Associate Data Scientist - ONS - HEO

We are looking for data scientists to work at the heart of the transformation of our statistics, using your skills as a data scientist to harness insight from a diverse range of data sources.

We are advertising for roles in our Data Science Campus (DSC), and Reproducible Data Science & Analysis (RDSA) teams:

• The Data Science Campus helps inform the management of the UK economy by using innovative data sources, methods, and analysis. We ensure that the Office for National Statistics (ONS), HM Government, and other National Statistical Institutes become more efficient, resilient, and future-proofed. Also, we strengthen data science skills across the public sector and internationally, enabling the exploitation of potential benefits in a data rich world. Further information on our work can be found here: Data Science Campus
• The Reproducible Data Science & Analysis Team (RDSA) uses cutting-edge data science skills to produce the next generation of economic statistics. Current priorities include developing new systems for key statistics related to the UK economy, including trade, inflation and national accounts. More information about work at RDSA can be found here: Using Data Science for Next Gen Statistics

Job description

In the Data Science Campus, you will work in a team of data scientists with colleagues across the public sector to ensure the best techniques and technologies are leveraged to help solve a broad set of problems and analytical challenges, with a passion for describing our approaches and solutions to varying audiences.

Work will be focused in one or more of the following areas: providing actionable insights to assist policymakers, supporting the development of official statistics, improving the efficiency of ONS, and building data science capability.

In RDSA, you will work at the heart of the transformation of the statistical landscape, using your skills as a data scientist to harness insight from a diverse range of data sources. You will have a passion for using data science to improve the quality of analysis and drawing conclusions.  

A self-motivated learner, you will have the drive to use the time given to you in this role to constantly improve your data science skills, learning from your colleagues and a range of external sources. A team player, you will be comfortable working alongside a range of colleagues from analytical and digital professions, demonstrating mutual respect and appreciate for the skillsets you each bring to bear.

Responsibilities:

In this role you will:  

• Write code that meets software development standards, to help solve a range of business problems.
• Implement relevant data science techniques, including machine learning, as part of project.
• Collaborate with others to develop fit for purpose data science solutions.
• Prepare and manipulate data and perform analytics, all with appropriate quality assurance.
• Present and communicate effectively.
• Be aware of project delivery methods.
• Create, interpret, and assure statistical outputs effectively.
• Manage and use data in a way that meets ethical principles.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Programming and build (data science) (Working):  You can write, test, and run code in one or more programming languages (R, Python, Spark) to build data products for users. You can collaborate on code with other colleagues using version control and have an awareness of testing tools.
• Data science innovation (Working).You can identify efficient and effective ways to use data science to tackle business and organisational challenges, applying innovative techniques where relevant.
• Applied maths, statistics, and scientific practices (Working). You can apply mathematics and statistical methods to solve problems, conduct exploratory data analysis and hypothesis testing to draw conclusions about your work.
• Developing data science capability (Working). You can present and communicate effectively the benefits of data science to stakeholders, demonstrate a good understanding of data science techniques, and effectively manage your learning and development with regards to data science.
• Data engineering and manipulation (Working). You have an awareness of the different tools that can be used to build data products (e.g. cloud infrastructure or software), and use effective approaches for cleaning, storing, and manipulating data.

Further information on these skills can be found at the government Data Scientist Framework. 

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Developing Self and Others

Technical skills

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

• Applied maths, statistics and scientific practices- A Technical Question will be assessed at interview.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,075, Office for National Statistics contributes £9,871 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The Office for National Statistics is part of the Civil Service, and as such we share a number of key benefits with other departments, whilst also having our own unique offerings to support our 5400 valued colleagues across the business.

This role is part of the cross-government Government Digital and Data (formerly DDaT) profession framework. As a role within Government Digital and Data (formerly DDaT) at the ONS, we also offer benefits such as:

• Protected Learning Time to spend on your personal development and side-projects.
• A supportive and active Community of Practice which you will be expected to contribute to, helping ensure you and your colleagues get the training, development and opportunities you need to progress your careers.

We are committed to supporting our people’s wellbeing by offering flexible ways of working that support a healthy work life balance. We are happy to explore opportunities with you about working flexibly in line with our hybrid working policies.

Whether you are hearing about us for the first time or already know a bit about our organisation, we hope that the benefits pack attached (bottom of page) will give you a great insight into the benefits and facilities available to our colleagues and our fantastic working culture.

Inclusion & Accessibility

At ONS we are always looking to attract the very best people from the widest possible talent pool, and we are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer. As a member of the Business Disability Forum and a Disability Confident Leader we’re committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.

As part of our application process, you will be prompted to provide details of any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process that you need. If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments before applying, please contact the recruitment team in the first instance.

If you would like an accessible version of any of the attachments or recruitment documents below or linked to in this advert, please contact the recruitment team who will be happy to assist.

ONS are committed to flexible ways of working that support a healthy work-life balance. ONS has already considered how this job could be right sized for applicants working flexibly and we are happy to explore options with you about working part time, in a job share or flexibly, in line with our hybrid working policies.

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.

Security Clearance 

Individuals appointed to the Office for National Statistics or UK Statistics Authority will be subject to National Security Vetting at “SC Cleared” level for this post. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out applicants will normally need to have lived in the UK for the 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying.

A lack of UK residency in itself is not always a bar to security clearance.

We may also reach out to you mid-campaign to confirm eligibility for this role.

If you are unsure that you meet the eligibility above, please contact the recruitment email on the advert before applying to discuss.

Applicants may utilise AI resources in their submissions; ensuring all information provided is factually accurate, truthful, and original, avoiding any form of plagiarism to maintain the authenticity and credibility of the application process.

Applicant support

The ONS regularly run webinars and support sessions for candidates.  You can find details on all our upcoming webinars on our Eventbrite page.

Stage 1 – Application & Sift 

Assessment at application stage will be based on your CV, work history, skills, experience and personal statement. Your application should be tailored to demonstrate any skills, knowledge and experience that are relevant to the content of the role.

Your personal statement should be no longer than 1250 words. You should use this space to provide evidence for each essential and technical criteria within the person specification. As the criteria are scored, we would recommend that you give clear examples for each including the impact of your actions and set them out using the STAR acronym (Situation, Task, Action, Result).Success Profiles Behaviour examples are not required at this stage.

In cases where there are a high number of applications the sift pass mark may be adjusted and candidates will be invited to interview in merit order, i.e. those scoring the highest.

Stage 2 – Interview

Should you be invited to interview, you will be assessed using various assessment techniques aligned to the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, where you'll be assessed against all the behaviours and technical skills outlined in this advert. 

A presentation may be required at interview. Further information will be provided to shortlisted candidates prior to interview.

Interviews will be conducted by Video Conference.

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

Important Dates:

Sift date from: 20/11/2024

Interview dates from: 03/12/2024

For the full terms and conditions of the post, please see attachment below. 

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

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