About the job

Job summary

If you are an experienced Data Scientist with strong technical skills, then this is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the delivery of data science projects at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

About the CMA

We help people, businesses, and the UK economy by promoting competitive markets and tackling unfair behaviour. Our work is wide ranging, ambitious and often new and challenging.

The Data, Technology and Analytics (DaTA) unit is an established and growing team, providing large-scale data acquisition, engineering and analysis for the CMA’s biggest cases and market studies. The DaTA unit helps the CMA to stay ahead, with expertise in technology policy, behavioural economics, data science and data engineering.

We are fully committed to being a flexible, respectful and inclusive employer. It is a priority to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we welcome applications from under-represented groups.

You can read more about working at the CMA in our candidate pack

Job description

Joining an established team of data scientists and engineers, you will provide analytical support on CMA cases and develop tools to improve how the CMA operates. We build most of our tools ourselves, on top of open-source software, using our custom analysis platform built on the AWS infrastructure. Data scientists in our team have space to explore the use of new, cutting-edge techniques in data processing and machine learning, including large language models and generative AI.

Working on a variety of interesting cases and investigations, you will lead, support and design data science projects and tools and their solutions to support the functions of the CMA, as well as provide insights to staff across the organisation. You will identify where data science can best support the CMA, sourcing competition and consumer protection issues that CMA could address using data science methods.

You will also promote best development practices, including the development of high-quality Python code and identifying opportunities for standardisation and process improvement.

Person specification

It is essential that you can provide evidence and examples for each of the following selection criteria in your application. For tips on how to make the most your application, please have a look at our guidance document.

Essential: 

• A degree in a quantitative subject OR equivalent experience working in data science.
• Significant experience delivering data science projects as part of a team and experience of shaping and leading analytical projects.
• Strong knowledge of modern machine learning methods and tools, as well as data extraction and manipulation (knowledge of data engineering tools and techniques, such as cloud services and git version control is a plus).
• The ability to translate a problem statement into a data science proposal and then develop a solution.
• Substantial ability and experience of coding in Python and/or R.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to write reports for a non-technical audience and to present analysis in a straightforward and engaging way.
• Experience of working collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders, building excellent working relationships.

Desirable:

• While a good understanding of competition and consumer issues would be a bonus, it is not essential and the CMA prides itself on ensuring that staff can grow and develop their skills.

The role is open to existing members of the Government Economic Service (GES), Government Operational Research Service (GORS), Government Statistical Group (GSG), Government Social Research (GSR) and Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) professions and you will have the opportunity to retain your badged status in this role.

If you are a member of a Government Analytical profession (GORS, GSG, GES or GSR) please indicate that in your application.

It is not essential that you are a member of one of these professions as you will also be assessed against the Data Scientist capability framework as described in the Digital, Data and Technology profession.  You can learn more about this here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/data-scientist 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £59,100, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £15,957 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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and an online application form. Further details about application requirements are listed on the application form.

The selection process will comprise of the sift (CV & application review) a technical test and an interview. Arrangements for the interview will be enclosed in the invitation. 

Please note that it is essential that your personal statement is aligned to provide evidence that you have the knowledge and experience for each of the essential criteria (as included on the role profile attached and listed above under 'Person Specification') in your application. Your personal statement should be no more than 1250 words.

The sift will take place 13 - 21 June 2024.

Candidates that pass the initial application sift will be invited to do a technical test – a coding and data science test which will take place on the week commencing 01 July 2024

Candidates that pass the technical test will then be invited to attend an interview. 

Interviews will be held from the week commencing 15 July 2024.

The interview will be a 45-60 minute panel interview where you will be asked questions based on the Behaviours, Technical and Experience elements outlined in the role profile.

Please note that interviews will be held on Microsoft Teams.

Reasonable adjustments

We want to make sure no one is 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 change to be made so that you can make your application, you should complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process.  You can also email recruitment@cma.gov.uk.

For example, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you are deaf, a Language Service Professional. You might also require additional time to complete a timed assessment or a sign language interpreter to support with the relaying of information.

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.