Data Scientist

The Prime Minister’s Office enables the Prime Minister to deliver the Government’s overall priorities and to communicate the Government’s policies to Parliament, the public and international audiences. From the Policy Unit and Press Office, Switchboard and Custodians, to the Events & Visits team and Private Office support; the diverse Downing Street team draws on varied expertise from across the Civil Service and beyond. The teams come together to deliver excellent service to the Prime Minister while also making No10 a great place to work.
About the team
The No10 data science team, 10DS, offers an unparalleled opportunity to develop your career personally and within the Civil Service. Formed in mid-2020, 10DS is here to radically improve the way in which key decisions are informed by data, analysis and evidence. We do this by:
1. Enabling No10 to utilise the best available evidence by combining cutting-edge data science with clear, engaging communication throughout the policy and decision-making process, ensuring that the Prime Minister and staff are intelligent customers of analysis, and embedding a culture of evidence-informed policy.
2. Provoking positive change across central government through providing challenge and feedback, and collaborating across Whitehall to drive long-term systems change and collectively solve the most pressing policy challenges.
We are committed to having a fantastic team culture - our People Survey scores show 94% of staff would recommend us as a great place to work and 100% of the team felt their manager is considerate of the life outside of work.
We believe that excellence and innovation is only possible with a diverse team, and actively encourage applicants from a range backgrounds.
10DS also works closely with the Mission Delivery Unit, a team in Cabinet Office supporting the Chancellor to the Duchy of Lancaster and the Prime Minister in driving forward the government's five missions.
To find out more about the team, see the team pack attached with this advert., As a data scientist working on the Opportunity Mission, you will be instrumental in driving success of the Mission through tracking outcomes on the Opportunity Mission dashboard and shaping analysis to improve delivery. You will own and design the journey of the data from source to use by system leaders, exercising significant range in the techniques you choose to deploy.
You will work closely with colleagues in No10, the Mission Delivery Unit, the Department for Education and other government departments to collect data, conduct high quality analysis, create engaging visualisations and develop insights, all to inform critical decision making. Our customers include special advisors, senior ministers, the Prime Minister and Civil Service leaders.
You will also contribute to the cross-government data science community, engaging with a range of stakeholders to champion the value of data science. 10DS has a strong programme of technological development, drawing on capabilities in Python and cloud computing.
10DS are strongly committed to learning and development, and are more interested in your aptitude and attitude than pre-existing expertise. Significant on-the-job training, mentorship and support can be provided for the right applicant.

Person specification
If you are interested but feel you don't yet meet every requirement, please apply. We value enthusiasm, aptitude for growth, and diversity of thought and experience, along with the skills and experience outlined. We hope to use the reserve list to hire for additional data scientist roles in the future.
Main responsibilities
+ Developing the relevant mission dashboard (in Plotly Dash for Python) and other interactive tools to effectively communicate data and analysis.
+ Establishing data flows and pipelines from a wide range of sources across Whitehall by establishing relationships and promoting use of rAPId.
+ Presenting evidence to the Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers, Special Advisors and senior civil servants.
+ Inspiring the people who make decisions and drive delivery of essential public services to use data.
+ Establishing and maintaining strong networks across government relevant to your policy area.
+ Applying advanced analytical techniques and machine learning., 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 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 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.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
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.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

+ Strong numeracy and experience deploying a range of analytical techniques.
+ Good communication skills - translating complex information for non-analytical audiences, including through creative visualisations.
+ Experience of working effectively at pace.
+ Interest or experience in the delivery of programmes for improving UK citizens’ lives.
+ Strong interest in use of data and evidence to drive better outcomes.
+ Attention to detail.
The following are desirable (but proficiency can be developed in post):
+ Experience working on early years, schools, or skills policy.
+ Coding in Python.
+ Application of data science methods in Python.
+ Data visualisation skills.
+ Use of GitHub.
+ Coding best practice – structuring, commenting and documenting code, developing and deploying reusable components, incorporating tests, validation and error handling.
+ Experience working with databases, structured and unstructured data, and large-volume raw operational data.
On the job training can be provided, however pay will be commensurate with technical experience as per the DDaT allowance process.
Essential Skills/Experience
+ The ability to work at pace in a complex multi-stakeholder environment, driving progress in the face of a range of competing views and priorities.
+ Policy and strategic analysis skills that can be deployed flexibly across a wide range of priorities.
+ Highly developed communication and networking skills, an ability to build strong relationships and operate with senior stakeholders across government, and skills to translate complex information into meaningful, easily understood narratives., + Communicating and Influencing
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Leadership
+ Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Data science and coding skills
+ Data visualisation and presenting analysis

£61,005 - £89,880
This job attracts a DDaT allowance. Offers above the band minimum are subject to our assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated at interview. Salaries over the band minimum will be paid as a non-pensionable allowance.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP, Alongside your salary of £61,005, Cabinet Office contributes £17,673 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role.
+ An environment with flexible working options.
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
+ A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
+ A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.