Data Scientist

• You will have a genuine enthusiasm for using data science and AI to improve ad regulation in the UK
• You will hold or will shortly receive your results for a degree in a subject with a significant mathematical, statistical or software development component.
• You will have the ability to write high-quality Python code
• You will be able to apply statistical/machine learning techniques, and have an understanding of how they work and their limitations
• You will have the ability to creatively solve complex problems, matching appropriate technical solutions to real-world challenges in regulating online advertising
• You will be able to communicate clearly with non-technical coworkers, understanding the challenges they face and explaining your work
• You’ll be impact focused, prioritising work and approaches that deliver real value

We are committed to building a workforce that reflects the full diversity of the UK population. We believe that varied perspectives and experiences strengthen our organisation and help us deliver our work more effectively.

The ASA is the UK’s regulator of advertising across all media, including online. Our work includes taking proactive action against misleading, harmful, offensive or otherwise irresponsible ads and acting on complaints. In short, we make sure ads are legal, decent, honest and truthful.

In this role you will join our Data Science team and work on our world-leading Active Ad Monitoring system, which uses AI to proactively monitor online advertising. In 2025 the system captured and processed 60 million ads across social media, search and programmatic display. The ASA uses this intelligence to help regulate ads across high-priority topics like injectable weight-loss medications, green claims companies make to consumers, disclosure of influencer marketing and many more.

You will be analysing the large volumes of ads the Active Ad Monitoring system captures, providing intelligence that helps teams across the ASA tackle real-world issues in online advertising. You will work primarily in Python, making extensive use of AI models to extract meaning from text, images and videos, and turning unstructured data into actionable intelligence. You will also have a role in helping understand how AI can help accelerate processes across the ASA.

Our team mission is to protect UK consumers from adverts that are misleading, cause harm and target those within our society that are the most vulnerable. Working as part of our small agile team you will have the opportunity to own your work end-to-end, seeing directly how the work you do helps protect UK consumers.