6205 - Senior Data Scientist – Spatial Programmer

www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk - Jobboard; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental environmental agency in the UK seeks a leader for analytical programmes aimed at enhancing the evidence base for strategic objectives. The successful candidate will manage teams to conduct complex data analyses, ensuring high-quality outputs that inform decision-making. Applicants should demonstrate strong analytical skills, project management experience, and the ability to liaise effectively with stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Experience in overseeing teams and projects.
• Capacity to engage with stakeholders.
• Ability to apply data standards in project management.

Responsibilities

• Lead analytical and data programmes to improve evidence.
• Oversee complex data analyses and management.
• Establish project planning and resourcing.

Skills

Analytical skills

Project management

Data management

Geospatial analysis

Communication

Job description

The Team

We are Data Science Services (DSS). Our team is key to providing the best available evidence to underpin the work of Natural England and our partners in supporting thriving nature for people and planet. We provide expert analytical and data management services and ensure access to evidence through online systems and scientific publications.

Job Description

To lead the development and delivery of robust analytical and data programmes and projects to increase efficiency and provide improved evidence to support the organisation’s strategic objectives. To apply specialist skills and domain expertise to identify opportunities for data science to improve the evidence base to support the organisation’s strategic objectives. To ensure quality and promote appropriate use of data and analysis (including uncertainty) to minimise risk and increase robustness of evidence underpinning advice, decision-making and delivery.

This role has an initial focus on assisting the organisation with the delivery of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill (PIB), and the forthcoming Nature Restoration Fund (NRF). The role will work with the project team to construct the digital systems that underpin the NRF. This involves being part of a multi-year, phased project, undertaking geospatial analyses at a national scale, pulling together assessments of impact from development across a wide range of receptors and interfacing with databases tracking the supply and demand of conservation measures. With the outputs feeding in to an online tool for developers to use.

Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities

• Oversee small teams and projects and carry out complex data (including spatial) analyses and data management to meet the evidence needs of Natural England, Defra group and other stakeholders.
• Put in place project data standards, processes, and systems, and exemplify a culture of quality, to ensure outputs are high-quality and robust (through good documentation and automation) so that customer decisions and advice can be based on quality evidence and outputs can be reproduced.
• Understand organisational objectives and engage with business planning processes to provide technical intel and assist with prioritisation and scoping of projects.
• Liaise with project leads, owners and teams to establish project planning and resourcing so that projects are delivered efficiently, with appropriate resource and capability, to a high standard, and progress, risks and issues can be monitored.
• Engage with customers and partners to identify and exploit opportunities for new or revised projects (inc. use of new technologies), or for developing projects to improve the evidence base, improve efficiency, build capability or generate funding.
• Build capability and develop others in the team and across NE (as appropriate) to enable effective analytical delivery and support resilience to absence and change.
• Liaise with relevant partners/authorities/professional networks to understand and interpret advice, standards, and best practice for relevant application in NE.

How to Apply

We welcome and encourage applications from all communities. Natural England is accredited to the Disability Confident Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the role at the shortlisting stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview.

If you require a reasonable adjustment at interview, or there is anything else you would like the panel to take into consideration, you should notify us of this at application stage where possible, or well in advance of your interview.
This vacancy uses competency-based assessment. We'll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process:
• Technical Skills and Knowledge
• Leading and Managing People
• Work Delivery
• Personal Effectiveness

When completing the application form you should present relevant examples using the STAR format. Give us an example of how you have demonstrated the competency (which can be work related or from another area of your life) and tell us about the Situation, the specific Task you had to undertake, the specific Actions you took, and the Result (both immediate and in a wider context) of your doing so.
Please note that STAR format is not required when answering the Technical Skills & Knowledge competency. Examples should be given in no more than 250 words for each competency.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to attend an interview via MS Teams or a suitable alternative, where you will be asked to give examples for all 4 competencies as set out in the Job Description. Please note that if we receive a high volume of applications, an initial sift may be carried out the technical skills and knowledge competency.

Successful candidates will be allocated roles in merit order based on scores achieved at interview and in accordance with location preferences, taking into account the work area to which successful candidates are most suited, wherever possible.