Data Scientist Leeds, England
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Job summary
Are you inquisitive and enjoy solving problems? Do you thrive in a collaborative environment and excel at building and maintaining positive relationships? Do you want your work to make a difference? If so, then joining HMRC’s Data Science team could be the next step for you.
At HMRC, we are already one of the most digital advanced tax authorities in the world and have one of the largest IT infrastructures and data sources in the UK. With 50 million customers to serve, over 60 thousand colleagues to support, and £600 billion to collect to fund the UK Public, our IT operation is huge! For those who are up to the challenge, we offer unique and unparalleled opportunities to work with some of the newest technologies and make a real, lasting difference.
HMRC is made up of Customer Groups which are working independently towards one common goal. Our role sits within HMRC’s Chief Digital & Information Office (CDIO) Group that deliver in-house solutions for a broad range of technical and operational issues. Our digital delivery centres are hi-tech, state-of-the-art facilities that allow our teams to maximise their capabilities.
Successful candidates will become a member of the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) profession, and can keep their existing badging if already a member of another government profession. Applications will be assessed against the DDaT capabilities found here.
Our team attracts people with a passion for data science who enjoy operating at the cutting edge of this fast-moving industry. We value and invest in training, career pathways and development opportunities to offer exciting and varied long-term career prospects in the team.
See what it’s like to work at HMRC: find out more about us or ask our colleagues a question. Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.
Job description
This role sits at the heart of the Machine Learning and Optimisation team. The team currently specialises in exploring newest available technologies (such as R, Python, Machine Learning and AI) to deliver projects for a diverse range of stakeholders within HMRC. The team also works alongside the Data Science Academy to deliver specialised training in advanced analytical techniques and assist the data science team with leadership and strategy for the team.
Some examples of the sort of projects in the team:
- Developing an image recognition tool to help Cybersecurity identify and tackle websites using the HMRC logo inappropriately
- Building machine learning models to identify fraudulent claims against the Covid-19 support schemes
- Designing and running workshops and hands-on training in NLP.
Person specification
A data scientist is responsible for working as part of a team to support and in some cases lead the delivery of data science projects.
You will have the support of the Lead Data Scientist, which will allow you to move from a working knowledge of the core data science skills of coding, machine learning and statistics to a much stronger practitioner level of understanding and how to implement them. Alongside this you will develop your understanding of how to apply data science to deliver business impact.
Essential criteria:
- Programming and Build – able to prepare and manipulate data via code and perform complex analytics.
- Applied maths, statistics and scientific practices - can use appropriate statistical techniques on available data to discover new relations and offer insight into research problems; you do this to help improve organisational processes and support decision making.
- Developing data science capability – can demonstrate a good understanding of data science techniques, such as machine learning and natural language processing, and supports data science capability building across the team and wider.
- Delivering business impact – can show an understanding of business area and collaborate to help identify user needs.
- Ethics and privacy – able to identify and respond to ethical concerns in your area of responsibility.
Desirable Criteria:
Knowledge and experience of the following would be advantageous, but could be developed in post:
- Knowledge of deep learning methods.
- Hands-on Practical experience with building Neural Networks libraries (e.g. with the Python libraries Keras, or PyTorch).
- Knowledge of Bayesian inference and methodologies.
As a Data Scientist you’ll be keen to learn new Data Science concepts and develop your existing skillset. You will be proactively trying to grow your understanding of software development and analytical methods which you’ll use this to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to develop data science solutions and outputs.
You will be able to work independently and have a good understanding of a range of topics, including data science techniques, delivery methods and stages (i.e. MVP’s), tools and technologies.
You should be able to develop complex solutions using a range of data science techniques, whilst understanding any ethical considerations.
You will collaborate with others to develop data science solutions and outputs supporting the organisation, being able to prepare and manipulate data, perform complex analytics and to present and communicate effectively.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- The interview will include a scenario-based question: we will provide full details of this in advance of the interview.
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Find more about HMRC benefits in 'Your little extras and big benefits handbook' for further information or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process, you will be asked to submit your CV and complete a 750-word Personal Statement.
You will be scored against both the CV and Personal Statement, and it is essential you complete both elements.
CV - will consist of 2 elements:
- Career History
- Qualifications
You will be presented with 2 text boxes. The first will ask for your employment history - here you should set it out like a traditional CV covering up to the last 3 years, making sure to follow the below format:
- Name of employer
- Dates worked (to and from)
- Job title
- Brief description of your main role / responsibilities (please ensure you match this section against the job advert and essential criteria). This should not be more than 300 words per role.
The next text box will ask you to include any relevant qualifications you may have.
Personal Statement - this should outline, in no more than 750 words:
- How you meet the essential criteria
- Your suitability for the role
- What you will bring to the role.
Sift and Interviews:
Applicants will be sifted on their CV and personal statement submitted against the person specification, in particular the essential criteria.
If we receive a large number of applications, we will do an initial sift on the CV. A full sift will then be carried out on the Personal Statement.
If you are successful, you will be invited to interview, where you will be asked Behaviour based questions to explore in detail what you are capable of, and questions assessing your experience and the technical skill listed in the Person Specification.
We will assess you against these behaviours during the interview process:
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
The interview will include a scenario-based question: we will provide full details of this in advance of the interview.
More information on the DDaT Data Science competencies can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/data-scientist, or in the Government Analysis Career Framework (pages 44-46).
Further Information:
This role maps to the cross-government framework for the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT). For more information visit the GOV.UK DDaT page.
We reserve the right to raise the score required at any stage of the process in order to manage numbers.
Interview dates to be confirmed.
A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles – if this applies to you, we’ll let you know via your Civil Service Jobs account.
Eligibility
To check that you are eligible to apply, review this eligibility information
Important information for existing HMRC contractual homeworkers:
This role may be suitable for existing HMRC employees who are contractual homeworkers. Occasional attendance to the office will be required where there is a business need, so please review the advertised office locations for this role when applying and only select locations from the ‘location preferences’ section that you are able to travel to.
Reasonable Adjustments
We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process because of a disability, condition, or impairment. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.
If you need a reasonable adjustment or a change to be made so that you can make your application, review this information on reasonable adjustments, and contact [email protected] as soon as possible.
Diversity and Inclusion
At HMRC we are committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues and creating an inclusive and respectful environment that reflects the diversity of the society we serve.
Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role. We’re committed to creating a great place to work for all our colleagues here at HMRC. We want everyone to feel valued and supported to achieve their potential at HMRC.
For more information on how we make this happen, review this information on our culture and values
Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible after considering operational and customer service needs. We can’t guarantee that we can meet all requests to work flexibly, as agreement will be subject to business ability to accommodate, and any request to work a more flexible arrangement should be made prior to your acceptance of the provisional offer.
Customer facing roles in HMRC require the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English and/or Welsh where required. Where this is an essential requirement, this will be tested as part of the selection process.
The Civil Service runs 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.
Locations
HMRC has a presence in every region of the UK. For more information on where you might be working, review this information on our locations.
Security Update
All Criminal Record Checks applications are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.
For more information on the level of security checks we will carry out, review this information on security checks
Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for CTC is 3 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter
Further Information
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.
Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application/s will be withdrawn from the process.
Duplicate applications for the same vacancy will also be withdrawn.
Transferring into HMRC from Civil Service If you are currently working for an ‘Other Government Department’ (OGD) and would like to consider the impact on your pay when joining HMRC, please see the attached document "Combined T&C and OGD Pay English”, found at the bottom of this advert. Further information on staff transfers can be found on gov.uk
Problems during the application process
If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
If you think you’ve made a mistake on a short application form (e.g. you’ve ticked the incorrect eligibility box), please contact [email protected] at least two working days before the vacancy closes. After this, we won’t be able to reopen your application.
Please use the subject line to insert appropriate wording e.g. Please re-open my application - 314985 & vacancy closing date 04/10/23. Please note that we cannot amend or re-open your application if you have submitted your full application in the interests of fair and open recruitment.
For reasonable adjustments queries or requests, please see details within reasonable adjustments section above.
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 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
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).
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