Office for National Statistics

Data Scientists

Location
Titchfield, England, United Kingdom
Posted At
12/19/2024
Advertise with us.
Please contact: hello@huntukvisasponsors.com
Description
Location

ONS operates a flexible hybrid working model across the UK, with colleagues linked to one of our contractual locations in Newport, Titchfield (Fareham), Manchester, and Edinburgh, working between office and remote throughout the week.

As part of the hybrid working arrangement there is a 40% minimum office attendance requirement. Attendance is typically at your contractual office, with occasional travel to alternative locations. Due to estates constraints, there are currently temporary exceptions to this for colleagues based at Manchester who are required to attend the office for a minimum of 20% of their work time.

About The Job

Job summary

Are you an experienced Data Scientist eager to make a real difference in the UK?

We’re looking for Data Scientists to join us at the forefront of transforming the statistical landscape. This is your chance to apply your skills to solve complex challenges, leverage diverse data sources, and deliver insights that shape policy, enhance statistics, and drive innovation.

Job Description

You’ll be part of one of our dynamic teams:

  • Data Science Campus: Work alongside public sector colleagues to tackle a range of analytical challenges, from producing and improving economic and social insights and statistics to improving ONS efficiency and building data science capability across the UK and internationally. You'll focus on delivering actionable insights, improving statistics, and enhancing data collection and processing.Further information can be found here: Data Science Campus
  • Reproducible Data Science & Analysis (RDSA): Play a key role in transforming the statistical landscape using advanced data science techniques, providing insights that will shape the next generation of economic statistics. More information about work at RDSA can be found here: Using Data Science for Next Gen Statistics
  • Population Statistics: Working with the statistical research teams to help develop robust, high quality demographic statistics. This will involve preparing data for analysis an using modular coding to develop efficient reproducible analytical pipelines (RAPs) with integrated quality assurance.


What we’re looking for:

  • Someone who’s eager to constantly improve their data science skills and learn from colleagues and external sources.
  • Someone who thrives in a collaborative environment, working alongside analysts, digital experts, and stakeholders across the public sector.


Key Responsibilities:

  • Write clean, reusable code that adheres to best standards (Python, R, cloud platforms, and distributed computing environments).
  • Deliver innovative data science solutions, from modernising legacy systems to applying cutting-edge techniques to economic and social science problems.
  • Develop working software and data products for stakeholders, utilising cloud environments, APIs, and user interfaces (e.g. Flask).
  • Manage stakeholder relationships, keeping them updated on progress and identifying risks.
  • Provide time/resource estimates for proposed work and assist in the development of colleagues’ data science skills.
  • Work within a cross-disciplinary team to deliver impactful data science projects using Agile methodology.
  • Ensure your work addresses user needs and delivers tangible value for stakeholders.
  • Develop and apply advanced data science methods to produce innovative economic statistical products and to provide insights about the real-time economy.


Person specification

Essential Skills Criteria:

  • Programming and build (data science) (practitioner level) - Write moderate to complex programs and scripts, demonstrating a good understanding of testing methodologies and how to deployment practices.
  • Applied maths, statistics and scientific practices (practitioner level) Apply designated quantitative techniques such as time series analysis, optimisation and simulation to create models for analysis and prediction, matching data sources with relevant applied mathematics and statistical techniques to meet analysis goals and offer insight into research problems.
  • Developing data science capability (working level) - Manage continuous professional development, link learning to objectives and organisational goals, support capability building across the team, confidently advocate data science approaches and demonstrate understanding and utilisation of various techniques to build data science solutions.
  • Data science innovation (practitioner level) - Demonstrate practical knowledge of data science tools and techniques, develop solutions maximizing insight and identify opportunities for improving data practices.
  • Delivering business impact (working level) - Understanding organisational benefits of data science, collaborate to identify user needs, develop and deliver data science products and communicate effectively tailored analysis and visualisation to different audiences.
  • Data engineering & manipulation (practitioner level) - Collaborate with data engineers and data scientists to design and deliver products effectively, understand data cleansing and preparation, implement reusable processes and checks, and utilise range of architectures and data manipulation tools deployed within the organisation.


Behaviours

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

  • Developing Self and Others
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Communicating and Influencing


Technical Skills

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

  • Programming and build via a presentation. Topic will be provided to candidates invited to interview


Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,364, Office for National Statistics contributes £11,983 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.


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.

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.

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.

Number of Stages: 2 stage process

Stage 1: Application

Stage 2: Interview

Stage 1 – Application

The assessment process at the application stage will be based on your work history, skills, experience, CV, and personal statement. It is important that your application is tailored to highlight the skills, knowledge, and experience relevant to the role.

If a personal statement is required at application state, it will state the maximum wordcount allowed, which should not be exceeded. Where it is a requirement to make a personal statement you should provide evidence for each essential skill criterion listed in the person specification. As these criteria are scored, it is advisable to give clear examples for each one, including the impact of your actions, ideally utilising the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

Please note that Success Profiles Behaviour examples are not required at this stage of the application process.

In instances where a high number of applications are received, the sift pass mark may be adjusted, and candidates will be invited to interview based on merit order, i.e., those with the highest scores.

Stage 2 – Interview

If invited to interview, you will be assessed using techniques aligned with the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, covering all behaviours listed in the job advert and any required technical skills. A presentation may be required at interview.

Interviews may be in person or via Microsoft Teams.

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 28/01/2025

Interview dates: From 12/02/2025

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

Security Clearance

For ONS the requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying and the department will consider eligibility by exception on a case-by-case basis. You will be asked to provide information regarding your UK residency during your application, and failure to provide this will result in your application being rejected.

If you are unsure that you meet the eligibility above, please read the information available on Gov.uk on this link, or contact the recruitment email on the advert before applying to discuss, as failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected and any offer of employment being withdrawn.

At the point of SC application, you will need to provide or give access to the following evidence:

  • Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
  • UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
  • Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
  • Security Services records


The Use of AI

All applicants will have access to AI resources, it is therefore important to remember these tools, although helpful in streamlining the writing process, cannot fully understand the organisational context, or requirements for the role you are applying for.

To maintain authenticity and credibility of the application process, should you choose to use generative AI tools, you need to ensure the information you provide in your supporting evidence accurately reflects your skills, knowledge, and experience.

ONS does not advocate relying solely on generative AI to write your application. Doing so may negatively impact your chances of success during the selection process.

If you are invited to interview, please be aware the use of AI tools is prohibited and any suspected use may result in the termination of your interview and subsequent withdrawal from the campaign.

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.

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.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

  • Name : Government Digital and Data Recruitment Team
  • Email : Government-Digital-and-Data-Recruitment@ons.gov.uk


Recruitment team

  • Email : Government-Digital-and-Data-Recruitment@ons.gov.uk


Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact recruitment.complaints@ons.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission
Advertise with us.
Please contact: hello@huntukvisasponsors.com
Hunt UK Visa Sponsors

Copyright © 2024

Stay up to date