Lead Data Scientist
Pensions Regulator
Apply before 11:55 pm on Friday 1st November 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
About us
More than half the UK working population rely on The Pensions Regulator (TPR) to regulate their retirement savings. With a career at TPR, you’ll be joining an organisation that will impact on millions of lives for decades to come.
Everyone at TPR plays an important role in helping to keep more than £2trn of savings safe. We’re committed to bringing people into TPR from all backgrounds who are ready to make a difference and put UK savers at the heart of what we do.
It is important to us that TPR remains a great place to work. We do all we can to help our people reach their full potential with learning, secondment, and development opportunities. We put our 900+ employees first, supporting flexible working and offer a diverse, lively, and inclusive environment. This includes our Disability Network, LGBT+ Network (Proud), Minority Ethnic Network, Time to Change Champions (mental health), and Women’s Network which offer spaces to connect.
Our new corporate strategy outlines a bold and challenging vision of how pensions regulation should evolve to keep pace with a change in the scale and nature of the industry. We are at the start of that journey. Join us to find out what part you can play.
We operate a hybrid working model, with regular attendance in our Brighton office to connect with colleagues across the business.
Job description
Role
Our Data, Digital and Technology vision is to be a catalyst for pensions innovation and regulatory effectiveness. We’re using digital, data, and technology to revolutionise pension regulation, making it more efficient, secure, transparent, and customer-centred.
Our data team has accountability for the data estate and is responsible for the organisation’s approach to data. We're data-enabled, not data-driven: we work with engineers, product managers, and other disciplines to understand how data can best support the needs of the organisation and ultimately savers.
We are on a fast-paced journey, and in recent years TPR has gone through significant technological and business change, including having fully migrated to Microsoft Azure. As part of these new systems, we have an enterprise-scale Azure data platform and engineering capability.
We’re looking for a Lead Data Scientist to lead our team of Data Scientists, combining advanced analytical capability with IT/software skills, maths and statistics knowledge, to drive and develop business operations on a data led trajectory.
You will have the chance to lead and craft the data science vision at TPR. You’ll drive innovation and discover opportunities to continuously improve business adoption of data science supported products, in line with developments in the field.
They will need to be confident working closely with senior technical and non-technical leaders and be able to play a prominent leadership role across TPR, representing the analytical community. This includes collaborating with a range of diverse teams, driving strategic change and nurturing a culture of continuous improvement.
Responsibilities
You will:
• Lead demand: Own and lead the demand for data science services, balancing resources against organisational priorities.
• Develop skills: Ensure the team possesses, develops, and maintains the right skills to meet the needs of the business.
• Quality assurance: Ensure the quality and consistency of multiple initiatives that improve strategic insight operational efficiency, customer experience, and resource planning.
• Lead Vision: Drive a consistent vision and enthusiasm for data science, leading a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team that delivers optimal outcomes.
• Collaborate Across Teams: Build relationships across the organisation, including digital, technology, change, operations, strategy, and policy, to understand and address business challenges.
• Ensure Consistency: Ensure responsibility for the quality and consistency of our data science initiatives, including data, tooling, and processes.
• Foster Relationships: Nurture relationships with peers, other Government Departments, and in industry and academia, encouraging innovation, reuse, and avoiding duplication.
• Stay Updated: Stretch our data science understanding, machine learning, and artificial intelligence capabilities by keeping up to date with the latest market and industry trends, emerging technologies, delivery accelerators, and sharing knowledge and experience.
• Ensure Compliance: Provide appropriate safeguards to ensure all data science products adhere to key privacy, security, and data protection regulations (in line with TPR governance frameworks) and set procedures for ethical considerations.
• Support Community: Play a key role in TPR’s analytical community, supporting recruitment strategies and career development, and contributing to the strategic direction of Data, Analytics, and Digital functions.
Person specification
Essential criteria:
o Strong academic background or equivalent professional experience in a highly numerate subject (e.g., data science, computer science, statistics, mathematics, physics).
o Experience leading data science or advanced analytical teams within a commercial, government, or regulatory environment.
o Demonstrated track record of designing, developing, and implementing data science-led interventions that have improved business performance.
o Ability to develop clear and actionable data science objectives from complex business requirements.
o Demonstrable knowledge of data science techniques and approaches (both theory and practice), including AI and Machine Learning.
o Proficiency with IT tools and software, including R or Python, Azure (or similar), and Microsoft Power BI (or similar). Experience with additional tools (e.g., Linux, Git, Azure DevOps) is a plus.
o Ability to effectively communicate complex analytics in a clear and concise manner, tailored to the audience and aligned with business needs.
o Proficiency in working through complex issues, demonstrating a strong grasp of details while maintaining a strategic perspective, and embedding the data strategy into team operations.
Person specification
• Problem solving and analytical skills
• Communication skills at all levels
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Leadership skills
• Proactive and solution-oriented mindset
Benefits
Salary and benefits
As well as a salary between £74,745 and £95,506, we offer:
• Civil Service Pension arrangements, which are recognised as some of the best in the pensions world
• discretionary bonus arrangements
• access to performance related pay progression
• 25 days annual leave provision
• flexible working arrangements
• development opportunities
• enhanced parental leave arrangements
• a free employee assistance programme
• an excellent office location in Brighton
Things you need to know
Selection process details
How to apply
To apply please email recruitmentteam@tpr.gov.uk quoting role reference number 205568 along with:
· a covering letter with details of how your skills and experience meet the role requirements.
· a copy of your CV.
· details of your notice period.
Current TPR employees in their first 12 months of employment who want to apply for this vacancy should first contact their line manager to discuss their application.
We are an inclusive employer and offer equal opportunities regardless of an individual’s age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
As a Disability Confident employer, we’re committed to the recruitment, employment, retention, and development of people with disabilities, and to improving their employment opportunities. Candidates who declare that they have a disability and who meet the essential criteria for the job will be offered an interview.
Applications will be considered on a part time and job share basis.
In accordance with Home Office guidance, the successful candidate will be required to provide their right to work in the UK before they start employment. Unfortunately, TPR is not able to offer sponsorship at the time. TPR is a UK-based organisation with a working location in Brighton, candidates must live in the UK to be employed by us.
The Pensions Regulator is an arm’s length government body and part of the public service.
Any offer of employment will be subject to the receipt of satisfactory background screening checks and criminal record checks (BPSS).
If you have any queries about this role, or if you have a disability and wish to request a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, please email recruitmentteam@tpr.gov.uk.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Recruitment Team
- Email : recruitmentteam@tpr.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitmentteam@tpr.gov.uk
