Lead Data Scientist in the Data and Analytical Services Directorate

36842 - Lead Data Scientist in the Data and Analytical Services Directorate

Salary Minimum £48,353 - £69,900 (salary dependant on base location)

Number of jobs available 1

Detail of reserve list 12 Months

Region London, Yorkshire and the Humber

City/Town Leeds , London

Building/Site 10 SOUTH COLONNADE LONDON, E14 4PU, 5 WELLINGTON PLACE LEEDS, LS1 4AP

Grade Grade 7

Grade 7(b)

Post Type Permanent

Working Pattern Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working

Role Type Economics, Operational Research, Social Research / Market Research, Statistics, Analytical

We have a permanent role in our Data Science Hub within the MoJ Data & Analytical Services Directorate at Band Ab/Grade 7b level.

The Successful candidate will have the option to be based at one of the following locations:

• 10 South Colonnade, London (flexible working arrangements are available between 102 Petty France, MoJ Hubs and home) 

Interviews are likely to take place in October 2020 and will be held on Microsoft Teams. We will keep a merit list for a year for those who successfully pass the interview board but who are not offered a post

About us

One of the Ministry of Justice key priorities is to become strongly data and evidence driven by ensuring it is used to improve our business performance and the justice system for the public; we become more open and transparent; and we change the culture of the department so that we innovate and are inquisitive about our data.

The Data Science Hub was set up to meet these priorities and sitting at the heart of MoJ’s push to bring Data Science to bear on some of the Ministry’s thorniest problems. We are a multi-disciplinary team of 30+ people from a range of professional and backgrounds. Sitting together with our new AWS based Analytical Platform team and our Data Engineering teams, the Data Science Hub provides wide ranging Data Science products to the business.

The team delivers a range of data products across the business focussing on delivering high impact products or insight that directly influence corporate, operational and policy decisions using appropriate techniques from a wide-ranging data science toolkit.

In recent years the Data Science team has grown substantially as it has delivered a series of high impact products across the data science spectrum including automation, advanced visualisation, machine learning, natural language processing and optimisation. Built on our analytical platform many of these tools are productionised and widely used across the business.

We continue to ensure that we are in a position to capitalise on the continued opportunities to apply the wide-ranging data science toolkit to MoJ’s biggest challenges as our digital and data engineering team deliver robust near live data pipelines from the Ministries major operational systems.

We now have an opening to lead this work focussing on the prisons portfolio, building on our highly impactful and exciting work in recent years. This includes the deployment of a tool in use daily in prisons which utilises near live data pipelines and machine learning to support staff to manage prison safety (which won the OR Society president’s medal); developments to aid in the identification and prediction of incidents; and using advanced interactive data visualisations and data linking to support decisions around prison regime in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

We are seeking a high quality, skilled and motivated individual with strong analytical leadership skills to lead the Data Science programme of work in transforming data and digital services in the prison service.

We are looking for a range of experience across the data science spectrum including most of the following skills:

• Experience in working with and analysing large and complex data sources
• Strong Programming knowledge in high level analytical languages (such as Python, R and SQL)
• Strong Knowledge, clear understanding and a track record of leading teams delivering data science tools into production e.g. machine learning; text mining, natural language processing; advanced data visualisation
• Ability to develop capability of a team to tackle business problems using across a broad range of advanced analytical techniques.
• Ability to think creatively to identify and deliver new, innovative analytical projects from existing and new data sources.
• Track record of developing strong quality assurance and automated testing culture into analytical work, including producing robust and reproducible analysis using modern version control software.

About the role

You will lead our Data Science programme of work in maintaining, developing and building data science tools for prisons, and transforming data and digital services for our staff and service users.

This will involve championing the development and use of data science in MoJ through:

• having knowledge of the latest data science techniques;
• working closely with customers and other professionals across the business to deliver tools, apps and policy insight into the business;
• building a network of key stakeholders, and identifying, prioritising and delivering high impact projects with your customers;
• encouraging data scientists to be inquisitive and innovative in their approach;
• delivering a range of interactive data science products through multi-disciplinary ‘data studio’ projects;
• creating networks with wider data science groups across Govt and beyond.

The post holder reports to the Head of Data Science (Prison and Probation).

