Head of Data Science & AI

At Marley Spoon, we create flexible, high-quality food experiences for customers across six countries. Behind every delivery is a set of data-driven systems that helps us understand customer preferences, plan more efficiently and reduce food waste.

We are looking for a Head of Data Science & AI to shape how we use data, machine learning and emerging AI technologies to improve customer experiences and decision-making across our global business.

This is a hybrid role based in Portugal, with collaboration from our Lisbon office alongside flexible remote work.

The role in a nutshell

Joining our Data Tribe, you will define the strategy and roadmap for Data Science, Machine Learning and AI across our brands and markets.

You will lead and develop a multidisciplinary team of Data Scientists and ML Engineers, creating the environment and technical direction they need to turn complex business challenges into scalable, production-ready solutions.

Your team’s work will influence how we personalize customer experiences, forecast demand, reduce food waste, measure marketing effectiveness and strengthen customer retention. You will connect long-term strategy with practical delivery, ensuring our models are reliable, responsible and tied to measurable outcomes.

What you’ll bring

You are an experienced Data Science leader who can move comfortably between strategy, people leadership and technical decision-making. You know how to create direction for a team without becoming disconnected from the models, platforms and production challenges behind the work.

You care not only about technical quality, but about whether Data Science changes a decision, improves a customer experience or delivers a measurable business outcome.

You will also bring:

• 8+ years of experience in Data Science, including at least 3 years leading teams and delivering production machine learning systems.

• Strong expertise in machine learning, statistical modelling, natural language processing, time-series forecasting and recommender systems.

• Strong proficiency in Python and SQL, with experience using frameworks such as scikit-learn, XGBoost and PyTorch.

• Experience developing and operating scalable production models using orchestration platforms and MLOps practices.

• Experience with modern data and analytics platforms such as Snowflake and Looker, or comparable technologies.

• Strong knowledge of experimentation, including A/B testing and multivariate testing.

• Proven experience building, mentoring and developing high-performing teams of Data Scientists and ML Engineers.

• The ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear recommendations for senior and non-technical stakeholders.

• Strong business judgment and a record of connecting technical initiatives to measurable outcomes.

• Experience working in Agile, cross-functional product and engineering environments.

• A pragmatic approach to responsible AI, model governance and emerging technologies, including large language models and generative AI.

Experience in subscription, e-commerce, food-tech or consumer-product environments would be valuable, particularly where personalization, customer lifecycle modelling or operational forecasting played an important role.

Joining us, you will…

• Define the long-term strategy and roadmap for Data Science, Machine Learning and AI, aligning investment and delivery with company priorities.

• Build, lead and mentor a high-performing team of Data Scientists and ML Engineers.

• Guide the development of recommendation and personalization models that tailor meals, recipes and content to customer preferences and behaviour.

• Lead forecasting and planning initiatives that improve demand prediction, resource allocation, logistics decisions and food waste reduction.

• Strengthen retention and marketing decision-making through churn prediction, customer lifetime value modelling, reactivation, segmentation, campaign optimization, ROI and attribution models.

• Embed experimentation into how we work through robust A/B testing and multivariate analysis.

• Evaluate and introduce large language models, generative AI and other emerging approaches when they provide practical customer or business value.

• Oversee the complete machine learning lifecycle—from development and validation to deployment, monitoring and retraining—using MLOps practices that support reliability, scalability and governance.

• Partner with Product, Engineering, Marketing and Operations to identify high-value opportunities and translate technical work into clear business outcomes.

• Select and manage external platforms, tools and partners supporting our machine learning infrastructure and Data Science capabilities.

• Champion responsible AI and strengthen data and AI literacy across the organization.

What success could look like

Within your first 6–12 months, you will have established a clear strategy and roadmap for the function, aligned around the customer and business problems where Data Science can create the greatest impact.

You will have strengthened the team’s ways of working, improved the path from experimentation to production and advanced initiatives across personalization, forecasting, retention or marketing effectiveness.

Just as importantly, you will have become a trusted partner to senior leaders and cross-functional teams—known for bringing clarity, technical depth and strong business judgment to complex decisions.

How we work

This is a hybrid role based in Portugal, combining regular in-person collaboration at our Lisbon office with flexible remote work.

We generally work within CET business hours, with flexibility. We focus on outcomes and trust people to manage their time responsibly.

What’s in it for you

• The opportunity to shape the Data Science and AI strategy of a global food-tech business.

• Meaningful technical challenges connected to personalization, customer retention, operational planning and food waste reduction.

• The chance to build and develop a multidisciplinary team with influence across the organization.

• Close collaboration with Product, Engineering, Marketing, Operations and senior leadership.

• A culture that values measurable impact, technical craft, responsible innovation and sustainable ways of working.

Benefits:

• Hybrid work policy (remote + office).

• 22 annual leave days +2 days extra days for every year of tenure (up to 6).

• 5 training days per year.

• Private health insurance provided by Tranquilidade.

• Food allowance of 7.62€/worked day under by Coverflex.

• 24/7 confidential employee assistance program.