Senior Data Scientist – Opportunity Mission

APPLY HERE: Senior Data Scientist – Opportunity Mission

• Location: Bristol - BS2 0EL, Coventry - CV1 2WT, Manchester - M1 2WD, Sheffield - S1 2FJ

Please note – Bristol currently has site controls in place. Therefore, this location option is only available to existing DfE employees already assigned to this office location

• Salary: £41,458

Job summary

An excellent and high profile role has arisen to join the Department for Education and lead on the forefront of delivery of the Opportunity Mission Dashboard.

The Opportunity Mission is a key Government programme on breaking down the barriers to opportunity and DfE is leading on ensuring we create opportunities for children and learners to thrive. The Advanced Analytics Division is leading on developing a dashboard in collaboration with Number 10 to design, build and monitor a large range of indicators that will track progress to achieving the objectives of the mission.

The requirement is for a Senior Data Scientist to lead on the technical delivery of the dashboard working in an agile team with other specialists to ensure successful delivery of the project. The stakeholders include the senior leadership within DfE as well as working closely with our colleagues in Number 10.

Job description

As the lead on technical delivery for the dashboard work you will be part of a dedicated project team with data scientists and other specialisms to manage the successful delivery of the Opportunity Mission dashboard work.

The work involves:

• Reviewing requirements for the content and design of the dashboard and building indicators
• Building automation of the flow of data from source to the dashboard
• Modelling the data to enable ease of dashboard updates and consistent definitions
• Designing and developing the dashboard to meet DfE and Number 10 standards
• Create effective data visualisations and lead the team on maintaining best practices
• Make refinements following user testing
• Technical oversight of whole product and support to other developers.

As a Senior Data Scientist in the Advanced Analytics Division you will be part of a wider dedicated team that utilises advanced analytical techniques and machine learning capabilities to drive efficiencies and enhance value of the data held across the whole department. You will develop analytical solutions that extract valuable insights, patterns and trends that can be used to predict impact and prescriptive intelligence. You will work closely with stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, and data analysts, to provide analytical insights and artificial intelligence that drives positive change.

Person specification

Due to the business need for delivery it is absolutely critical that to apply for the role you must have expertise in Plotly Dash and Python programming. The indicators used will have data from across the whole of DfE and other Government Departments and is managed by a Rapid API so setting up API linkage and development is also essential.

Other Essential Criteria:

• Professional experience in data science or related role with proven tracked record in data science product delivery to accomplish organisational objectives
• Have practical experience in leading innovative, data driven solutions on large or complex data sets including gathering disparate data, extensive data manipulation and iteration of analytical techniques
• Have led on delivery of repeatable and reusable data products and tools which embed analytics into business operations or strategic decision making
• Be confident in delivering complex insights in a compelling and succinct way tailored to the audience
• Be able to convey detailed advice and information to colleagues, including those in more senior grades with a limited understanding of the area
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor junior team members

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Plotly Dash and Python programming (Technical Breadth)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,458, Department for Education contributes £12,010 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

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

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