3276 - Principal Data Scientist

Welsh Government; Wales; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental body in Wales is seeking a Principal Data Scientist to lead projects that make a significant impact for stakeholders. The candidate will manage teams, deliver data science solutions using Agile methodologies, and promote data science capabilities within the organization. Applicants should have strong skills in Python, SQL, and data ethics, along with a passion for impactful data science work.

Benefits

Civil Service pension

Flexible working options

Learning and development opportunities

Diversity and inclusion culture

Qualifications

• Broad knowledge of data science techniques and potential impact.
• Extensive experience in delivering data science outputs and products.
• Ability to communicate effectively and engage with various stakeholders.
• Knowledge of data ethics and preparation.

Responsibilities

• Lead project team to deliver data science projects using Agile principles.
• Scope and define data science work, including machine learning tasks.
• Review working practices and implement team improvements.
• Maintain relationships with stakeholders and gather feedback.
• Identify project opportunities that add value.

Skills

Data Science

Python

SQL

Azure

Machine Learning

Data Ethics

Tools

Python

SQL

Azure Cloud

Job description

The Welsh Government delivers digital services to people and business across Wales. Led by our Chief Digital Officer, the Welsh Government is increasingly delivering more services online and has a vision (outlined in the Digital Strategy for Wales) of improving the lives of everyone through collaboration, innovation and better public services.

To achieve this vision, the Welsh Government needs specialist digital, data and technology skills across all departments in the organisation to improve the services and policies we develop for Welsh citizens.

For more information about the benefits of making a difference with us, please see the Employee Benefits Pack. Welsh Government's Data Science Unit are recruiting for new data scientists to get involved with our ambitious and varied programme of works, centred around using data in novel and creative ways to benefit Welsh Government and the wider public sector in Wales.

We offer a unique opportunity to work across the breadth of Government business areas alongside different teams to understand challenges and deliver solutions. The Data Science Unit are expanding to match the recent surge in interest for Artificial Intelligence and enable us to support Welsh Government and the Welsh public sector in developing and adopting effective, safe and ethical solutions.

Principal Data Scientist (SEO)

This post is mapped to the https://ddat-capability-framework.service.gov.uk/role/data-scientist#principal-data-scientist.

A principal data scientist's main duty is to lead a team to deliver project work to make a real difference to our stakeholders. You will lead small multi-disciplinary project teams to meet with stakeholders, understand their challenges and use your knowledge and skills to deliver data science solutions.

As a principal data scientist you will also seek to build data science capability within and outside the organisation. You will seize the opportunity to promote data science and our projects in various engagements as well as offering technical support to other teams within Welsh Government who undertake analytical activities. You will act as a mentor for other members of the team and be pro‑active in providing support.

As a principal data scientist you will remain committed to your personal development and the development of the rest of the team, keeping up to date with recent advancements in the wider technical community and identifying opportunities to test and implement algorithms and techniques.

We are looking for people who are:

• Passionate about the application of data science and prioritise delivering work that makes a real impact for customers
• Good collaborators, capable of engaging with project processes and project management to deliver high quality outputs in a timely manner.
• Keen to promote project work and can communicate technical information to a range of different stakeholders, both technical and non‑technical.
• Supportive to others
• Aware of data privacy/data ethics risks and are confident in working responsibly with data.

Person specification

At this role level, you will:

• have a broad knowledge of data science techniques, use cases and potential impact, as well as the tools and technologies
• have extensive experience in scoping, designing and delivering data science outputs and products
• work collaboratively with a range of experts in support of organisational objectives
• communicate effectively and challenge delivery plans and priorities
• appreciate and understand data ethics, data preparation and manipulation
• appreciate and understand delivery methods, and how to deliver supported solutions at scale

Your main day to day responsibilities will include:

• Leading project team to deliver data science projects, typically through the use of Python, SQL and Azure cloud technologies using Agile principles.
• Scope and define data science work across the breadth of the discipline, including supervised and unsupervised machine learning, automation, natural language processing, computer vision and artificial intelligence/generative artificial intelligence.
• Ability to review working practices and proactively implement improvements in the way that the team works together and delivers project so ensure success.
• Have a good practical knowledge of Data Privacy and Data Ethics legislation and frameworks to ensure that data science is carried out responsibly within your project work.
• Lead in stakeholder engagement, maintaining good relationships with customers and taking on feedback.
• Identify opportunities to initiate project work that adds value to the organisation.
• Lead on building of data science and AI capability across Welsh Government and the wider public sector in Wales, specifically in the scoping, development and adoption of Artificial Intelligence technologies.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Please see the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles on the Commission's website. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and wish to make a complaint please email [e-mail]. Please ensure that you refer to the vacancy reference number. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Welsh Government, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: [e-mail]

Technical skills

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

• Data Science Innovation — demonstrate in-depth knowledge of data science tools and techniques, which you can use to solve problems creatively and to create opportunities for your team.
• Data Ethics and Privacy — demonstrate and communicate how data ethical issues fit into the wider organisational context.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,675, Welsh Government contributes £13,811 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 with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.
• In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion:

• Experience 1: Data Science, tools and programming – ability to deliver data science work through high quality code and using appropriate tools.

Candidate who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 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)
• 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.