Senior Data Scientist
Department for Work and Pensions
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 16th February 2025
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Architecture and Data
Digital
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About the job
Job summary
This role requires you to pass Security Check clearance. For further information, please see ‘Selection Process’ details.
Looking for a leadership role where you can use data science to influence, innovate and inspire improvements? Do you think data science can transform how government services work?
DWP is the UK’s biggest government department: few other organisations globally provide the same opportunity to apply data science on a massive scale to issues which affect so many.
We're driving a once-in-a-generation transformation of government services by using fresh ideas and leading-edge technologies to create innovative, scalable and user-centric digital solutions.
As a Senior Data Scientist, you’ll be applying data science to drive critical public service transformation and influence decisions on issues that affect millions of UK citizens. If you’re looking for a technical and leadership role that brings your data science skills, curiosity and innovation to bear, we’d love to hear from you.
Job description
You’ll join the Integrated Risk and Intelligence Service (IRIS) team which is a collaboration between DWP Digital, Counter Fraud, Compliance and Debt and Cyber Resilience Centre. IRIS is central to DWP’s Fraud and Error Strategy and is radically transforming how the welfare system and those that use it are protected from fraud and error.
Data science is a broad field, and this role leans heavily into advanced analytics (e.g. machine learning, network analytics, natural language processing, etc.). As such, there is a strong coding element using SQL and Python with an emphasis on using software development best practice to create re-useable and extensible codebases.
You’ll work as part of a multidisciplinary Agile team to deliver measurable business value, providing technical leadership to ensure the most appropriate data science methods, data sources and technologies are used to meet business needs and mature the application of data science across the team (e.g. improving standardisation and best practice). Our aim is to help make DWP a leader in data science, not just in government, but across industry.
You’ll also be responsible for the capability development of junior data scientists, so must have a collaborative mindset and be keen to share your knowledge and experience with the team.
We want to build in increasingly data and AI literate organisation, so you must be confident engaging regularly with non-technical people to explain how data science solutions work and their limitations, as well as showing progress on business priorities.
Person specification
When giving details in your employment history you should highlight your experience in line with the essential criteria below:
- Lead multiple data science projects to address specific business needs, using the most appropriate techniques, data sources and technologies.
- Role-model data science development best practice (e.g. quality assurance of code and ethical considerations of unintended biases) with advanced SQL and Python coding skills.
- Communicate data-driven insights within a business context clearly and with impact to a range of technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Drive capability development to coach and mentor junior data scientists, keeping abreast of the wider data science landscape and emerging technologies.
- Academic background in Data Science, Maths, Statistics or Computer Science or equivalent Data Science-related experience.
If you would like to learn more about the role, please contact Caicy.sandford1@dwp.gov.uk.
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- What is the most complex data science project you’ve worked on? What made the project complex? How did you contribute to the project?
Benefits
We also have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:
- Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
- Generous annual leave – at least 25 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
- Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
- Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
- Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
- Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
- An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.
This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.
Salary Information
Pay for this role in London is from £61,089 to £71,675.
The maximum salary for the grade is £71,675, however a Digital Allowance of up to £1,671 per annum is available for exceptional candidates. Digital Allowance is non-salary, and non-pensionable, and is classed as a temporary allowance. It is reviewed annually where it could be retained, amended, or removed.
Pay for this role in National Locations is from £55,557 to £66,058.
The maximum salary for the grade is £66,058, however a Digital Allowance of up to £7,288 per annum is available for exceptional candidates. Digital Allowance is non-salary, and non-pensionable, and is classed as a temporary allowance. It is reviewed annually where it could be retained, amended, or removed.
Our offer to successful candidates will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated at interview.
Existing Civil Servants who secure a new role on lateral transfer should maintain their current salary.
Existing Civil Servants who gain promotion may move to the bottom of the grade pay scale or 10% increase in salary whichever would be the greater.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Stage 1: Application
Your application will consist of three parts:
1. A Personal Details application form.
2. Your employment history detailing your responsibilities, skills, accomplishments, plus your qualifications and relevant training. Please copy this information into the box field provided. When giving details in your employment history you should highlight your experience in line with essential criteria detailed within the person specification section.
3. Technical statements (up to 250 words):
What is the most complex data science project you’ve worked on? What made the project complex? How did you contribute to the project?
An initial sift will be conducted using the technical statement stated above. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be progressed to a full sift.
The sift panel will use the information in your employment history and technical statements to assess your experience, skills and knowledge.
For Hints and Tips on completing your application visit Applying for jobs at DWP Digital.
Important Information
- You will be asked to complete your employment history any information that you would customarily share on a CV should therefore be entered onto the application form.
- Personal details that could be used to identify you including your name, contact details and address must be removed for your application to be considered.
- If your employment history and technical statements contains any personal details your application will be withdrawn.
Stage 2: Interview
If you’re successful at sift stage you will be invited to a video interview via Microsoft Teams. There, you will be assessed against the experiences listed in the essential criteria and Technical statement.
You will be asked to do a 5 minute presentation on a specific topic. The presentation topic will be provided 1 hour before your interview. Further details will be provided to candidates invited to interview.
Sift dates to be confirmed.
Interviews will take place from early March 2025. Interview dates to be confirmed.
Further Information:
Find out more about Working for DWP
For Hints and Tips on completing your application visit Applying for jobs at DWP Digital.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
All successful candidates and those placed on reserve will be posted in merit list order by location.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.
The evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. If evidence of plagiarism, or sharing of questions, information or answers throughout any part of the selection process is found, your application will be withdrawn. Examples of plagiarism can include:
- Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own.
- Copying content from an online/published source.
- Using forms of Artificial Intelligence to produce application content which you present as your own.
Security Clearance Requirement
You must meet the security requirements before you can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.
For meaningful checks to be carried out, you will need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time, to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. Whilst a lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance, and expectation of UK residency may range from 3 to 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements needed for the role may result in the withdrawal of provisional jobs offers.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Reasonable Adjustment
At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.
We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: Contact Government Recruitment Service via DigitalRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” 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.
For further information on reasonable adjustments, terms and conditions and how we recruit visit the How We Recruit page.
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 : Caicy Sandford
- Email : Caicy.sandford1@dwp.gov.uk.
Recruitment team
- Email : digitalrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
