Data Scientist

The Government Office for Science works at the heart of Government, ensuring policies and decisions are informed by the best scientific evidence and strategic long-term thinking. It’s an exciting time to join the organisation; we have outstanding and high-profile positions providing you an opportunity to inform and influence policy-making and the systems for use of science and engineering across government. If you are highly motivated and looking for your next career challenge, we want to hear from you.

Our mission is:

• Science advice mechanisms that are efficient, effective, speak truth to power and are embedded irreversibly in Government systems.
• Visible impact through both pro-active and demand-led science advice that is relevant, excellent, and delivered fit for purpose.

Further information can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-office-for-science

We strongly believe diversity of experience, thought, perspectives, skills, and background makes us a more innovative, welcoming Department, thus making better decisions and better delivering our objectives. We are actively seeking applications from every part of the community and particularly welcome applications from candidates of any age, background, disability, or from an ethnic minority background and any other protected characteristics. This will help us move to a workforce that reflects the people we serve to deliver better policies.

We are a friendly, inclusive team and emphasise personal development. We will ensure individuals with disabilities are provided adjustments to participate in the job application and interview process. We support your wellbeing by putting flexible working at the heart of our offer.; if successful, you will be able to discuss working arrangements with your new manager.

We maintain an internal surge capability of staff who may be called at short notice to support an activation of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). Training and support will be provided. This is an excellent opportunity to develop crisis management skills., This is an exciting data science role at the heart of UK science and technology policy.

You will join the Government Office for Science Analysis team which sits in the wider Technology and Science Insights (TSI) directorate in Government Office for Science (GO-Science). We are a multidisciplinary group of data scientists, analysts and digital professionals, focused on producing high quality, independent evidence that informs strategic decisions on science and technology policy across government.

GO-Science is led by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA), who is responsible for ensuring that excellent science advice informs decision making at the very top of government. The GCSA provides science and technology advice directly to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and GO-Science sits at the centre of cross government science, technology and engineering advice.

Our role is to provide independent, high-quality evidence to inform national science and technology strategy, ministerial advice and senior decision making across government. We analyse how emerging technologies, innovation systems and global supply chains actually function in practice, by identifying strengths, vulnerabilities, dependencies and opportunities that matter for long term national resilience, security and growth.

We work end to end: from framing complex policy problems, through rigorous quantitative analysis, to clear, decision ready insight. If you want to use data science to influence how a country understands and shapes its technological future, this is a genuinely rewarding and intellectually challenging role., A diverse and inclusive culture promotes innovation and enables us to better meet our goals as a team. We value enthusiasm, aptitude for growth, and diversity of thought and experience, along with the skills and experience outlined.

As an HEO Data Scientist, you will support delivery across a portfolio of analytical projects that explore science, technology, innovation and industrial systems. Typical responsibilities include:

Support the translation of policy questions into clear analytical tasks, working with colleagues to ensure analysis is relevant and decision focused.

Apply appropriate statistical and analytical techniques to explore complex datasets, including data cleaning, exploration, modelling and validation.

Contribute to end to end data science work, including data acquisition, exploration, modelling, interpretation and communicating results, with support from more senior colleagues where needed.

Use quantitative analysis to help understand how science, technology and industrial systems function in practice, exploring patterns of strength, risk, concentration, dependency or opportunity.

Work with multiple, imperfect data sources, helping to build and maintain analytical pipelines that support repeatable and transparent analysis.

Produce clear outputs, including written analysis and visualisations, communicating findings accurately to non technical audiences and explaining uncertainty and limitations.

Follow and contribute to good data science practice, including version control, documentation, peer review and ethical use of data.

Work collaboratively with analysts, data scientists and policy professionals, contributing to shared problem solving and quality assurance.

Manage your tasks effectively across competing priorities, seeking clarity and support when needed and delivering to agreed deadlines., Link to the technical/professional competency framework that candidates will be assessed against, for their reference: Candidates will be assessed against the technical/competency framework for the analytical profession they are a member of (or are applying for). Professional competency frameworks can be found here:

• Government Operational Research Service - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gors-professional-behaviours
• Government Statistician Group - https://analysisfunction.civilservice.gov.uk/policy-store/competency-framework-for-the-government-statistician-group-gsg/
• Government Social Research Service - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-government-social-research-competency-framework

For GSG, candidates will be tested against all three statistical strands: data analysis, acquiring data & understanding customer needs, and presenting & disseminating data effectively.

Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time., Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter, Candidates who meet the minimum benchmark may be placed on a Reserve List for consideration for similar roles, including those at a lower grade. Candidates who narrowly miss the benchmark and are not placed on the Reserve List may still be considered for an offer in a similar role at a lower grade.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).

DSIT cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.

DSIT holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify., * UK nationals

• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Strong capability in applied maths, statistics and scientific practices, including exploratory data analysis, appropriate model choice, validation and interpretation of results.

Strong coding skills for data science, with experience developing, testing and maintaining analytical code in one or more appropriate programming languages. Our team primarily uses Python and SQL, and candidates should expect to work extensively with these in post.

Experience developing and maintaining analytical code using version control and collaborative workflows (for example Git based workflows via Azure DevOps)

Experience running analytical and modelling workflows, preferably using cloud platforms and services (such as Azure analytics and machine learning tools)

Ability to build, test and document maintainable analytical pipelines and code, including automation where appropriate, drawing on feeds from multiple systems (for example via APIs).

Experience applying data science to support decision making, with sound judgement around assumptions, uncertainty, bias and limitations, and an ability to explain these clearly.

Ability to communicate complex analysis to non technical audiences using writing and visualisation, adapting style to the audience and purpose.

Understanding of data ethics, transparency and appropriate use of data, particularly where analysis informs high impact or sensitive policy decisions.

Experience working collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams, contributing to shared problem solving, peer review and quality assurance, using tools such as Git.

A proactive approach to learning and development, and willingness to improve ways of working through good practice and constructive engagement.

Desirable criteria

A demonstrable interest in horizon scanning and using an understanding of science and technology to improve government policy and operations.

Applicants should clearly state in their application whether they already hold the required analytical profession badging. As analytical badging is only available to existing government employees, applicants who do not currently hold the required badging should confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria for badging and specify the analytical profession through which they intend to seek accreditation., You must be a full member of one of the following analytical professions: Government Social Research Service (GSR), Government Statistician Group (GSG), or Government Operational Research Service (GORS)., You must be able to demonstrate that a) you satisfy the eligibility criteria and b) have the competence, at the required grade for one of the analytical professions., a first-class or second-class honours degree in a numerate subject containing at least 25% taught statistical content (for example, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography, or similar) OR

a higher degree, such as an MSc or PhD, in a subject containing formal statistical training (for example. Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography, or similar)

For statistical data scientist posts, the accepted qualifications are:

a first- or second-class honours degree in a numerate discipline, computer science or IT equivalent which demonstrates core statistical skills. OR

a higher degree, such as an MSc or PhD, in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics (this is not a definitive list)

Alternatively, you could apply if you have worked in a statistical or data science field and are able to demonstrate continuous professional development (via a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) log book) in statistics or data science at the same level as a foundation degree or Higher National Diploma (HND) Level 5.

You could also apply if you have achieved or are on track to achieve a level 4 apprenticeship including at least two years in a statistical or data analysis field in government and are able to demonstrate continuous professional development in statistics or data analysis (via a CPD logbook signed off by a manager or mentor who are members of the statistical profession).

GSR:

For qualification route, must hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2. The degree must contain substantial social research methods training (comprising around one-third of modules taken in the course).

For professional experience route, must hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2, in any subject, or a degree equivalent, plus have at least 4 years’ social research practice experience. Social research practice experience consists of experience working in a research agency, market research agency or specialist research team.

GORS:

You must have, or expect to have, a 2:1 or higher degree or degree apprenticeship in a highly numerate degree subject; or you must have, or expect to have, a 2:2 or higher degree and a highly numerate postgraduate degree.

Professional competency frameworks can be found here, Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check .

Pulled from the full job description

• Childcare
• Annual leave
• Employee discount
• Company pension, £36,735 - £43,020 National: £36,735 - £39,670 London: £39,850 - £43,020 (pro rata for part-time working) Analyst allowance of £4,440, or £6,270 for those with a relevant Master’s degree as approved by the Head of Profession. A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% GBP, Alongside your salary of £36,735, Government Office for Science contributes £10,642 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides .

We offer a competitive mix of benefits including:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
• A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 40-60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need (from September 2021, depending on how the public health guidance evolves).