Key responsibilities

• You will lead a team that runs collaborative Data Science Projects across the business. Working closely with Analysts, Policy, operational and wider professionals to identify, deliver and frequently productionise high quality Data Science applications.
• Providing excellent analytical support to SCS across the department to ensure that policy and operational decisions are evidence and data-driven; and we identify where data and analysis can radically improve performance and value for money.
• Be a technical expert on a range of techniques by ensuring you are up to date with latest developments in data science across government and beyond including developing strong relationships with key external stakeholders, e.g. the Turing institute. Looking for opportunities to bring latest research to bear on MoJ problems. Whether through strategic partnerships or developing those skills in-house.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to ensure that Analytical and Data Science work is delivered to specified levels of quality, on time and within budget, that Data Science products makes an impact, and that analytical resource is moved between projects flexibly.
• Providing leadership, professional oversight and line management to the team, strengthening the capacity and Data Science skills of the team and Directorate’s staff by fostering continuous improvement and professional development.
• Ensure the data science hub is seen as a great place to work, that the team feels fully supported to utilise cutting edge techniques and continue to establish best practice and ethical ways of working within the team around these cutting-edge techniques.

The role is open to:

• Existing analysts from all professions (GORS/GSS/GSR/GES);
• Non-analysts who would like to join the Government Operational Research Service through the interview process

Candidates must meet the Analytical Service professional and/or educational requirements at this Band for Operational Researchers, Statisticians, Social Researchers or Economists.

Please refer to the Annex at the end of this advert for the eligibility criteria.

Applications from individuals working part-time or in jobshares are encouraged.

The salary will be negotiable within the pay range dependent on your skills and expertise.

You will be asked during the application to submit:

• An anonymised CV (Please keep the CV to no more than 2 sides of A4 and remove all personal information, including from the file name); and
• A 750-word Statement of Suitability, in which you should explain why you are the right candidate for these roles based on the technical data science skills and behaviours outlined below (note that the technical analytical competency will only be assessed at the interview stage). You may wish to provide 2 or 3 examples that cover off multiple requirements, or to address each in turn. You should include evidence on ‘how’ you demonstrated the requirements as well as ‘what’ you did. All requirements are important for the job; however, we do not expect candidates to be expert in all of them; just give as much evidence as you can for each.

Applicants Invited for Interview

If you successfully reach the interview stage, we will assess you against the following:

Presentation

You will be asked to give a five-minute presentation (details of this will be sent to candidates before interview);

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Communicating and influencing
• Changing and Improving

Please see the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade (Level 4 – Grade 7 and 6 or equivalent):

• Experience in working with and analysing large and complex data sources
• Strong Programming knowledge in high level analytical languages (such as Python, R and SQL)
• Strong Knowledge, clear understanding and a track record of leading teams delivering data science tools into production e.g. machine learning; text mining, natural language processing; advanced data visualisation
• Ability to develop capability of a team to tackle business problems using across a broad range of advanced analytical techniques.
• Ability to think creatively to identify and deliver new, innovative analytical projects from existing and new data sources.
• Track record of developing strong quality assurance and automated testing culture into analytical work, including producing robust and reproducible analysis using modern version control software.

Technical – Analytical Competency (see details below)

If applying under 1. Existing analysts from all professions (GORS/GSS/GSR/GES) you should give evidence of how you meet the requirements of the relevant professional competency framework, with particular focus on communicating analysis and achieving impact. Please refer to the analytical profession frameworks below:

If applying under 2. Non-analysts who would like to join the Government Operational Research Service you will be assessed on the following GORS professional competencies:

• Achieving impact with analysis
• Knowledge and application of OR skills and techniques

If you have any queries about the role or application process, or wish to discuss, please contact Olivia Lewis at [email protected]

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Support

• A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits,retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles . Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

1- To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]);

2- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing ([email protected] );

3- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here )

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.

There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Grading Structure Review

The Ministry of Justice is currently undergoing a review of posts which are currently graded at Band A to realign our grading structure with the majority of the wider Civil Service.

Posts advertised at Band A may be graded at either Grade 6 or Grade 7 once the review has taken place.

Interview dates Interviews are expected to take place in October 2020

If you have any queries about the role or application process, or wish to discuss, please contact Olivia Lewis at [email protected]

To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why. 

For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).

If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:

• You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
• You were studying abroad
• You were living overseas with parents

In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.

Success Profiles

Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance .