About the job

Job summary

Our Mission

We are known as IfATE, we are a group of passionate people who work with employers to develop, approve, review and revise apprenticeships and technical qualifications.

We are transforming and improving the skills system by putting employers at the heart and making it easier to navigate for all.

You will be part of an organisation that works to help people of all ages and backgrounds have the opportunity to maximise their potential, contribute to improving social mobility and the UK’s productivity.

Find out more about the work of IfATE in the ‘What we do’ page on our website.

We are building an inclusive culture to make IfATE a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, and actively welcome applications from everyone including those from underrepresented groups.

Job description

This role is for a Data Scientist within the Data Innovation team. This team sits in the Digital and Analytical Services division at the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (the Institute).

This role suits somebody who enjoys and has good experience using data science and coding to solve analytical problems. 

You will use Python to work both independently and with other data scientists in the Data Innovation team to support the Institute’s priorities. This is an exciting opportunity if you want to learn and implement a wide range of data science techniques and use innovation to help the Institute deliver high-quality technical education for young people and employers.

Responsibilities 

• Plan, lead or contribute to analytical projects and offer support for wider Institute projects.
• Maintain data pipelines transferring key datasets from external sources into the Institute’s centralised digital system to enhance analytical work.
• Review and quality assure code to maintain high programming and analytical standards.
• Suggest and trial ideas for how to meet the changing evidence needs of the Institute, including using new datasets or analytical techniques.
• Support colleagues across the Institute to better interpret analytical results. This could be verbally through presentations or using written reports.
• Engage with analytical colleagues across government to understand existing work and summarise for internal use.
• Contribute to the learning culture within the division and across the wider analytical community. This includes attending division learning sessions and supporting others to develop their skills.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Knowledge, understanding, and experience of coding in Python (or similar programming language) for data cleaning, manipulation, analysis, and presentation.
  
• Experience of a broad range of analytical skills and techniques for drawing insight from data.
• Keen enthusiasm for learning and using data science techniques such as, and not limited to, reproducible analytical reports, natural language processing, machine learning, modelling, forecasting, automated testing, and web-scraping.
• Experience of bringing together data from disparate sources to address complex problems.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including presenting analysis to non-analysts and visual representation of data.
• Well-developed project and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of collaborative code development using version control.
• Experience of and interest in using Natural Language Processing techniques.
• Strong record of continued learning and development.
  

Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie between candidates.

Working flexibly is important to the success of the IfATE, and while you will have specific responsibilities as set out above, you will be part of a ‘one team’ approach and may be asked to be involved in a range of other activities. As new areas of work progress, you may be asked to move between teams to deliver the IfATE’s key priorities.

At IfATE, we are currently undergoing a period of transformation. We approach this challenge with a commitment to transparency, fairness, and respect for every current and future member of our organisation. As we reshape our organisation, we are seeking individuals who share our vision and values.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,402, Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education contributes £10,638 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Experience.

Application

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.

You will be asked to submit a Personal statement (word count: 750) in which you will need to evidence how you meet the essential criteria listed above.

If we receive high volumes of applications, we will sift using the first two essential criteria, so please ensure that the first half of your personal statement is aligned to these criteria.

Please also submit the CV information including your employment history, and full details on qualifications. These will be used as supporting material.

Candidates eligible for the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) will be invited to interview if they meet the minimum criteria at application stage. Please refer to the Candidate Information Pack for more details.

Interview

The interview will involve a discussion around your Experience based on the adverts’ criteria, your CV, and your statement.

You will be required to do a presentation at interview stage, details will be provided to shortlisted candidates upon invite to interview.

Sift and Interview Dates

Sift is expected to take place w/c 20/05/2024.

Interviews are expected to take place w/c 03/06/2024.

Please note, the above dates are subject to change.

Interviews will be expected to take place remotely via MS Teams. Please refer to Candidate Information Pack for further information on the process.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to IFATE 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

Reasonable Adjustment

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 ifaterecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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.

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 Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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

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

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.