Principal Data Scientist
Home Office
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 30th September 2024
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About the job
Job summary
The Home Office holds responsibility for a wide range of policies covering public safety (crime, policing, fire and public protection), homeland security, and migration and borders. These areas are complex, high profile, fast-paced and at the heart of the Government’s agenda, making Home Office one of the most exciting and stimulating departments to work in.
Home Office Analysis & Insights (HOAI) is a multi-disciplinary directorate including data scientists, economists, statisticians, operational and social researchers, and others. As the analytical authority in Home Office, it delivers high quality analysis and insight across the department, providing objective support to senior leaders, enabling the Department to understand and tackle complex problems, increase operational effectiveness and develop organisational strategy.
This role is based in the Central Analytical Services part of HOAI, which brings a cross-cutting analysis and insight capacity together with a number of capability building and leadership functions. Alongside other colleagues in the Data Science Insights function, you’ll collaborate with analytical professionals across HOAI to identify, initiate and deliver on opportunities to demonstrate new value and glean new insight from data for Home Office policy and operations. You’ll make innovative use of new techniques and new and existing data sets, and by delivering in collaboration with your HOAI colleagues you’ll inspire and stimulate demand for more work like it, and help dispel misconceptions and perceived barriers to such work among your colleagues and stakeholders. In doing so you’ll have significant lasting impact not only through delivering exciting new analytical insights, but by helping to unlock and further build the Department’s data science capability.
Job description
The Data Science Insights team is an innovation and capability building function which champions novel uses of data to unlock new analytical insight which supports the department’s policy and strategic decision making. Through its unique way of working, delivering data science projects in collaboration with other (subject matter focused) analytical teams, the function is also helping to foster a step change in the department’s data science capability by democratising the use of new techniques among these teams.
You’ll have good technical knowledge, skills, and experience from the data science domain, as well as an aptitude for problem solving and ability to bring structure and clarity of thought to complex issues. With your knowledge of techniques, and intrinsic interest in data and technology, you’ll have an eye for opportunities to make new and valuable uses of data to obtain analytical insight, and have the determination and adaptability needed to overcome barriers and drive those opportunities through to fruition. You’ll be an excellent communicator, and a good teacher, with the ability to develop others and bring them on the journey with you as you lead the delivery of data science projects.
Your responsibilities will include:
• Engaging with teams across HOAI, developing understanding of the domains they support, and working with them to identify and guide opportunities for commissions.
• Acting as a data science leader and ambassador for the team, sharing knowledge and providing technical consultation, continually building the profile of the team.
• Leading and overseeing data science project delivery, and providing technical leadership to others, including occasionally overseeing response to urgent ad-hoc requests for analysis, ensuring quality and timely responses to the business.
• Getting hands-on as needed, spending up to half of your time directly on development work.
• Ensuring effective use of Agile to deliver iteratively, and that outputs are always delivered to a high standard, including use of effective Analytical Quality Assurance processes.
• Creating maximum impact from the projects the team delivers, leading / supporting engagement with senior customers and partners to ensure demonstrate the value.
• Line management up to 1-2 data scientists, taking a proactive role in supporting their development, providing mentorship and coaching, etc.
• Keeping up-to-date with relevant new techniques, technologies, policies, initiatives, etc in the broad domain of data science – and continuing to learn and grow your knowledge as needed.
Once in post, successful candidates who are not existing badged members of either Government Statistical Group (GSG) or Government Operational Research Service (GORS) will have the opportunity and are encouraged to apply for membership of the relevant profession subject to meeting the relevant eligibility requirements.
We encourage applications from candidates who wish to work part-time; however, part-time opportunities cannot be guaranteed and are subject to the requirements of the role and business. Candidates wishing to work part-time should notify the vacancy holder as soon as a provisional offer of employment is made, to explore whether this can be accommodated at your selected location.
Person specification
Essential criteria
A first- or second-class honours degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subject, or; substantial experience working in quantitative analytical / data science roles and able to demonstrate substantial continuous professional development in data science (e.g. with a Continuous Professional Development log).
