Senior Data Scientist
HM Treasury
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 10th November 2024
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About the job
Job summary
About HM Treasury
If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.
Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.
We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you!
Job description
About the Group - Strategy, Planning and Budget
Strategy, Planning and Budget (SPB) operates at the heart of the Treasury to develop the Department’s overall strategy and business plan, assess performance and risk, and help deliver its objectives with a large, flexible project team who work on ministerial priorities across the whole range of the department’s policy responsibilities. We also co-ordinate the Chancellor’s annual Budget, the Finance Bill and the Treasury’s tax strategy, as well as coordinate the Treasury’s responses to the COVID-19 Public Inquiry and provide support to ministers and officials who are Inquiry witnesses. SPB also promotes excellent policymaking across the department and houses the Darlington Leadership Team, which works to ensure the successful delivery of the Darlington Economic Campus (DEC).
About the Team - HMT Growth Delivery Unit
As announced by the Chancellor on 8th July 2024, HMT has established a Growth Delivery Unit (GDU). This has been established as a new and dedicated team in SPB, working closely with the Enterprise & Growth Unit (EGU) in particular focussed on supporting and driving delivery of the Chancellor’s top priorities on growth. The GDU supports HMT’s broader aim for an increased culture and focus on delivery and implementation of policy, as well as the Chancellor’s leadership of the growth mission.
To this end, the GDU will monitor progress against the Chancellor’s top growth priorities, identify blockages and intervene/escalate where barriers to delivery of the growth mission need to be unblocked. Sitting within the Strategy, Planning and Budget group in HMT, the GDU is a high-profile team at the centre of the government's growth agenda.
About the Job
This is a new role, working directly on a priority of the Chancellor and her team, shaping work on the Growth Mission.
As data scientist, you will be instrumental in the success of priority growth programmes. You will own and shape the journey of data from source to use by system leaders, exercising significant range in the techniques you choose to deploy. You can help identify data engineering requirements for data science projects, understanding a range of architectures (including using the cloud) and data transformation tools.
You will help collect data, conduct high quality analysis, create engaging visualisations and develop insights, all to inform critical decision making by the Chancellor, HMT ministers, and Civil Service Leaders. You will identify opportunities to add statistical insight, and use a variety of data analytics techniques (such as data mining and prescriptive and predictive analytics) for complex data analysis through the whole data life cycle.
You will also contribute to the cross-government data science community, engaging with a range of stakeholders to champion the value of data science. GDU aims to be a centre of excellence within HMT applying cutting edge technologies to policy and delivery problems, drawing on capabilities in Python and cloud computing.
Key Responsibilities
- Developing and maintaining innovative, clear and engaging products to communicate delivery progress on priority projects alongside data and analysis in Plotly Dash for Python
- Applying advanced analytical techniques and machine learning (including natural language processing) to extract delivery-relevant insight from data
- Establish data flows and pipelines from a wide range of sources across Whitehall by establishing relationships and promoting technological solutions such as APIs
- Present evidence to senior civil servants and special advisers in a clear, engaging fashion
- Build and maintain strong relationships with analytical teams in No10, Cabinet Office and across government to ensure Ministers are presented with a single source of truth.
Candidate Drop-In Session – Microsoft Teams
The hiring manager will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and ask any questions you may have. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time.
Wednesday 30th October at 12:30: Join the meeting now
If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Angus Phimister (angus.phimister@hmtreasury@gov.uk)
Person specification
We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form.
- Experience using python to apply data science methods, following coding best practice (including use of GitHub or other version control systems), and working with Azure or other cloud platforms (Technical Skill)
- Ability to operate in a complex multi-stakeholder environment, effectively prioritising key deliverables (Seeing the Big Picture)
- Highly developed communication and networking skills, an ability to build strong relationships and operate with senior stakeholders across government, and skills to translate complex information into meaningful, easily understood narratives (Communicating and Influencing)
- The ability to work at pace to asks from very senior stakeholders, driving progress in the face of a range of competing views and priorities (Delivering at Pace)
The lead criterion is Technical Skill. If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.
Candidate Guidance Support Session – Microsoft Teams
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach including top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. Please note that this session is not role specific, so we will be unable to answer specific questions about roles we are advertising. If you would like to join us, please use one of the links below to join the call at your preferred time.
Thursday 17th October at 12:30: Join the meeting now
Thursday 31st October at 12:30: Join the meeting now
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Experience using Python to apply advanced data science methods, following coding best practice (including use of GitHub or other version control systems), and working with Azure or other cloud platforms.
Benefits
- 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King's birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant)
- Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)
- Generous parental and adoption leave package.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 28%
- Onsite restaurant and coffee bar. The London office also offers a gym, showers and prayer room
- Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving
- Access to a retail discounts and cashback site
- A Rental Deposit Advance Scheme to help meet the total costs of deposits for privately rented homes
- A range of active staff networks, based around interests and diversity
Flexible Working Arrangements
HM Treasury views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they can enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including; part-time, compressed hours and job sharing. Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees the flexibility to adjust their working patterns throughout the week which is subject to operational needs and line management approval.
At HM Treasury we have an incredibly broad remit; our work touches every citizen of the country. So, it’s important our employees come from the widest possible range of backgrounds, bringing us the widest possible range of perspectives and ways of thinking. We are committed to ensuring that all staff can realise their potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites - Darlington, London, and Norwich, and along with the rest of the Civil Service, has an expectation of a minimum of 60% attendance in the office, along with working remotely. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders face to face, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. All our offices have been recently modernised and designed to collaborate and connect with colleagues as well as desk and quiet space to allow a range of ways to work.
The office working expectation is linked to the location of the role. If you apply to a post in a single location, then you will not be able to meet this expectation at any of our other sites or move your role to another location.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Recruitment Timeline
Closing date: 10th November
Shortlisting: w/c 11th November
Interviews: w/c 18th / 25th November
This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline.
If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile.
Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.
Location-Based Reserve Lists
You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a post immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be approached for roles in merit order according to the first preferred location stated on your application form.
Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer. We would still encourage you to apply for other HM Treasury opportunities that you are interested in. If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or you are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances.
Eligibility Statement
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information.
Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Additionally, individuals appointed to the Treasury group will be subject to National Security Vetting. The level of security vetting required for this role is Counter Terrorist Check (CTC)
To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants will need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. In exceptional circumstances, a lack of residency would not be a bar to security clearance however the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis once the advert closing date has passed.
Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you. Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.
These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting. If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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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
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Angus Phimister
- Email : angus.phimister@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Further information
