Senior Data Scientist

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. Maintain and develop data products and database tools in the team using SQL, R, git and/or other languages. Work with colleagues from across Health Protection Operations to produce innovative and reproducible data products.2. Develop scalable, innovative approaches to extract, manage, and analyse epidemiological surveillance and outbreak data.3. Develop, manage and maintain databases and data pipelines involving ingress and egress of data from disparate systems using data warehousing techniques4. Support the development and use of dashboards (eg PowerBI, R Shiny, SSRS) to facilitate the visualisation and dissemination of data to key stakeholders and the public.5. Planning, managing and delivering on a range of projects requiring potentially complex analytic input, including negotiating and agreeing the most appropriate data output, initiating and planning workloads and setting delivery timescales.6. Analyse and interpret complex data and undertake statistical analyses and exercise judgement in interpreting statistics appropriately, especially where the data indicates a negative or contentious situation7. Carrying out innovative analysis to determine the return on investment of preventive interventions and programmes.8. Supporting the analytical work of Health Protection Operations, including epidemiological studies9. Support the implementation of Reproducible Analytical Pipelines (RAP) within the division, promoting reproducible analysis (i.e. analysis with a clear audit trail that explains how and why it was carried out) and the use of the software methods used to make analysis reproducible10. Use and develop database queries undertake complex analysis.11. Have experience using code management software such as git12. Check for data anomalies prior to and during analyses, considering corrective action or bringing to the attention of principle analysts as required.13. Carry out quality assurance of other data. Take a lead in developing and promoting quality assurance procedures.14. Liaising where necessary with colleagues concerning issues of data quality and effect on analysis. 15. Attending and actively supporting and participating in local and national networks and meetings with key stakeholders including public health intelligence specialists, health improvement and protection colleagues, and partner organisations for UKHSA.16. Ensuring personal and promoting team, compliance with corporate policies in relation to security, confidentiality and release of information.17. Performance management of relevant staff within your team as directed.

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT The post holder will pursue a programme of continuous professional development in accordance with any relevant professional registration or statutory requirements, while maintaining appropriate awareness of service provider requirements. To participate in all mandatory training as required, i.e. safeguarding, fire safety, information governance and all other mandatory training.

OTHER DUTIES The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the Directorate. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation.

Essential criteria

Educated to first degree level or equivalent relevant experience, preferably in a numerate discipline such as epidemiology, statistics, mathematics, coding/programming, sciences, social sciences, economics, geography or similar.

Comprehensive skills in the use of at least some of the following: coding/programming (R, Python), SQL, databases, GIS, statistical software (e.g. R, Stata, SAS, SPSS).

Experience of working with public health or health care data

Experience of writing reports and communicating analytical/statistical matters to non-analytical/statistical professionals.

Experience of developing and using data visualisation tools including dashboards (e.g. PowerBI, R Shiny) for presenting and interpreting complex public health analysis and findings to key stakeholders

Knowledge of data security and confidentiality issues

Experience of using epidemiological and statistical software methods and packages

Ability to demonstrate high degree of literacy, numeracy, accuracy and attention to detail

Ability to create and deliver written and oral presentations, drawing on complex health intelligence as well as presenting findings of your own analyses to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders.

Ability to accurately analyse, interpret and present quantitative data

Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary steam, working to instruction and independently, and to use initiative

Ability to demonstrate capabilities to manage own workload, make informed decisions in the absence of required information, work under pressure to tight and often changing timescales to meet deadlines

An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems

Desirable criteria

Post-graduate degree or equivalent experience in public health, epidemiology, health intelligence, statistics, computer science or data science. Line management experience and an understanding of the principles of good employment practice. Ability to manage a project team without direct line management responsibility of project team members (matrix working).

Selection Process Details

This vacancy will be assessed using a competency-based framework which will assess your knowledge and experience and/or skills and abilities outlined in the essential criteria.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• 1250 word Statement of Suitability

This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked separately.

Unfortunately, late applications will not be considered.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview.

Please do not exceed 1250 words. We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a single remote interview if successful at sift.

Knowledge, experience, skills and abilities will be tested at interview.

There will be an assessment and presentation at interview. Further details will be provided if successful and invited to interview.

Interviews dates TBC.

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

Additional Location Information

UKHSA operates a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ.

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard.

Working for the Civil Service

TheCivil Service Codesets 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'srecruitment principles.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

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.

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.

Starting salary

Entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band.

The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase.

Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

For further details please refer to the Information Sheet - Starting Salaries & Benefits attachment.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to first degree level or equivalent relevant experience, preferably in a numerate discipline such as epidemiology, statistics, mathematics, coding/programming, sciences, social sciences, economics, geography or similar

Desirable

• Post-graduate degree or equivalent experience in public health, epidemiology, health intelligence, statistics, computer science or data science

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Comprehensive skills in the use of at least some of the following: coding/programming (R, Python), SQL, databases, GIS, statistical software (e.g. R, Stata, SAS, SPSS)
• Experience of working with public health or health care data
• Experience of writing reports and communicating analytical/statistical matters to non-analytical/statistical professionals.
• Experience of developing and using data visualisation tools including dashboards (e.g. PowerBI, R Shiny) for presenting and interpreting complex public health analysis and findings to key stakeholders
• Knowledge of data security and confidentiality issues
• Experience of using epidemiological and statistical software methods and packages

Desirable

• Line management experience and an understanding of the principles of good employment practice.

Skills and Capabilities

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate high degree of literacy, numeracy, accuracy and attention to detail
• Ability to create and deliver written and oral presentations, drawing on complex health intelligence as well as presenting findings of your own analyses to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to accurately analyse, interpret and present quantitative data
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary steam, working to instruction and independently, and to use initiative
• Ability to demonstrate capabilities to manage own workload, make informed decisions in the absence of required information, work under pressure to tight and often changing timescales to meet deadlines

Desirable

• Ability to manage a project team without direct line management responsibility of project team members (matrix working).

Equality and Diversity

Essential

• An understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity and good working relationships, both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ

London

NW9 5EQ

Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)