Data Scientist

NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Occasional travel

Job summary

NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board is seeking a Data Scientist in Bristol to apply quantitative methods to healthcare challenges. The role offers flexible working with a requirement for 50% in the central Bristol office and possible travel.

We use operational research, statistical analysis, and ML toolkits, collaborating with universities and external partners. The role emphasises innovative thinking and stakeholder communication across the NHS and beyond.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level in a quantitative discipline or equivalent.
• Post-graduate degree in management studies or equivalent.
• Significant experience in politically sensitive environments.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience coordinating projects in complex environments.
• Experience of managing risks and reporting.
• Experience drafting briefing papers at SMT level.
• Good digital literacy and use of digital systems.
• Understanding of the public sector.
• Experience in a healthcare setting.

Responsibilities

• Produce and deploy advanced statistical and models-based solutions for defined workstreams.
• Support colleagues with specialist modelling input as required.
• Advise on innovative opportunities and support commissioning leads to maximise quantitative techniques.
• Communicate complex results clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
• Participate in national/regional networks to share best practices.
• Contribute to activity planning and support ad hoc modelling for contracts.
• Support training and development in quantitative approaches and visualization methods.

Skills

R programming

Statistical modelling

Data analysis

Education

Degree in a quantitative discipline

Post-graduate degree in management studies or equivalent

Tools

R

Job description

NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board

Data Scientist

The closing date is 22 November 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the NHS as a Data Scientist based in Bristol.

The ICB's Data Science team was one of the earliest teams set up within the NHS to employ specialist quantitative skills to some of the biggest healthcare problems of the day.

We use a wide variety of techniques within the operational research, mathematical modelling, statistical analysis, data science and machine learning toolkits, often working at the interface of academic research and practical application.

No problem is too big or too small, and we endeavour to apply the most appropriate solution to the problem, whatever that may be. Therefore expect a varied workload and the opportunity to learn and apply new skills. Also expect an opportunity to collaborate with universities, run externally-funded projects, and write research papers.

Flexible working options are available, subject to a required minimum 50% working in the central Bristol office. Occasional travel may be expected.

Main duties of the job

Applicants need not have experience in managing others, and experience within the NHS or wider health field is not required. Of most importance is a good grasp of applied modelling approaches underpinned by degree-level qualification(s) in a quantitative discipline.

Experience of coding in statistical languages, especially in 'R', is strongly desirable. The role-holder should have an open and inquisitive mind and be prepared to think innovatively and creatively.

About us

We are committed to creating an inclusive organisation that promotes and values diversity. We know from experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger, more creative workplace that helps us to deliver the best services. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of our community; from people of all ages, disabled people, all genders, people from ethnic minority groups, LGBTQ+ people, people with diverse gender identity and expression, people from all religions and beliefs and other diverse characteristics, and we have processes in place to ensure that all applications are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process.

Job responsibilities

Production and deployment of advanced statistical, analytical, and models-based solutions for defined workstreams that support system priorities.

Work under direction to support colleagues where specialist modelling and analytical input is required.

Advise on innovative opportunities and support strategic commissioning leads to maximise the use of quantitative techniques and approaches.

Communicate complex information and analysis, concisely conveying results and insights from sophisticated quantitative methods to a wide range of non-technical internal and external stakeholders.

Participate in external networks, including national and regional Population Health Management groups and learned societies such as the Operational Research Society, to share best practice and keep up to date with the latest approaches.

Contribute to growth and seasonality components in the setting of activity plans between the ICB and acute providers as part of the annual planning cycle, and in support of ad hoc modelling requirements in relation to acute or other provider contracts throughout the year.

Support the training and development in quantitative approaches and visualisation methods within the Data and Analytics team.

Person Specification

Knowledge, Training and Experience

• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject or equivalent level of qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area.


• Post-graduate degree in management studies or equivalent.


• Significant experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment.


• Evidence of continued professional development.


• Demonstrated experience of coordinating projects in complex and challenging environments.


• Experience of managing risks and reporting.


• Experience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence at SMT level.


• Demonstrates good overall digital literacy, with the ability to confidently use computers and digital systems required for day-to-day work.


• Understanding of the public sector.


• Demonstrated experience in a healthcare environment.


• Comprehensive knowledge of project principals, techniques and tools, such as Prince 2 Foundation and Microsoft Project.

Communication Skills

• Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required.


• Experience of creating and giving presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders.

Analytical

• Ability to analyse very complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources.


• Demonstrated capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making.


• Numerate and able to understand complex financial issues combined with deep analytical skills.


• Experience of setting up and implementing internal processes and procedures.


• Knowledge of Financial Systems e.g. monitoring budget management, processing invoices and procurement.

Planning Skills

• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.


• Experience of setting up and implementing internal processes and procedures.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board