Principal Data Scientist

Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

National Highways is recruiting a Lead Data Scientist to shape the data strategy and delivery of digital services. This hybrid role requires two days per week in the office at any National Highways location, with the Digital Lab building in-house capabilities.

You will lead multidisciplinary projects, drive value from data, and collaborate with data engineers to optimize feeds for customers and operations across the Strategic Road Network.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of applied mathematics, statistics and scientific methods.
• Experience leading data science teams across large projects.
• Proven ability to translate complex analyses into actionable insights.
• Collaborative with Data Engineers to develop data feeds.

Responsibilities

• Lead a programme of multidisciplinary data science projects and manage delivery.
• Shape data science strategy and drive innovation across the organisation.
• Source, access and engineer data, handling volume, velocity, and variety.
• Present data findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Develop and apply technical standards for data science within National Highways.
• Mentor teams and propagate data science skills across departments.

Skills

Mathematics

Statistics

Technical leadership

Data storytelling

Data engineering

Innovation

Python

SQL

Spark

Tools

Python

SQL

R

Spark

Job description

As part of the development of our Digital Services function, we are recruiting to strengthen our internal digital capability. These roles are central to building sustainable in-house expertise that supports the design, development, and delivery of digital solutions across the transport network. A key focus of this campaign is creating new opportunities. As a result, we are recruiting a Lead Data Scientist to play a leading role in shaping the future of digital services across National Highways. Our Digital Lab develops and manages innovative data products and services in-house, while building strategic external partnerships that increase adoption of our digital assets to improve customer journeys and support the efficient operation of the Strategic Road Network. As Principal Data Scientist, you will play a leading role in helping National Highways unlock the value of data. Working closely with customers and stakeholders, you will identify where data science can make the greatest impact, transforming complex data into compelling, evidence-based insights and actionable stories that enable better decision-making. You will also play a key role in shaping the data science strategy, working collaboratively with National Highways stakeholders to drive innovation and maximise the value of data across the organisation. This is a hybrid role, requiring two days per week in the office, based at any National Highways office location.

Responsibilities

• Work with National Highways, customers and stakeholders to understand where data science can add value
• Provide leadership and direction across a programme of multidisciplinary data science projects, managing resources to ensure delivery
• Source, access, manipulate and engineer data processes with data typically having characteristics of volume, velocity and variety, or both
• Develop and apply technical and analytical standards from National Highways, government and industry
• Responsible for exploring and visualising the data to present the 'story' in a meaningful way, and to a range of technical and non-technical audiences
• Evolve the array of data analysis tools and techniques across National Highways
• Propagate data science skills in other teams, understanding the variety of functional roles relating to data science and how they can be most effectively applied to solve business problems

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of applied mathematics, statistics and scientific methods, with the ability to apply these to practical data science challenges and provide expert guidance to teams.
• Experienced in providing technical leadership in a similar role across transformation and delivery of data, working with Data Engineers to develop and optimise data feeds that meet the needs of customers and data consumers across the organisation.
• Demonstrated expertise in driving data science innovation by exploring emerging approaches across government and industry, identifying opportunities to deliver business value and improve organisational outcomes.
• Proven capability in building data science capability across the organisation, championing continuous learning, developing talent, and sharing knowledge of emerging techniques and best practice.
• Track record of delivering impactful data science products that are proportionate to business needs, translating complex analysis into clear insights and visualisations, while supporting teams to strengthen data science communication.
• Skilled in applying programming and build practices to develop, test, refine and document data science solutions; strong understanding of a range of data analysis techniques, with the ability to apply these to generate actionable insights, communicate compelling findings that influence wider decisions, and explore innovative approaches to solve complex problems.

Additional Information

External candidates will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of the pay scale, while current employees will be appointed in accordance with our established pay policy. We are committed to creating a diverse environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. Jobs are provided by the Find a Job Service from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).