About the job

Job summary

The Prime Minister’s Office enables the Prime Minister to deliver the Government’s overall priorities and to communicate the Government’s policies to Parliament, the public and international audiences. From the Policy Unit and Press Office, Switchboard and Custodians, to the Events & Visits team and Private Office support; the diverse Downing Street team draws on varied expertise from across the Civil Service and beyond. The teams come together to deliver excellent service to the Prime Minister while also making No10 a great place to work.

The Team

The No10 data science team, 10DS, offers an unparalleled opportunity to develop your career personally and within the Civil Service. Formed in mid-2020, 10DS is here to radically improve the way in which key decisions are informed by data, analysis and evidence. We do this by: 

1. Enabling No10 to utilise the best available evidence by combining cutting-edge data science with clear, engaging communication throughout the policy and decision-making process, ensuring that the Prime Minister and staff are intelligent customers of analysis, and embedding a culture of evidence-informed policy
2. Provoking positive change across central government through providing challenge and feedback, and collaborating across Whitehall to drive long-term systems change and collectively solve the most pressing policy challenges

We are committed to having a fantastic team culture - our People Survey scores show 94% of staff would recommend us as a great place to work and 100% of the team felt their manager is considerate of the life outside of work.

We believe that excellence and innovation is only possible with a diverse team, and actively encourage applicants from a range backgrounds.

To find out more about the team, see the Team Pack attached with this advert.

Job description

As data scientist, you will be instrumental in the success of priority programmes, from cutting NHS waiting lists to helping the UK reach Net Zero by 2050. You will own and shape the journey of this data from source to use by system leaders, exercising significant range in the techniques you choose to deploy.

You will work closely with colleagues in No10 and across government collect data, conduct high quality analysis, create engaging visualisations and develop insights, all to inform critical decision making. Our customers include senior ministers, the Prime Minister and Civil Service leaders.

You will also contribute to the cross-government data science community, engaging with a range of stakeholders to champion the value of data science. 10DS has a strong programme of technological development, drawing on capabilities in Python and cloud computing.

10DS are strongly committed to learning and development, and are more interested in your aptitude and attitude than pre-existing expertise. Significant on-the-job training, mentorship and support can be provided for the right applicant.

You may also be considered for other data science roles at similar or at a lower grade or in other topic areas (e.g. crime and justice, health).

Person specification

Person specification

A diverse and inclusive culture promotes innovation and enables us to better meet our goals as a team. If you are interested but feel you don't yet meet every requirement, please apply. We value enthusiasm, aptitude for growth, and diversity of thought and experience, along with the skills and experience outlined.

Main responsibilities

• Developing innovative, clear and engaging products to communicate data and analysis, including interactive visualisation tools in Plotly Dash for Python
• Applying advanced analytical techniques and machine learning (including natural language processing) to extract delivery-relevant insight from data
• Establishing data flows and pipelines from a wide range of sources across Whitehall by establishing relationships and promoting technological solutions such as APIs
• Using Python for creation of reproducible analysis and visualisation
• Presenting evidence to the Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers and senior civil servants
• Inspiring the people who make decisions and drive delivery of essential public services to use data
• Establishing and maintaining strong networks across government relevant to your policy area

You will be able to competently demonstrate:

• Strong numeracy and experience deploying a range of analytical techniques
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex information into meaningful, easily understood narrative for non-analytical audiences
• Keenness to develop excellence in communicating analytical findings for impact, including through creative visualisation
• Experience of working effectively at pace
• Interest or experience in the delivery of programmes for public service improvement
• Strong interest in use of data and evidence to drive better outcomes
• Attention to detail

The following are desirable (but proficiency can be developed in post):

• Coding in Python
• Application of data science methods in Python
• Data visualisation skills
• Use of GitHub
• Coding best practice – structuring, commenting and documenting code, developing and deploying reusable components, incorporating tests, validation and error handling.
• Experience working with databases, structured and unstructured data, and large-volume raw operational data

On the job training can be provided, however pay will be commensurate with technical experience as per the DDaT allowance process.

Essential Skills/Experience

• The ability to work at pace in a complex multi-stakeholder environment, driving progress in the face of a range of competing views and priorities
• Policy and strategic analysis skills that can be deployed flexibly across a wide range of priorities
• Highly developed communication and networking skills, an ability to build strong relationships and operate with senior stakeholders across government, and skills to translate complex information into meaningful, easily understood narratives.
• Knowledge of (quasi-) experimental methods and data collection.

Experience of conducting advanced quantitative analyses

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 £58,800, Cabinet Office contributes £15,876 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

Please include a CV and use the Personal Statement to explain how your skills and experience make you a suitable candidate for the role. You can refer to the skills/experience outlined in the job description.

Selection process

Candidates successful at sift will be invited to a technical assessment held virtually as part of stage 1 interviews. This will require access to your preferred analytical software - typically people use a programming language that is good for data analysis such as python or R. Further information about the exercise will be shared with shortlisted candidates.

Candidates successful at stage 1 assessment will be invited to Behaviour and Technical based interview.

We may also offer ‘near-miss’ opportunities – meaning at the end of the recruitment campaign you may be offered a similar role at a lower grade.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – February
Expected interview date/s – Late Feb/early March
Interview location - TBC

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.

Further information

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.