions to productionise these models so they are available to the right people, any time they need them. This could be in the form of a data table with the outputs of the model, or developing an interface to allow users to interact with the data in a way that allows them to leverage models for their specific needs.
Our remit is to apply statistics, machine learning and artificial intelligence to our data at scale, and to do this we use Python, SQL, and the Google Cloud Platform (GCP). We are cross-functional by design, working with stakeholders across the business with varying degrees of technical expertise, meaning communicating complex ideas is core to the success of the Data Science team.
What you’ll do
This scheme is about learning how we apply data science in Ocado Retail. The majority of your time will be spent in the Data Science team, owning projects from start to finish with responsibility for managing stakeholders and delivery of data science solutions with support from the wider team. This will allow you to continue to develop your Python and SQL skills to answer business questions. There will be opportunities to rotate into other areas of the business and explore analytics, insight and data engineering with Ocado Retail.
You will be given support and guidance from the Data Science team in scoping out data science projects, developing novel solutions and delivering these to key stakeholders. A typical project involves researching a business question within the context of scientific literature, identifying relevant data sources, developing models that provide an answer to the question, and delivering this to our internal stakeholders. Throughout this process there is clear communication of progress of the project to the wider team, alongside our stakeholders.
You will be taught our coding standards, and will be producing production-ready code by the end of the programme. At the end of the programme you will have a rounded knowledge base of how data is used in the organisation, and how to apply statistical approaches to improve our service for customers and suppliers.
Placements in other teams will be aimed at broadening your awareness of what goes into data driven decision making. They may involve:
- Working in an analyst team within insight for 6 months in either Marketing, Category, Operations, Forecasting, Customer Research, Web Merchandising, or Trading (Range, Pricing, and Promotions)
- Delivery of key analytic projects for the designated team and the wider business
- Build relationships with analyst colleagues and understand different data needs throughout the business
- Working with Data Engineering for an expanded understanding of how data is processed, prepared and used in the wider business
- In addition to your core scheme, you will have the opportunity for cross-functional rotations to gain broader business exposure outside of your primary discipline
Throughout the scheme you will be discussing your preferences for how to develop your data science skills to match your needs and the needs of the business. During the last six months of the scheme you will be encouraged to apply for permanent roles within Ocado Retail.
Who you are
- Have a curious mind and a passion for learning new methods of problem solving
- Have a methodical approach to explore every angle of a problem to be certain it’s completely solved
- Have strong logical reasoning to unpick sometimes complex code to find the source of an issue
- Experience with Python and SQL would be beneficial
- Have knowledge of statistical concepts and their applications would be beneficial
- Have great communication skills with a passion for data storytelling
What You Need To Apply
- CV & Cover Letter – Why Ocado Retail? Why this scheme? What do you hope to achieve/gain?
- A 2:1 degree in a STEM field or field with significant data usage from an accredited UK University
- The legal right to work in the United Kingdom upon scheme commencement and duration of the scheme
In the spirit of innovation, we welcome you to use AI tools in your application, just as we use them in our own business at Ocado Retail. However, as you leverage this technology, please don't lose sight of the most important element: your unique self. Your experiences, passions, and personality are what truly set you apart. Ensure that your application still authentically conveys who you are and why you're a great fit for us.
When will you hear from us?
We love that we get loads of amazing applications for our graduate schemes. To recognise that, we aim to keep you informed throughout the process.
To start with, we’ll take a look through each application and whether successful or not, we’ll let you know. Applications will close on Sunday 9th November 2025. Our aim is to be in touch with anyone who’s applied within 2 weeks of that date.
After that, we’ll keep you informed between each stage. Given how many great applications we get, it can take some time, so please bear with us in between updates.
We treat all applications respectfully and fairly so unfortunately, if you miss the closing date we won't be able to make exceptions to extend stages. This wouldn't be fair to those candidates who have completed them!
How will we contact you?
Email, so make sure you’ve added careers@ocadoretail.com to your safe senders.
Our Learning & Development Promise
There are great opportunities to grow careers within our high-performing and innovative business. These range from deepening your experience and expertise to potentially taking on management responsibility or even pivoting your career to do something completely different.
Our career management principles exist to help the realisation of career ambitions, whatever they might be.
Driven by you
You are in the driving seat of your career. We all have a responsibility to do the things that can help move our careers forward. That could mean completing some learning, using our career stories to understand how your colleagues have got to where they are today, or applying for a new role.
Supported by your manager
You should feel that you can have open and productive conversations with your manager about your career and development. They are there to coach you, act as a mentor, signpost opportunities and be an advocate for you within the business.
Backed by ORL
We are committed to ensuring that the right tools are there for you. Our learning system ‘Walnut’ is your one-stop shop for all your learning needs.
What’s in it for you
By joining Ocado Retail you’ll have the chance to experience life at the world’s largest online retailer, work with an amazing bunch of people who challenge what’s possible each day, and grow your skills and career in online retail.
If that’s not enough to tempt you, you’ll also get access to loads of great benefits to sweeten the deal. Here’s a taste of what we offer:
Health & Wellbeing: Private medical insurance with the option to add your family, Digital GP appointments, market-leading family policies, mental health support, discounted gym memberships, dental insurance, and more.
Spend & Save: Annual bonus scheme split between personal and business objectives, recognition with reward platform, up to 7% matched pension contributions, 15% Ocado discount, 20% M&S discount, free breakfast every day in the office, electric vehicle leasing scheme and free shuttle bus from Hatfield station to the office.
Never miss the moments that matter: Blended/Hybrid working, 26 days holiday plus 8 flexible bank holidays, options to buy an extra holiday, 2 weeks work from anywhere, and lifestyle break opportunities.
Everyone’s welcome
We’re an equal opportunities employer, which means that we make sure all potential colleagues are treated fairly and equally. We want to ensure everyone has a fair chance to apply; if you need this job description in an alternative format (e.g., larger print, different document type, etc.), please reach out to us at careers@ocadoretail.com and we'll be happy to assist you, and if you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know on the application form.