Data Scientist (Industrialisation)

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Are you inquisitive and enjoy solving problems? Do you want your work to make a difference? If so, then joining HMRC’s Data Science team could be your next career step. We are looking for people with a passion for data science who aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo.

We are a 70-strong team operating at the cutting edge of data science and technology. We use a wide range of data science tools and techniques to support the strategic objectives of the department. We help to solve key challenges, including ensuring HMRC collects the right taxes, pays out the right financial support, and making it easier for our customers to get their taxes right. To do this we work with some of the richest and largest datasets anywhere in government.

We are a mixture of analysts, IT professionals, and data scientists. We work very closely with architects, engineers, and other IT professionals, and we own and help to manage our own scalable cloud data science environment, which includes R and Python. This close integration ensures that when products are developed, they can be deployed and made available to the people who need them, so that our insight and analysis leads to action., The Industrialisation team is part of the wider Data Science team, taking Data Science products from development through release and into production, in line with our agreed Industrialisation Process. This is aligned with wider CDIO governance and ensures products developed in house by CDIO Data Science can be delivered, maintained and supported to the business long term.

Your primary role will be to work with the G7 Industrialisation Lead, across all CDIO Data Science teams to help developers with the handover of completed apps, and the transition into live services. You will help ensure data science products are developed to required standards, delivered into the business appropriately and properly supported. You will work as part of a supportive multi-disciplinary team, as well as individually on projects.

Alongside that you will work on projects with other data scientists, using analytical tools and environments (cloud environment with R, Python and SAS, as well as PowerApps) to help develop and deliver data science products. This could include processing pipelines, interactive dashboards, machine learning models, as well as statistical analysis and insight; working closely with the intended customers and business experts to scope and design the most effective and appropriate product.

You will also be given ample opportunity and support for personal and professional development, including upskilling on tools, approaches and techniques, with the expectation of cross team development and mentoring: if you learn something cool, share it! A lot of the development opportunities will be driven by your ideas and interests, as well as by the skills needed for particular projects. Overall you will be given a lot of freedom to decide the best way for you to work and also what and how you’d like to grow as a data scientist., * Providing support to end-users of our data science products, investigating and resolving any issues.

• Developing new data science solutions in R or python, working effectively with customers to gather and implement their functional requirements.
• Document projects and processes to capture knowledge, ensuring continuity of service and following best practice.
• Support the cloud platform used by data scientists, monitoring usage and working as an administrator for tasks and new requests.
• Manage change and release for existing Industrialised products.
• Expand the Data Science Industrialisation Process, considering how it should evolve to meet future Generative AI needs and develop wider best practice., If you have an HMRC online account already, sign straight in using your ID and password. If not, you can prove your identity by answering some questions or providing your photo ID.

You’ll then be able to access the app quickly and easily by signing in using a 6-digit PIN, your fingerprint, or facial recognition.

You can find guidance for technical issues on GOV.UK: Technical support with HMRC online services.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.

Merit List

After interview, a single merit list will be created, and you will only be considered for posts in locations you have expressed a preference for. Appointments will be made in strict merit order in line with the set number of roles in each location.

Criminal Record Check

Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.

Hybrid working at HMRC

HMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time).

Reasonable Adjustments

We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate., HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.

Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.

Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.

Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

New entrants will join on the minimum of the pay band.

Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.

If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

For more Information for people applying for, or thinking of applying for, roles at HM Revenue and Customs, please see link: Working for HMRC: information for applicants - GOV.UK. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

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 security check .

See our vetting charter . People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks., * 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

• Have a good understanding of testing methodologies and how to safely deploy code to live products • Work with specialists in multidisciplinary teams to reliably deliver data science products into the organisation • Experience collaborating with technical and non-technical internal customers throughout the project lifecycle • Experience maintaining and supporting Data Science products as live services • Awareness of IT Service Management processes, IT Change and Release processes and how they apply to Data Science tools. • Understanding of PowerPlatform solutions and ability to provide support for them, diagnosing and resolving simple issues., * Programming and Build (Data Science) - Ability to develop data science solutions in R or python., * A 250-word technical statement based on your ability to develop data science solutions in R or python. Please demonstrate your experience writing complex programs or scripts for a data science solution, including an understanding of best practice, version control and iterative release to existing products., Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.

Pulled from the full job description

• Company pension
• Work from home, Alongside your salary of £45,544, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £13,194 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides .

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance, starting at 25 days and increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via ubsrecruitmentcomplaints@hmrc.gov.uk.