About the job

Job summary

In DHSC, we are proud of our purpose – to enable everyone to live more independent, healthier lives for longer. To achieve this, and create a great place to work, we have four values: we are inclusive, we constantly improve, we challenge, and we are agile. If this sounds like an environment you’d like to work in, we’d love to hear from you.

The public should expect decisions around their health to be based on the best insights derivable from the data they give to us - that requires data scientists!

The Data Science hub are raising capability with the ingredients that allow great data science to happen everywhere in DHSC; Skills & Talent, Community & Culture, Leadership, Platform, Tools and Data. We work across the department to deliver innovative data science projects and are making AI work for DHSC with our Advanced Analytics programme.

To achieve this, we:

- Deliver innovative data science products leveraging emerging technologies such as Generative AI.

- Productionise AI applications through our Advanced Analytics programme

- set strategic direction for data science in DHSC.

- Are a friendly and accessible central resource of technical expertise

- Bring in talented data scientists to DHSC and support them via a vibrant community and L&D offer

- Foster relationships with data scientists across the health and social care sector, government, and industry.

- Act as ambassadors for data science with all our colleagues.

- Implement the government’s Reproducible Analytical Pipelines strategy.

- Collaborate with academia and partners across government and the health sector

Our team serves as the central hub for data science, giving us access to an incredible breadth of projects. Recent work has utilised LLMs, machine learning classifiers, geospatial routing analysis, interactive data visualisations and natural language processing. We have applied these to topics as varied as dentistry, adult social care, mental health, and NHS performance, as well as focussing on how emerging AI tools can increase departmental efficiency.

We also serve as the professional anchor for data science, organising community events, providing learning and development opportunities, setting strategy for data science, and being visible as ambassadors for our work and the data science community.

Job description

We are looking to hire a principal data scientist at Grade 7 in the Data Science Hub. Principal data scientists are technical leaders with experience delivering complex projects individually and through a team. 

You will take on responsibility for leading on a particular strand of data science as the department’s go-to person (e.g. for NLP or Geospatial work), but as we matrix-manage our delivery you can expect to contribute to a very wide range of projects outside of the topic you “own”. While the role comes with leadership and management elements, you can expect to spend a significant amount of your time coding and developing yourself technically. You will set out workplans for yourself and others and contribute to work prioritisation.

Our team has a strong focus on building capability in others and so you will build a large network of data scientists as we engage with the community. The role comes with line management responsibility for 1-3 data scientists.

Person specification

Role responsibilities

In this role you will have responsibility to: 

• Contribute to and lead delivery teams of data scientists in deploying products and producing analysis.
• Help to set direction for the team and the community
• Scope new work and propose new directions.
• Take on responsibility for leading on a particular strand of data science as the department’s go-to person (e.g. for NLP or Geospatial work),  but as we matrix-manage our delivery you can expect to contribute to a very wide range of projects outside of the topic you “own”.
• Be responsible for ensuring that projects you lead are delivered on time and to a high standard with requisite assurance in place.
• Have line management responsibilities, looking after development and wellbeing of junior data scientists.
• Contribute to learning and development of data scientists across the department through mentoring, structured learning, and informal ad-hoc support.

Key skills and experience required for this role

Our standards are aligned to the Data Science Capability Framework. Some key requirements are:

• Expert in at least one of R or Python, ideally with a good working level in both.
• Fluent in Git workflows
• Good understanding of a range of a wide range of data science techniques and their deployment
• Technical leadership – demonstrable in-depth knowledge of a specialist area
• Sufficient expertise to set requirements for data engineers, architects and devops, experience working in cloud architectures
• Experience leading technical delivery teams and choosing appropriate delivery method (e.g. waterfall, AGILE)
• Experience scoping and designing projects for impact
• Commitment to upskilling others
• Good knowledge of standards and assurance processes
• Line management experience
• Working knowledge of data ethics and data governance
• Ability to communicate complex concepts for a variety of audiences

Details for badging into the Government Statistical Service (GSS): 

Candidates applying to be badged into the Government Statistical Service will be required to complete an online GSS test as part of the application process. This test will be shared with you shortly following the application deadline. You will need to pass this test to progress to the sift stage. 
 
If invited to interview, candidates applying to be badged will complete an online dissemination test and present the findings of this test as part of the interview assessment. This test paper will be passed on to the assessment panel, who will ask some follow up questions as part of your interview. Candidates will also be asked technical questions in line with the GSG Competency Framework. 
 
Candidates applying to be badged into the Government Statistical Service must meet the following eligibility criteria: 
 
Either:

• Must be a citizen of Britain, the EU or the Commonwealth
• Holds a first or 2:1 degree in a subject containing formal Statistical Training (e.g. statistics, mathematics, economics, sciences, business studies, psychology, geography or similar)

OR

• Have at least 2 years appropriate experience in a relevant statistical field AND hold a minimum of the RSS Higher Certificate  

Candidates with a Data Science background may also wish to become badged as a Data Scientist, via the Government Statistical Service. The requirements and assessment are as per the above, and candidates must also be able to demonstrate relevant experience in your career as a professional data scientist. 

