Principal Data Scientist

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) make final decisions on complaints about UK Government departments and the NHS in England. Our work deals with complex, often sensitive issues, where decisions must be fair, well-reasoned and backed by evidence. The insight we produce helps identify where public services fall short and supports real improvement., As Principal Data Scientist, you will provide leadership across data science and advanced analytics, ensuring insight is used effectively, ethically and transparently to support decision-making and service improvement.

You will oversee complex analysis, set standards, and ensure quality in statistical modelling, machine learning, and experimental methods. Working closely with senior leaders and multidisciplinary teams, you will translate complex problems into clear, trusted insight that informs priorities and investment decisions.

Alongside delivery, you will build organisational capability through line management, mentoring and professional leadership. You will act as a trusted advisor on the responsible use of data science and AI, helping embed high standards, sound judgement and confidence in how analytics is used across the organisation.

If you are an experienced data science leader who values high standards, sound judgement and ethical use of data, this is an opportunity to make a real impact., You will answer four scored questions at application stage. We use these to shortlist and longlist, so your answers matter.

• choose real examples (from professional settings)
• focus on what you did, not what “we” did as a group
• explain your thinking: what you looked at, what you decided, and why
• keep it clear and specific, avoid generic statements

Please do not use AI to write your answers. We need to assess your skills, and applications may be rejected if answers appear AI-generated.

If your examples are very short, mostly opinion-based, or don’t describe a specific situation and outcome, you are unlikely to score well.

Inclusion & Wellbeing

Equality, diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing are vital to the way we work and our culture. We want our colleagues feel included, valued, and supported at work. It is essential that we are representative and accessible for the people who work here and those who use our service.

Actions we take to embed this include:

• an anonymised shortlisting process to make sure it is fair and unbiased
• monitoring the demographic trends in our workforce and making measured, sustained efforts to improve our diversity at all levels
• providing wellbeing support and opportunities for personal and professional development for all colleagues
• creating spaces for connection and engagement through our employee network groups and social clubs
• part of the disability confident scheme
• providing reasonable adjustments
• engaging in regular inclusion learning to enhance the cultural competency of our organisation., * 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

• A postgraduate qualification (Master’s or PhD) in Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science or a closely related field; or Equivalent senior-level professional experience leading production data science work
• Significant practical professional experience delivering data science solutions or advanced analytics in complex environments
• Experience working with the Microsoft data and ML stack including Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, Model foundry, and Azure Databricks
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex data science concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

We recognise the value of lived experience. If you have experience of complaining about any public body, we strongly encourage you to apply., Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Pulled from the full job description

• Annual leave
• Employee discount
• Gym membership
• Employee assistance programme
• Company pension
• Season ticket loan, Our benefits:
• Civil Service Pension scheme
• 32.5 days annual leave (plus bank holidays on top)
• hybrid working, 40% office based
• flexible working
• access to a free, confidential Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 advice and support from professionals and counsellors
• comprehensive learning and development programme
• employee discount scheme across hundreds of retailers
• bicycle loan scheme
• season ticket loan
• gym membership subsidy
• paid for professional memberships
• eye test reimbursement.