You’ll have a demonstrable passion for data science, with the following skills or experience:
- Generating / identifying opportunities to use new data sources and apply innovative techniques to solve business problems, translating these into plans for delivery as Agile projects.
- Working with large or complex data sets including gathering disparate data, performing extensive data manipulation, and engineering reproducible data pipelines.
- Strong proficiency in Python or R, familiar with software and data engineering essentials, including programming paradigms, source control, testing, and performance optimisation.
- Problem structuring and ability to distil and explain difficult concepts and complex issues, proactively solving with curiosity of stakeholder’s strategic goals and needs.
- Confidently communicating technical / analytical findings and recommendations that inform wider decisions in a compelling way to senior technical and non-technical audiences.
- Strong quantitative analytical skills including experience using a range of data science techniques such as machine learning, network analysis, and text analytics in a real-world setting.
- Demonstrating a good understanding of data privacy, data protection and the ethical implications of data science.
- Leading others and setting best practice to develop programming and analysis skills of self and others.
Desirable criteria
- A relevant higher degree, e.g. an MSc or PhD in Data Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics or similar discipline (this is not a definitive list).
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Developing Self and Others
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Home Office Data Sciences Framework: Analytics
- Home Office Data Sciences Framework: Achieve Impact with Analysis
We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:
- Home Office Data Sciences Framework: Analytics
Benefits
In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
- 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
- Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
- Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
- This role currently attracts annual Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA) up to £9,950 - once the candidate is in post, which is subject to approval from the business. This allowance is subject to review and could be reduced or withdrawn at any time.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
We will endeavour to conduct the selection process in line with the dates indicated below, but cannot guarantee that these will not, where necessary, be revised.
As part of the application process, you will first be asked to confirm your eligibility by providing some basic personal information.
After submission of this first stage, you will be invited to complete the following Civil Service Numerical and Verbal Test.
1. Online Test – by 30th September 2024
If you successfully pass the Civil Service Numerical and Verbal tests, you will be invited to complete the full application form. Please complete the online test(s) as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended). If you fail to complete the online test(s) or full application before the deadline, your application will be withdrawn.
Guidance for the Civil Service test(s), will be available when you are invited to take the test(s). The tests are administered online and accessed via the Civil Service Jobs website.
You cannot complete the tests on a mobile phone or tablet.
Following successful completion of your test/s, you will then be asked to complete the full application form.
2. Application – by 30th September 2024.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
- CV detailing job history and qualifications.
- Personal Statement (maximum 750 words).
- Evidence of the Home Office Data Science Technical Skill: Analytics (maximum 250 words) (refer to attached HO Data Science framework).
The Personal Statement should be aligned to and demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience set out in the essential criteria, detailed in the job description.
For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV and Personal Statement), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.
3. Sift – week commencing 30th September 2024.
The sift will be held on the Technical Skill and Personal Statement. The CV will be scored.
Should a high volume of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted on the Technical Skill (Analytics). Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift that will include the Personal Statement.
4. Interview – week commencing 21st October 2024.
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be:
- Behaviours and Technical Skills based questions.
In addition, candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation that will be delivered at interview. The presentation will be assessed against the Technical Skill - Analytics as listed in the job advertisement. The presentation question/scenario will be disclosed closer to the interviews.
The interview will take place via video. Candidates will be required to have access to:
• A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
• Good internet connection
• Microsoft Teams
We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need to go through a further selection process providing the role has the same behaviours and essential skills.
You can select up to two locations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred location(s) and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.
Reserve lists will be held for each location and profession. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location and profession.
Problems during the application process
If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.
Further Information
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct.
If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring documentation for the purposes of establishing your identity.
You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up. For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Learn more on our website. Security Checks - Home Office Careers
Visa sponsorship
We do not sponsor individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas.
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
- Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
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Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : HORC Campaign Team Corporate Enablers
- Email : horccampaignteamcorporateenablers@homeoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
HORecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.
