Data Scientist, 10 Downing Street – Grade 7 London, England
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Architecture and Data
Operational Research
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About the job
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Location
About the job
Job summary
Job description
The Team:
The No10 data science team, 10DS, offers an unparalleled opportunity to develop your career personally and within the Civil Service. Formed in mid-2020, 10DS has a remit to radically improve the way in which key decisions are informed by data, analysis and evidence. We do this by:
- Enabling No10 to utilise the best available evidence by combining cutting-edge data science with clear, engaging communication throughout the policy and decision-making process, ensuring that the Prime Minister and staff are intelligent customers of analysis, and embedding a culture of evidence-informed policy
- Provoking positive change across central government through providing challenge and feedback, and collaborating across Whitehall to drive long-term systems change and collectively solve the most pressing policy challenges
The role:
What happens when you have an unlimited amount of data about an infinite number of interconnected entities? Delivery across government is a complex, feedback-driven system which generates and consumes an enormous volume of information.
10DS is working with Delivery Unit on leading the design of a new Delivery Architecture programme. This aims to improve public services by ensuring the information supplied to delivery leaders is relevant, timely, and aligns incentives in a way that makes delivery more effective. At the same time we are rolling out a simple-to-use API service to departments (Project rAPId) in order to transform the data sharing landscape in government.
As delivery data scientist, you will be instrumental in the success of these programmes. You will work with rich datasets relating to over 1,000 government programmes, from cutting NHS waiting lists to helping the UK reach Net Zero by 2050. You will own and shape the journey of this data from source to use by system leaders, exercising significant range in the techniques you choose to deploy, and the way data is pipelined, analysed and communicated.
The delivery architecture programme is at an early stage. You will have the chance to contribute new ideas and help lead and define a data-focused programme with high potential for impact. You should be comfortable operating in ambiguity, interested in what drives delivery across a range of policy areas, creative in the way you engage people with information, and passionate about the ability of data to improve outcomes and deliver better services for the public. You will have the opportunity to design everything from data collection through to the way we visualise and gain insight from the data for customers including senior ministers and the Prime Minister.
You will also contribute to the cross-government data science community, engaging with a range of stakeholders to champion the value of data science. 10DS has a strong programme of technological development, drawing on capabilities in Python and cloud computing.
10DS are strongly committed to learning and development, and are more interested in your aptitude and attitude than pre-existing expertise. Significant on-the-job training, mentorship and support can be provided for the right applicant.
You may also be considered for other data science roles at other grades or in other topic areas (e.g. crime, health).
Person specification
Main Responsibilities
- Establishing data flows and pipelines from a wide range of sources across Whitehall by establishing relationships and promoting technological solutions such as APIs
- Applying advanced analytical techniques and machine learning (including natural language processing) to extract delivery-relevant insight from data
- Developing innovative, clear and engaging products to communicate data and analysis, including interactive visualisation tools in Plotly Dash for Python
- Using Python for creation of reproducible analysis and visualisation
- Presenting evidence to the Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers and senior civil servants
- Inspiring the people who make decisions and drive delivery of essential public services to use data
You will be able to competently demonstrate:
- Strong numeracy and experience deploying a range of analytical techniques
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex information into meaningful, easily understood narrative
- Keenness to develop excellence in communicating analytical findings for impact, including through creative visualisation
- Experience of working effectively at pace
- Interest or experience in the delivery of programmes for public service improvement
- Strong interest in use of data and evidence to drive better outcomes
- Attention to detail
The following are desirable (but proficiency can be developed in post):
- Coding in Python
- Application of data science methods in Python
- Data visualisation skills
- Use of Github
- Coding process – structuring, commenting and documenting code, developing and deploying reusable components, incorporating tests, validation and error handling.
- Experience working with databases, structured and unstructured data, and large-volume raw operational data
A diverse and inclusive culture promotes innovation and enables us to better meet our goals as a team. 10DS welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the above criteria. If you are interested in the position but are unsure if your skills and experience meet the desired criteria, please reach out to us at [email protected]
On the job training can be provided, however pay will be commensurate with technical experience as per the DDaT allowance process.
Essential Skills/Experience
- The ability to work at pace in a complex multi-stakeholder environment, driving progress in the face of a range of competing views and priorities
- Policy and strategic analysis skills that can be deployed flexibly across a wide range of priorities
- 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.
- Knowledge of (quasi-) experimental methods and data collection.
- Experience of conducting advanced quantitative analyses;
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Leadership
- Changing and Improving
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Data science and coding skills
- Data visualisation and presenting analysis
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 27%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application process
Please submit a CV and use the personal statement to explain how you meet the technical skills outlined in the job description and how your skills and experience make you a suitable candidate.
We may also offer ‘near-miss’ opportunities – meaning at the end of the recruitment campaign you may be offered a similar role at a lower grade.
Selection process
Candidates successful at sift stage will be invited to stage 1 interviews/assessment. This will include an assessment which will assess you against these technical skills:
- Data science and coding skills
- Data visualisation and presenting analysis
Candidates successful at stage 1 will be invited to stage 2 interviews. The behaviours that will be assessed at interviews are the following:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
- Leadership
- Changing and Improving
Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – Early April
Expected interview date/s – Late April
Interview location - TBC
Reasonable adjustments
If a person with disabilities is put 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 [email protected] 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.
Further information
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.
Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Any move to Cabinet Office 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 at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.
A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
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 [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
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.
Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team :
Further information
If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service at: [email protected].
If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: [email protected].
For further information on the Recruitment Principles, and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.