Details for badging into the Government Operational Research Service (GORS):  

Candidates applying to be badged into the Government Operational Research Service will be tested on technical Operational Research competencies as part of the interview.  
  
Candidates applying to badged will be asked to prepare a 5-minute presentation prepared in advance, followed by around 10 minutes of questions from the interview panel. The subject of the presentation should be an Operational Research project the candidate has worked on which had an impact.
 
Candidates applying to be badged into the Government Operational Research Service must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Must be a citizen of Britain, the EU or the Commonwealth  
• Holds a 2:1 or higher numerate degree, or a 2:2 with relevant work experience or postgraduate qualification.  

Frameworks for badging processes:

• GSS: 

  Competency framework for the Government Statistician Group (GSG) – Government Analysis Function (civilservice.gov.uk)

• DDAT:

  Skills A to Z - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk)

Working location requirements

Your normal place of work will be your contractual primary workplace, usually either London or Leeds.  Within DHSC we offer non-contractual hybrid working. The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time spent in the office, enabling in person interaction and collaboration and enhancing team working, learning, and support. 

You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas and some travel may be required across the DHSC estate. 

Opportunities for some working from home may be available; other flexible working options may be discussed with the hiring manager in line with individual circumstances and business need. 

There are a limited number of DHSC colleagues who have existing agreed homeworking contracts resulting from Our Future Estate Programme 2023-2024. Colleagues covered by these arrangements are eligible to apply for this role whilst continuing their agreed existing home working arrangement. Occasional travel to DHSC offices or other locations may still be required according to business need. Travel and subsistence will be provided in line with the pre-agreed homeworker arrangements.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,116, Department of Health and Social Care contributes £14,341 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, Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

Sift date: W/C 13/05/2024

Interview date: expected W/C 03/06/2024

Interview location: The interview will take place by video.

The available interview slots will be released with the sift scores. 

Applications will be sifted on an online test, CV, and Statement of Suitability

Please use your CV to set out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. These can be found in the ‘key skills and experience required for the role’ section of the advert. Please also include a list of your relevant qualifications. 

Please use your statement of suitability to (in no more than 1000 words) outline how you meet the key skills and experience required for the role as set out in the job advert.

Candidates who are applying to be badged into the Government Statistical Service will be required to complete a Government Statisticians Group Online Test as part of the online application, you will be invited to take this test after your application is submitted. If you successfully pass the test, you will progress to a full sift. If you fail to complete the GSS test, your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.  

At interview candidates will be assessed on Behaviours and a Technical Skill.

Candidates will be given a coding exercise ahead of interview. The output of this exercise will be discussed at interview, with the candidate being assessed on this discussion.

Candidates will be asked to give a presentation which will assess a technical skill: analysis which had impact. Details of the presentation question will be issued to candidates with the release of the sift scores.

To find out more about working in the department please visit our page on the Civil Service Careers Website here 

Applicants who are appointable but were not successful in appointment to this vacancy, may be held on a reserve list for up to 12 months, and contacted if similar vacancies become available. 

Please be aware that some travel may be required across the DHSC estate. 

Please note that applicants will require BPSS clearance.  

Qualifications required for the role will be checked and verified by the vacancy holder as part of the onboarding process. You may also be asked to provide evidence that any qualifications obtained overseas are equivalent to those advertised.

Further Information

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

Any move to DHSC 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 dhscrecruitment.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.

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.

This role is being advertised on a permanent basis. If preferable, Loan or Secondment options will also be available for existing Civil Servants (Loan) and applicants from accredited NDPBs or any other employer (Secondment). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

Terms and Conditions

Candidates should note that DHSC’s Terms and Conditions of employment changed from 1 October 2013. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful. 

New Entrants to the Civil Service

New entrants appointed in grades AA to G6 will receive DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions:

• Annual Leave: 25 days on entry rising by one day for each completed year of service to a maximum of 30 days and pro-rata for part-time staff
• Privilege Leave: 1 day - for the King’s birthday
• Hours of Work: 37 hours (net) per week for full time staff in all geographical locations, including London and pro rata for part-time staff
• Occupational Sick Pay (OSP): one month full pay/one month half pay on entry, rising by one month for each completed year of service to a maximum of five months’ full pay and five months’ half pay
• Mobility: Mobility clause in contracts allow staff to be mobile across the Civil Service
• Probation: 6 month probation period

Existing Civil Service staff transferring from another Government department, on either level transfer or promotion

All staff moving to DHSC will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above). 

Existing DHSC staff, appointed on either level transfer or promotion

If DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions are already held, the employee will retain those terms and conditions. If DHSC’s pre-modernised terms and conditions are held, the employee will transfer onto DHSC’s modernised terms and conditions (as outlined above).

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.