Senior Data Scientist

Please note this role requires you to pass Security Check clearance. Please click on the link for details.

We're recruiting for Senior Data Scientists here at Justice Digital, Data and Science to be part of our warm and collaborative Data Scientist team.

This role aligns against Data Scientist from the Government Digital and Data Framework

These roles sit within Justice Data which exists to ensure that high quality data, and algorithms and tools built on that data, are available, trusted, and effectively used to improve decision making across the justice system. It plays a critical enabling role in delivering the department's strategic, operational, and transformation priorities by turning complex and fragmented data into meaningful insight and practical tools.

The Data Science community at MoJ has around 80 members of staff providing data science support across a diverse and exciting agenda. We create a culture in which people are empowered by data and information to make better decisions using cutting edge tools and put evidence at the heart of the justice system.

We have a track record of delivering services to front line staff using wide ranging data science techniques, including the award-winning safety diagnostic tool, which helps our staff tackle violence in prisons and the public-facing Criminal justice system (CJS) delivery data dashboard. We also created Splink, used across the public sector, private sector, and academia. We regularly deliver insights that directly influence corporate, operational and policy decisions. Our projects span the data science spectrum including machine learning, natural language processing, large language models, traditional statistics, and operational research techniques., Senior Data Scientist in Risk Assessment Data Science & AI: The main programme of work entails developing, monitoring and supporting the suite of Actuarial Risk Assessment Instruments (ARAIs), which estimate the probability of various types of reoffending. Current ARAI projects range from analysing the prediction of Violence Against Women and Girls to improving the operational understanding of models using new explainability techniques. As a member of the team, you would help streamline the process for creating, updating and deploying these products, work with Digital and other leads to bring in new data sources, address HMPPS requirements such as modelling demand for new offender services and oversee other team projects to improve our understanding of offender risk using predictive modelling., * Apply appropriate data science tools to build products to robust standards

• Future-proof work with documentation, model monitoring, and re-assessment schedules
• Work collaboratively with other data scientists using version control and proportionate dev-ops practices.
• Communicate results and possibilities to a variety of stakeholders.
• Help the team keep up to date with the wider data science landscape and emerging technologies.
• Contribute to the MoJ Data Science Community making it an inclusive and vibrant place to work.
• Contribute to the strategy and direction of technical projects.
• Coach junior data scientists, improving their technical skills and independence.

If this feels like an exciting challenge, something you are enthusiastic about, and want to join our team please read on and apply!, Candidates who successfully meet the required standard will be invited to attend a technical assessment and panel interview, both of which will take place on the same day at our Leeds office on 16th & 17th June.

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements - Experience, Technical and the following Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Appointments are made strictly in merit order. In the event that two or more candidates receive identical interview scores, the experience of applying data science techniques (e.g. machine learning, language models, and traditional statistical models) will be applied as the primary lead criterion to determine the final merit order., Please review our Terms and Conditions which set out how we recruit and provide further information related to the role and salary arrangements.

Do you have experience in SQL?, Essential

• Experience of applying data science techniques (e.g. machine learning, language models, and traditional statistical models)
• A foundation in probability and statistics, and an interest in how models work.
• Experience in writing high-quality code in Python (or significant experience with other programming languages and ability to learn Python quickly)
• Data derivation/manipulation in code and/or SQL
• Ability to communicate analytical results convincingly to technical and non-technical audiences
• Able to identify opportunities and applicability of data science and take initiative in project development.

Willingness to be assessed against the requirements for SC clearance, * Experience of applying data science techniques (e.g. machine learning, language models, and traditional statistical models)

• A foundation in probability and statistics, and an interest in how models work.
• Experience in writing high-quality code in Python (or significant experience with other programming languages and ability to learn Python quickly)
• Data derivation/manipulation in code and/or SQL, * Experience of applying data science techniques (e.g. machine learning, language models, and traditional statistical models) A foundation in probability and statistics, and an interest in how models work.

You'll receive a range of excellent benefits when you join our department, including:

• A generous employer pension contribution of 28.97% through the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
• 25 days of annual leave, (increasing to 30 days once you have reached 5 years of service), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King's birthday.
• Flexible working arrangements including hybrid working, working part time or compressed hours. Designed to support a positive worklife balance.
• Employees are allocated 10% of their working time for personal and professional development.
• A £1k per person learning budget is in place to support all our people, with access to best-in-class conferences and seminars, accreditation with professional bodies, fully funded vocational programmes and e-learning platforms
• Compassionate maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave policies, with up to 26 weeks leave at full pay, 13 weeks with partial pay, and 13 weeks further leave. And maternity support/paternity leave at full pay for 2 weeks, too!

You can find more details of the Benefits we offer here. To help picture your life at MoJ Justice Digital, Data and Science please take a look at our blog., Base salary for this role is from £42,914 to £46,182 (which may include an allowance of up to £9424)

• New entrants to the Civil Service joining the MoJ are expected to start at the minimum of the pay band.
• Existing Civil Servants moving on a level transfer will retain their current base salary or move to the minimum of the pay band for the role, whichever is higher.
• Existing Civil Servants who are promoted will either move to the bottom of the new grade's pay band or receive a 10% uplift, whichever provides the greater increase.
• Candidates may also be eligible for a nonpensionable Government Digital & Data Allowance of up to £9424 per year. This is a temporary allowance, reviewed annually and may be retained, amended, or withdrawn.

The final offer will reflect the skills and experience you demonstrate during the assessment process.