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JOB DETAILS

Data Scientist

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology • Full-time • Remote (London, ENG, GB) • £37,470 - £45,565 / year • 1m ago

Details

Reference number

320261

Salary

£37,470 - £45,565

National: £37,470 - £41,925; London: £41,055 - £45,565 - Analyst allowance of £4,245 or £6,000 with a relevant MSc as approved by the relevant Head of Profession’

Job grade

Senior Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

GO-Science

Type of role

Analytical
Science

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

Contents

Location

About the job

Benefits

Things you need to know

Apply and further information

Location

Birmingham, Cardiff, Darlington, Edinburgh, London, Manchester

About the job

Job summary

The Government Office for Science works at the heart of Government, ensuring policies and decisions are informed by the best scientific evidence and strategic long-term thinking. It's an exciting time to join the organisation; we have outstanding and high-profile positions providing you an opportunity to inform and influence policy-making and the systems for use of science and engineering across government. If you are highly motivated and looking for your next career challenge we want to hear from you.

Our mission is:

Science advice mechanisms that are efficient, effective, speak truth to power and are embedded irreversibly in Government systems.
Visible impact through both pro-active and demand-led science advice that is relevant, excellent, and delivered fit for purpose.

Our values are:

Collaboration – We draw on the experience, skills and knowledge of individuals and partners to reach goals.

Kindness – We are always inclusive, respectful, and compassionate. We look out for one another on work related and non-work-related matters where appropriate.

Openness – We are curious and always open-minded to new ideas, ways of working and points of view, irrelevant of how unconventional they might seem or who suggests them.

Integrity – We commit to upholding the civil service value of integrity by remaining moral, honest, and transparent. We always strive to do the right thing.

Further information can be found here.

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-office-for-science

We strongly believe diversity of experience, thought, perspectives, skills, and background makes us a more innovative, welcoming Department, thus making better decisions and better delivering our objectives. We are actively seeking applications from every part of the community and particularly welcome applications from candidates of any age, background, disability, or from an ethnic minority background and any other protected characteristics. This will help us move to a workforce that reflects the people we serve to deliver better policies.

We are a friendly, inclusive team and emphasise personal development. We will ensure individuals with disabilities are provided adjustments to participate in the job application and interview process. We support your well-being by putting flexible working at the heart of our offer.; if successful, you will be able to discuss working arrangements with your new manager.

We maintain an internal surge capability of staff who may be called at short notice to support an activation of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE). Training and support will be provided. This is an excellent opportunity to develop crisis management skills.

Job description

This data scientist role sits within our Technology and Science Insights (TSI) team. Our team is diverse, inclusive and focused on individual well-being. We are proud to support lots of different working patterns, locations and learning and development activity. We are a multidisciplinary team of analysts, data scientists, scientists, economists, and policy professionals.

The team's purpose is to provide high quality, independent evidence to inform strategic decisions on science and technology. We undertake horizon scanning for new technologies and international comparisons to understand the UK's relative areas of strength and weakness in science and technology. We work with a wide range of data and information sources including academic publication records, patents, financial and national security information.

The post holder will work collaboratively to produce intelligence, reports and data for policy makers on science and technology. You will be responsible for developing and undertaking quantitative and qualitative assessments of science and technology, feeding into our horizon scanning and comparative analysis.

You will lead on developing and acquiring data sources, managing analytical pipelines (including automation), and implementing digital approaches for sharing information across government.

