Principal Data Scientist

NHS; Liverpool, Leeds, London, Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

The NHS is seeking a Data Scientist to play an integral role in supporting health management and surveillance activities. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in statistics and coding, particularly in Python and R, and will be responsible for leading analytical tasks to derive insights from health data. This position offers the opportunity to work with a diverse team in a government setting, promoting innovative solutions to complex health challenges. Various flexible working options are available, encouraging a healthy work-life balance.

Qualifications

• Ability to apply statistical techniques and coding skills in R and Python.
• Experience working with health data is advantageous.
• Expertise in cleaning and preprocessing data for analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of key products for health incident response and surveillance.
• Use data to inform strategic and operational decision-making.
• Mentor junior data scientists and ensure best practices.

Skills

Statistical skills

Problem-solving

Advanced analytical techniques

Interpersonal skills

Data visualisation

Education

First or second-class honours degree in a numerate discipline

Tools

SQL

Python

R

Jira

Confluence

Job description

The Chief Data Officer Group (CDO), consists of a large community of data scientists, government analysts (GSG, GORS, GES, GSR), intelligence analysts, mathematical modellers, epidemiologists, information specialists, and data engineers. This is a unique opportunity to help provide crucial information and insight to support the management of high-profile health incidents alongside ongoing surveillance activities. UKHSA has a strong data science community with learning opportunities, community groups and hackathon events.

We predominantly code in Python and R and utilise AWS and Azure based cloud environments. The teams use Agile ways of working including software such as Confluence and Jira to manage delivery.

Our Enterprise Data and Analytics Platform (EDAP) is enriched with curated, consistent, and high-quality data from existing platforms as well as providing access to a range of analytical tooling.

Main duties of the job

We currently have openings in the following teams:

Health Analytics and Automation - Leading on the delivery of key products to support incident response and the routine surveillance of health conditions and infectious diseases. Work across directorates and with external stakeholders to identify and develop opportunities for product automation and reproducible analyses (includes the automation of epidemiological and statistical models). A background of working with clinical or epidemiological data would be advantageous.

All Hazards Intelligence-Global - An all-source intelligence assessment team accredited by the Professional Head of Intelligence Assessment. They expertly fuse qualitative and quantitative information from open, grey and closed sources, using structured analytical techniques to provide analytical insight and foresight on global health security to customers across UKHSA and government. We aim to become the exemplar at exploiting quantitative analysis in the UK intelligence assessment community. Experience of analysing health data is advantageous, but a curious and critical mind is essential.

About us

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Job responsibilities

Data science is a broad and fast-moving field spanning maths, statistics, software engineering and communications. Data scientists will often work as part of a multidisciplinary team, using data and analytics to inform and achieve organisational goals.

In this role, you will:

• be inquisitive
• explore and visualise data
• make recommendations to address complex problems and to inform strategic and operational decision making
• use data ethically and appropriately
• be innovative and adaptable
• explore existing and new data using a range of statistical tools and techniques, such as machine learning and predictive analytics
• find patterns in data and transform them into organisational insight
• A first or second-class honours degree in a numerate discipline, computer science or IT equivalent which demonstrates core statistical skills; OR have worked in a statistical/data science field and are able to demonstrate continuous professional development in statistics/data science at the same level as a foundation degree/HND (Level 5)
• Ability to apply advanced analytical and statistical techniques using a variety of software/codebases including practitioner level knowledge of coding including version control, SQL, R and/or Python or other programming languages relevant to data science; whilst supporting development of coding capability across the team.
• Expertise in wrangling, cleaning and preprocessing data for readiness for analysis and guiding best practice across the team.
• Ability to apply machine learning techniques, critically assessing model performance, limitations and ethical considerations whilst supporting the development of best practice across the team.
• Previous experience of leading a team of data scientists, ensuring high technical standards and professional development. Ensure effective delivery of programmes of work and manage competing demands under pressure.
• Ability to construct and deliver compelling data stories using advanced data visualisation techniques, confidently presenting findings to business owners, senior leadership, and forums such as conferences.
• Previous experience of mentoring data scientists in best practice including software best practice; writing functions, modular code, use of git-based version control systems and embedding peer review.
• Ability to ensure confidentiality issues and statutory information governance requirements are followed robustly
• Well-developed problem-solving skills and user centred approach to developing solutions and ensure evolving user requirements are translated into clear deliverable project outcomes.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to influence, communicate, present and capture requirements from technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to negotiate confidently and advocate for the value of data science within wider organisational priorities.
• Exercise independent judgement setting direction where appropriate, proactively escalating critical decisions with well-formed recommendations, considering organisational priorities and risks.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Ensure the promotion of good working relationships and inclusive team culture.

Selection Process Details:

This vacancy is using SuccessProfiles and will assess your behaviours, ability and technical skills.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed essential criteria, and this will be in the form of a:

• Application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
• 750 word Statement of Suitability linked to the essential criteria
• Behaviour statements linked to each behaviour below (please write a maximum of 250 words linked to each behaviour)

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

Please note you will not be able to upload yourCV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible.Please do not email us your CV.

The Application form and Statement of Suitability will be marked together.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

• Meets all essential criteria
• Meets some essential criteria

Please note, only those applications meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.

Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on:

• Ability to apply advanced analytical and statistical techniques using a variety of software/codebases including practitioner level knowledge of coding including version control, SQL, R and/or Python or other programming languages relevant to data science; whilst supporting development of coding capability across the team.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.

Please do not exceed a total of 1500 words (750 words for Statement of Suitability and 250 words per behaviour). We will not consider any words over and above this number.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Technical Assessment

You will be provided with a representative data science task and data set and have 90 minutes to construct a code-based solution. You will then have an interactive remote discussion with a panel. Here you will present your outputs and respond to questions interactively. This session is expected to last around 25 minutes.

Technical Assessment will be held week commencing 21st July 2025, please note these dates are subject to change.

If you pass this stage, you will proceed to the final interview stage.

Feedback will be provided at this stage.

Stage 3: Interview

You will be invited to a remote interview.

Behaviours, ability, and technical skills will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others

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

Location

This role is being offered as either homeworking or hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQs (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London) or at one of our scientific campus sites (Colindale, Porton and Chilton).

Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as theDepartment for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

If based at one of our scientific campuses, you will be required to have a minimum of a Counter Terrorism Check security vetting check as a minimum. For meaningful National Security Vetting checks to be carried out individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years as the role requires Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) clearance. In exceptional circumstances UK residency less than the outlined periods may not necessarily bar you from gaining national security vetting and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

Person Specification

• Application Form and Statement of Suitability

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others

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.

£54,416 to £68,344 a yearper annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Flexible working,Home or remote working