Team Lead Data Scientist

Company Description

Lely, founded in 1948, is committed to creating a sustainable, profitable, and enjoyable future in agriculture. Driven by the challenges farmers face and the needs of cows, we develop high-quality robots and data systems that improve animal welfare, flexibility, and productivity on dairy farms. Our mission is to support sustainable food production.

For more than 30 years, we have been a global leader in the sales and service of automated systems for successive generations of dairy farmers. Every day, we inspire our colleagues to provide customers with innovative solutions and to be a reliable partner for long-term advice and support. With our state-of-the-art Lely Campus in Maassluis and a worldwide network of dedicated Lely Centers offering tailored sales and service, Lely operates in more than fifty countries.

Job Description

Imagine leading a team that uses data from more than 30,000 connected robots and farm systems worldwide to shape the future of dairy farming. As Team Lead Data Science & AI, you combine people leadership, technology and strategy to unlock the full potential of data and artificial intelligence across Lely.

 You lead a team of Data Scientists and AI specialists and are responsible for their growth, development and performance. Through coaching, people management and responsibility, you help your team excel while delivering innovative solutions that create real value for farmers. From predictive models that help improve milk quality to new AI-driven capabilities that support daily farm management, your team works on challenges that directly impact the future of agriculture.

As a family-owned company, Lely invests in long-term innovation. With only 3% of dairy farms worldwide currently robotised, the opportunities to transform the industry are enormous. Together with your team, you play a key role in determining how Data Science & AI can accelerate this transition and where Lely should invest next.

As part of the Data & AI leadership team, you work closely with business stakeholders across the organisation. You help answer questions such as:

• How can AI help farmers run their farms more efficiently and sustainably?
• Which data-driven insights create the most value for farmers and their animals?
• How can we safely scale GenAI and Agentic AI solutions across Lely and into our products?

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead, coach and develop the Data Science & AI team, including people management and HR responsibilities. Team size/scale (8 internal + 10+ external data scientists).
• Create the conditions for a high-performing team by supporting growth, knowledge sharing and technical excellence.
• Shape the Data Science & AI strategy and translate it into a clear roadmap together with Business Teams and fellow Data & AI leaders.
• Build strong partnerships with stakeholders across Lely and with external development partners.
• Increase the adoption and impact of Data Science & AI solutions throughout the organisation.
• Help define the future of AI at Lely by identifying valuable opportunities, emerging technologies and strategic investments.

Qualifications

You bring a combination of people leadership, strategic thinking and hands-on Data Science & AI expertise. You enjoy developing teams, connecting stakeholders and translating technological opportunities into business impact.

Additionally, you bring the following:

• A Master's degree in a quantitative field such as Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Econometrics or Informatics.
• Proven leadership experience, including people management and HR responsibility.
• A strong focus on coaching and developing team members.
• At least 5 years of experience in Data Science, AI and Machine Learning within a business or industrial environment.
• Hands-on experience with Data Science & AI tooling and platforms such as Python and Databricks.
• The ability to balance long-term strategic thinking with short-term delivery and results.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders.
• A solid understanding of the Data Science & AI landscape and the ability to assess opportunities, feasibility and technical direction.

Additional Information

Working at Lely means contributing to sustainable progress within one of the most innovative organizations in the Netherlands. You help make the agricultural sector more futureproof, and we ensure you have the space, resources, and support to do so.

• An international work environment that values collaboration, initiative, and diverse perspectives.
• A culture that encourages learning, experimentation, and ownership of ideas.
• Excellent employment conditions, including up to 8 weeks of vacation per year and a strong pension scheme.
• A salary range of €6,600 – €9,400 gross per month, with clear opportunities for growth within the scale.
• Full ownership of your own development, with access to a wide range of courses through the Lely Academy.
• Daily access to outstanding sports facilities at the Lely Campus: an indoor gym, outdoor padel courts, basketball and volleyball courts, table tennis, and table football. You can join Hyrox workouts or sign up for personal training and challenge your colleagues during an active break.
• Fresh coffee and tea from our own barista (with milk from our own farm) and a healthy, affordable company restaurant.

Work-life balance

• A healthy work-life balance thanks to our hybrid working policy: you work at least three days a week on Campus, with flexible hours and plenty of opportunity to spend additional time onsite (between 06:00 and 20:00).
• A free shuttle bus that takes you to and from the metro station in Maassluis, ensuring your workday starts and ends smoothly.
• And of course: we love to celebrate! Whether it’s an anniversary or the annual Christmas party. At Lely, we know how to do it. For an impression of our events, take a look at this video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WA3e0WHbxE

We are also proud that our vision and efforts have been recognized with the Rotterdam Entrepreneurs Award 2025.

Recruitment & selection agency, consultancy, and/or staffing agency?

We appreciate the interest, but we recruit all our candidates directly. We understand that as intermediaries, you want to present candidates for our great positions and contribute to our ambitions, but this is not how we have set up our recruitment process. This means that all unsolicited profiles offered on Lely vacancies will be treated as direct applications.