About the job

Job summary

The National Situation Centre (SitCen) brings together data, analysis and insight to inform crisis response and preparation alongside the Cabinet Office COBR function. Since its launch, SitCen has transformed how data and analytical insight can provide critical situational awareness during national crisis events.

SitCen is a unique experience for analysts, with the opportunity to work on a range of topic areas such as extreme weather events, human and animal diseases, international conflicts and economic crises; where you often see the impact from your work in a matter of hours. We are recognised by international partners as being one of the world leaders in using data for crisis response
and we are recruiting for a data scientist to help us continue bringing innovative methods and improvements to what we do.

If you are looking for a role where you can make a difference during times of national crisis, and want to have the opportunity to bring your analytical skills, curiosity and innovation to bear, then we’d love to hear from you.

As an experienced data scientist, you will be instrumental in improving how data and analytical insight can provide the right information to senior decision makers during national crisis events.

You will work closely with the technologists and data engineers in SitCen to optimise the use of our cloud data platform; further building automation and assurance procedures into the data journey of ingestion, analysis and dissemination.

You will have a collaborative mindset and be keen to share your knowledge to support the development of data science best practices across the mixed profession analytical team in SitCen and build strong networks across data science and analytical communities in Cabinet Office, Number 10 and wider HMG.

You will be using a range of analytical and visualisation tools to interrogate and draw conclusions from multiple data sources. Innovation is highly valued in the team, and you will be encouraged to develop and create approaches that bring new insight to critical situations facing the UK.

Job description

• Setting the standards on use of data science practices in SitCen. These will include use of Github; ensuring coding best practice – structuring, commenting and documenting code, developing and deploying reusable components, incorporating tests, validation and error handling.
• Developing the use of real-time data sets during crisis responses. This includes open source and commercial structured and unstructured data sets. You will work with data engineers to optimise the data ingestion, processing and storage with cloud-based tools and capability.
• Support the continued transition to fully automated production of our xHMG dashboard, DASH (Data, Analysis & Situational Awareness Hub) with APIs and use of bespoke, assured code for visualisation and trend/anomaly analysis.
• As part of a rota (potentially up to 1/3 of your time), you will lead a team of analysts delivering analytical and data briefing products into COBR. This will include working with policy and operational colleagues to understand the requirement, deciding and directing the analysis and ensuring a high quality output.

Person specification

Essential

• Leadership in developing data science capability within a team. You will have experience of, and keenness for, promoting best practice data science skills such as the use of GitHub; documenting, assuring and validating code repositories and supporting other analysts in this best practice.
• Data science skillset with advanced Python knowledge and experience, to ingest and process data, including building robust reproducible analytical pipelines and working with APIs.
• Highly developed communication skills to translate complex analytical findings into meaningful, easily understood narratives for customers, including through creative visualisations.
• The ability to lead and motivate a team of mixed profession analysts to deliver high quality, assured and insightful analysis that answers customer requirements often to tight deadlines.
• Be a member of, or have the entry requirements to be a member of either the Government Operational Research Service (GORS), Government Statistical Group (GSG): Statistical Data Scientist or the Government Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) profession: Lead Data Scientist.

Desirable

• You will have experience of working with data engineers and other technical experts to build observable and assured automated data pipelines from ingestion through to the final product using cloud based systems and tools (e.g. AWS, Azure, GCP).
  
• Experience working in crisis response teams and delivering analytical briefing products.

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £69,015, Cabinet Office contributes £18,634 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 (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process 

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and a 1250 word personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

Please use the personal statement to provide evidence of how you meet the person specification outlined in the advert and how your skills and experience make you a suitable candidate. Please include whether you are currently badged to the GSG, GORS or DDaT profession or which of GSS, GORS or DDaT you meet the entry requirements for.

GORS entry requirements:

You must possess a 2:1 or higher numerate degree, or a 2:2 with relevant work experience or postgraduate qualification

GSG entry requirements

A first- or second-class honours degree in a numerate discipline, computer science or IT equivalent which demonstrates core statistical skills or relevant work experience, postgraduate or apprenticeship qualifications.

Selection process

During the blended interview you will be assessed against your experience, 2 civil service behaviours as well as four technical assessments;

The Civil behaviours that will be assessed are: 

• Delivering at pace
• Working together

The competencies that will be assessed from the DDaT framework: Lead Data Scientist are:

• Applied maths, statistics and scientific practices. Level: Expert
• Developing Data Science Capability. Level: Expert
• Data Engineering and Manipulation. Level: Expert
• Programming and build. Level: Expert

As part of the interview you will be asked to undertake a practical Python coding assessment which will provide evidence against the Data Engineering and Manipulation & Programming and Build competencies. More details on this will be shared on invitation to the interview.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – 28th May
Expected interview date/s – TBC
Interview location - Remote via google meet

Further information

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

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

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.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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. 

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.

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.

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

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

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.