About the job

Job summary

The Government People Group exists to work with departments, professions, and functions to build a modern, effective Civil Service.

We support the government workforce with the right skills and capability. We are working with leaders to get the right people in the right jobs, with the right skills and continuous learning to excel in their roles.

We provide leadership, and in turn, create leaders with exceptional line management capability across departments, influencing partners in the wider public sector and beyond. This involves getting our retention and reward strategy right, to nurture specific skills, and create pride and resilience in our workforce.

Our role is also to provide system leadership across central government in pulling together back office services. Collectively, we help support the Cabinet Office’s priority to drive efficiencies, and reforms that will make government work better, to ultimately provide a better service to the public.

The role available sits within GPG Platforms, Data and Interoperability (PD&I) directorate. It provides first-class platforms and services for over 400,000 civil servants, including recruitment, data analysis, skills and learning solutions. Responsible for the operation and modernisation of Civil Service digital and data platforms.

You will be based within the Data and Insight team, who have developed our core data platform and is a lead analytical unit across Government People Group. Across our newly created team we provide a range of insight and data services which drive visual value for a range of internal clients e.g. objective and high-quality data analytics, statistical reporting and operational research to support senior leaders. Our services enable users to understand and tackle complex problems, increase operational effectiveness and develop their organisational strategy.

Job description

About the role
We are looking for an Operational Researcher who has experience in delivering analysis through the use of data science approaches.

You will work within the GPG Data and Insight GRID project team. This is a digital team which owns an AWS-based analysis platform. The platform operates Reproducible Analytical Pipelines to collect data and stores this within a data warehouse which is then shared with wider data and analysis teams. The project also hosts and supports Artificial intelligence, robotics automation and data visualisation projects.

Key Responsibilities are:
● Critical role for data migration/data modelling for the future Civil Service Job project.
● Maintain, develop and use professional networks within the Civil Service and externally in order to maintain knowledge of activity and enable innovations in analysis.
● Maintain and develop Reproducible Analytical Pipelines (RAP).
● Provide leadership and support in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning.
● Awareness of quality assurance techniques and ensure the appropriate application of techniques to deliver robust analytical models and results.
● Prototyping of new digital-based analysis products.
● Training and mentoring wider analysis and data teams.
● Lead on analysis requests which falls within the Operational Research domain.

Person specification

You will demonstrate the essential criteria:
● Good level of proficiency with Python
● Experience with data visualisation e.g. Tableau, Plotly, R Shiny or similar
● Previous experience working on complex analysis projects, ideally utilising Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence or other advanced digital approaches
● The successful candidate will be expected to become a badged member of the Government Operational Research Service - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service-government-operational-research-service

Desirable experience (not essential, training can be provided):
● Experience with Amazon Web Services
● Experience using Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or similar
● Experience using R

Further information:
This role is aligned to the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) Capability Framework for the Civil Service. At interview you will be assessed against the Principal Data Scientist role - https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/data-scientist

We understand that it can be difficult to understand if a role is right for you, if you are curious to learn more about the role you can attend our virtual ‘meet the team’ session on 11 June 2024 09:00-10:00 (visit meet.google.com/tkt-mmms-qzk to join) where you will have the opportunity to learn more about our work and speak with the team to decide if this role is the right fit for you.

We are not looking for a perfect candidate, we are looking for someone curious, innovative and willing to develop their skills to achieve meaningful analysis.

Please read the next paragraph before applying. If you do not have the appropriate qualifications we are unlikely to accept your application.

You must have (or expect to have in the next year) a highly mathematical degree to, which must be one of the following: a minimum 2:1, or a 2:2 with relevant work experience, or a postgraduate qualification. To meet our definition of a highly numerate degree, at least half of your degree course must be from one or more of the following subjects: maths, physics, astrophysics, operational research, management science, engineering (civil, chemical, electronic), data science, decision science, statistics, econometrics or similar.

Please provide details of your bachelors and any postgraduate degrees (even if you are still studying for it) ensuring that you include:
● Type of qualification (for example BSc, MSc, PhD);
● Course or qualification title (for example Maths, Physics, OR);
● Subjects, modules or thesis (listed by each year they were taken); and
● Degree class or mark awarded or expected (for example 1st, 2:1, MSc).
If you do not provide all these details, we may not be able to fully assess your eligibility.

You must be able to explain highly technical concepts in plain English.

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 £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 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 Experience and Technical skills.

Stage 1 - Application & Sift
To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process which is assessed against the essential criteria (Experience and Technical success profiles) and includes providing the following:

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. You will add your information into a structured form rather than attaching a document.

2. A Personal Statement explaining how your skills and experience are relevant to the role. This should include examples showing how you have completed similar responsibilities and activities.You should focus on the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification section of the advert. The statement is limited to no longer than 750 words.

A Sift of your CV and Personal Statement will be conducted against the Essential Criteria outlined in the Person Specification. Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using your CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
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Stage 2 - Video Interview
Unless you are otherwise informed, the final stage of the process will be a video interview via Google Meet.

For this role, the following Success Profiles will be assessed at the interview:

● Experience
○ You will be asked to give a 15-minute presentation on your previous projects/work to demonstrate your experience. This should be pitched towards a technical
audience (showing your code, demos, focus on key challenges and outcomes)

● Technical
○ At the interview, you will be asked questions to test the below technical skills:
● Data engineering and manipulation
● Applied maths, statistics and scientific practices
● Developing data science capability

Selection process
Expected timeline: Sift will be completed within 1 week of the advert closing date
Expected interview date/s: The interviews will occur at the end of June, beginning of July 2024
Interview location: Online

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 at: cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘assistance required’ section in the ‘personal information’ page of your application form to provide information we should be aware of that will enable us to support you 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
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

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.

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.

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 /Disclosure Scotland 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. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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

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.

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.