Person specification

The SEO Data Scientist Responsibilities will include:

Undertake data profiling and source system analysis to implement new data flows that support users within and beyond the team. Maintain data repositories to ensure information remains accurate, up to date, and accessed appropriately.
Technology Assessments and GO Science’s database of high-level insights on key emerging technologies.
Working with other analysts, implement digital tools for cross-government information sharing, including quantitative data and other intelligence products - designing, coding, testing, correcting and documenting methods.
Refine understanding of Go Science evidence gaps and opportunities to evolve data sources, including the procurement framework.
Review team outputs, with a particular focus on ensuring the correct use and communication of data.
Linking TSI team to the wider community of government S&T analysts, sharing knowledge and developing best practice in using common data sources.
We work flexibly across different projects, and there will be opportunities to work with teams across GO Science. GO Science maintains an internal surge capability of staff who may be called on at short notice to support urgent areas of work. There may be opportunities to volunteer to support this activity.
You can design, build and test resilient, future-proof and scalable data products to support analysis and information sharing based on feeds from multiple systems (for example, through APIs) using a range of different storage technologies and/or access methods.
Proficient in programming languages such as Python, R, SQL or similar, and working with cloud-based platforms.
You know how to use agreed standards and tools to design, code, test, correct and document moderate-to-complex programs and scripts from agreed specifications and subsequent iterations, maintaining and updated relevant data models for specific business needs.
You should be able to select between different approaches for communicating data-driven insight and be able justify those choices.
You can collaborate with others efficiently using tools such as Git, reviewing specifications where appropriate.
You are able to design analysis to provide evidence to support decision making. You can present your findings in a way that supports the policy development process.
You are skilled at translating technical concepts into non-technical language and can communicate complex analysis clearly in a variety of styles.

Desirable for this role:

A demonstrable interest in horizon-scanning and using an understanding of science and technology to improve government policy and operations.
We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible and recognise how important inclusivity is to achieve the best outcomes. We hope to attract applications from all underrepresented groups.

Analysts completing the L7 Economic apprenticeship who otherwise meet the criteria of the job specification are welcome to apply

Memberships

You are not required to be a member of one of the cross-Government analytical professions but professional standards for those roles give an indication of the professional skills we require, and membership of one of these professions is required in order to receive the analytical allowance. This post requires skills aligned to aspects of the following professions: Government Economic Service, Government Operational Research Service, Government Statistical Service, Government Social Research Service.

As part of the application process you will be asked to state which one you associate with most closely. If applying on promotion from within the Civil Service, the selection process will be configured to allow you to retain your professional badge. For a successful external candidate, after appointment, we will provide the opportunity for further accreditation processes to formally join one of the cross-Government professions where necessary and desired, but completion of this process is not a condition of employment for the role. Please provide this information in your technical skills statement.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Making Effective Decisions
Communicating and Influencing
Seeing the Big Picture

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

'Analysis of Data' for GES; ‘Data Analysis’ for GSG, ‘Knowledge and application of OR skills and techniques’ for GORS; ‘Technical Skills’ for GSR

Benefits

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an average employer contribution of 27%.
A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 40-60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please align your personal statement (in no more than 250 words) to 'Why would you like to work in GOS?'

Please note: Candidates are advised that the functionality to limit words for personal statements and behaviours is not currently working. You are asked to observe the word limit in the candidate information and provide answers that comply with the number of words stated. Any words supplied over and above that limit will not be considered.

Applications will be sifted on CV, behavioural statements, personal statement, and any technical skills required.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead technical skill (Analysis of Data). Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviour and technical questions. Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time.

The link to the technical/professional competency framework that candidates will be assessed against, for their reference:

The Government Economics Service (GES) - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ges-technical-framework-2022
Government Operational Research Service (GORS) - http://www.operational-research.gov.uk/recruitment/competencies/
Government Statistical Service (GSS) - https://analysisfunction.civilservice.gov.uk/policy-store/competency-framework-for-the-government-statistician-group-gsg/
Government Social Research Service (GSR) - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-government-social-research-competency-framework

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 6th November 2023

Interview dates: w/c 20th November 2023

Interview Location: MS Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Further Information

Reasonable Adjustment

We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.

We fully support adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.

We do not have an exhaustive list of adjustments that we support but just some examples include additional time to complete your application form, behaviour questions up to 72 hours prior to interview and having extra time at interview.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).

DSIT does not currently hold a sponsorship licence and cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service / Disclosure Scotland 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.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

Name :

Emily Connolly

Email :

emily.connolly@go-science.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email :

dsitresourcing.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance DSITrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk . If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints