Job responsibilities
Youll join a small friendly team, working to the Head of Data Science Quality Assurance in the Data Science and Geospatial division. You will work collaboratively with a wide variety of stakeholders to: Lead, develop and coach on best practice processes, procedures and culture for the organisation on code, analysis and modelling:
- Champion a collaborative QA culture, where quality is everyones responsibility
- Communicate programming standards for R and Python and support data scientists and modellers in adhering to them
- Champion and communicate effective version control using Git
- Support the implementation of best practices for code & analysis relating to research and policy questions
- Advocate for best practices in data science and modelling QA including assumption logs, reproducibility and documentation
- Champion good statistical/mathematical/machine learning modelling practices in the organisation
Essential Criteria
- Experience of QA of analytical models within a QA framework
- A broad knowledge of applying modelling techniques to real world problems, use cases and potential impact, as well as tools and technologies.
- An understanding of statistical/mathematical modelling
- An understanding of best practices for analytical projects including Reproducible Analytical Pipelines, modular code, use of Git-based version control systems, peer review and testing.
- Experience with Python and/or R for Data Science including the core scientific Python stack (pandas, NumPy, matplotlib etc) and/or R stack (ggplot2, tidyverse etc) for data science and visualisation
- Experience with Jira and Confluence or similar, including using them to work across multiple projects simultaneously
- Ability to effectively communicate the results of analysis to senior stakeholders and decision makers
- Experience of leadership of analytical projects
Desirable Criteria
- Experience with working under version control, including Continuous Integration/Continuous Development (CI/CD)
- Understanding of public health domain and/or experience with heath related data.
- Understanding of risk management around analytics
- Experience of applying government guidance on analytical QA to real world situations
- Understanding of QA proportionality
It is expected that after a short period in post you be able to meet the description set out under the Principal Data Scientist role in the Digital Data and technology (DDAT) framework. Please see more details at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/data-scientist#principal-data-scientist
Qualifications:
Candidates will need at least one of the following:
- A first- or second-class honours degree in a numerate discipline, computer science or IT equivalent which demonstrates core statistical skills;
- A higher degree, e.g., an MSc or PhD, in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics (this is not a definitive list);
- Have worked in a statistical/data science field and are able to demonstrate continuous professional development in statistics/data science at the same level as a foundation degree/HND (Level 5)
We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.
UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.
Selection Process
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and Technical Ability.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a Personal Statement / Statement of Suitability in no more than 1250 words. We will be assessing 1 behaviour at sift plus Experience and Technical skills.
Behaviours to be assessed at sift:
- Managing a Quality Service
Your statement should also outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the Experience criteria.
You will also be asked to provide information within the Employer/ Activity history section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history. This will be used in the sifting process and will be scored.
We suggest you use approximately 250 words to address the Behaviour and use the remainder and the Employer/Activity history section to provide evidence of how you meet the essential criteria, and what you and your experience can bring to the role.
The Civil Service application process has a standardised method for assessing candidates, we strongly recommend that you read the descriptions of the civil service behaviours. Strong applications will present these in the Situation, Task, Action, Result (STAR) method.
Please note, only information provided within the stated word count will be considered. You must provide the ad reference number (UKHSA00162) in your Statement and address the Behaviour. We may discard any applications without this information.
If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview.
Stage 2: Panel Interview
All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on behaviours and technical ability through Success Profiles.
The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Changing and Improving
It will also assess the following Technical element from the DDAT data science profile
- Developing data science capability
Candidates will be asked to prepare a brief presentation.
Benefits
- Alongside your salary of £49,592, UK Health Security Agency contributes £13,390 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- Range of health and wellbeing support
Any move to UKHSA 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.
Reserve List:
Candidates who pass the interview criteria but are not offered a post will be kept on a reserve list for 12 months and may be contacted if similar roles become available.
If you are interviewed for the post and do not meet the required threshold for the specified grade, your application may be assessed against a similar, lower grade role and you may be offered the post should one be available.
DBS - People working with government systems must complete Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which includes a disclosure and barring security check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed for this role is BPSS however there may be a requirement for this role to be SC cleared and you should familiarise yourself with the criteria of security clearance.
This role is Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants. Appointments to roles within UKHSA will be made in accordance with the Civil Service nationality rules. These can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rulesThis 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 theEuropean Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- 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
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.
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 welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Government baseline personnel security standard
Its important to note that there are currently exceptions to applications being considered if your conviction relates to any of the following:
- life sentences
- arson
- sexual offences
- hate and terror offences
Some departments will also consider the specific offence against the nature of the business, i.e., a conviction for fraud may rule you out for a finance role
Contact Details Sophie.Rigney@reed.com
