Data Scientist: Data Science & AI Hub
Location: National*
Closing Date: 05 December 2024
Interviews: From 06 January 2024
Grade: SEO
(MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain this grade on lateral transfer)
Salary: London: £47,657 - £52,040; National: £41,463 - £45,276 which may include an allowance up to £10,875
Working pattern: Full-time, part-time, job share, flexible working
Contract Type: Permanent
*We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your local office. Office locations can be found ON THIS MAP
The Role
Were recruiting for a Data Scientist: Data Science & AI Hub here at the Ministry of Justice, to be part of our warm and collaborative Data Directorate.
This role aligns against Data Scientist from the Government Digital and Data Framework.
We are a multi-disciplinary team of around 80 staff that sits at the heart of the Ministry of Justice providing data science support across a diverse and exciting agenda. We work in a dynamic and fast-paced context and our skills are in heavy demand across the Ministry of Justice. We have a track record of delivering digital services to front line staff using wide ranging data science techniques, including the award-winning safety diagnostic tool, which helps our staff tackle violence in prisons and the public-facing Criminal justice system (CJS) delivery data dashboard. We regularly deliver insights that directly influence corporate, operational and policy decisions. Our projects span the data science spectrum including machine learning, natural language processing, large language models and optimisation.
You will work as part of multi-disciplinary teams to deliver data science products and analysis such as:
Criminal Justice System Data Science: Cross-CJS data
The cross-CJS data asset is an initiative led by the Criminal Justice System (CJS) Data Improvement programme and aims to bring together datasets from the Ministry of Justice, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Police for the first time. The postholder will be involved in, and in some cases leading, the innovative exploratory analysis of the cross-CJS data and the subsequent development of new data science projects. Past and current projects include developing machine learning models to predict time taken for Crown Court cases to get through the system and, separately, classification models to predict victim attrition. We also recently developed a Streamlit-based MVP dashboard to disseminate analysis and metrics on victim attrition.
BOLD Reducing Reoffending Pilot
Using data science and artificial intelligence to understand the scale of parental imprisonment. Having a parent in prison is a recognised Adverse Childhood Experience and impacts children's long-term outcomes. In this role you will use data science and natural language processing techniques to bring together information from a variety of sources to help us gain a better understanding of the number of children affected and where to direct effort to reduce negative impact.
Risk Assessment Data Science
Actuarial risk assessment is vital to provide accurate, fair and consistent insights on the risks presented by convicted offenders. In this role, you will use data science techniques to test new modelling approaches, investigate algorithmic fairness, and work with our Digital colleagues to implement a new generation of tools that are more effective and practitioner-friendly.
In all posts, you will be encouraged to develop your data science skills and experience through both formal and informal training. The majority of projects will be conducted using Python, R and SQL on our AWS cloud infrastructure (known as the Analytical Platform) to work with data from across the justice system.
Key Responsibilities:
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Work with other data scientists on shared codebases, and coach junior data scientists, to deliver data science products and analysis across MoJ and the criminal justice system (e.g. within prisons, for the Probation Service)
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Implement best practice approaches in project delivery, such as version control, code review and unit testing
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Effectively communicate with and influence a variety of stakeholders
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Help the team keep up to date with the wider data science landscape and emerging technologies
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Contribute to making the Data Science and AI Hub an inclusive and vibrant place to work
If this feels like an exciting challenge, something you are enthusiastic about, and want to join our team please read on and apply!
Benefits
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37 hours per week and flexible working options including working from home, working part-time, job sharing, or working compressed hours.
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A £1k per person learning budget is in place to support all our people, with access to best in class conferences and seminars, accreditation with professional bodies, fully funded vocational programmes and e-learning platforms
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Staff have 10% time to dedicate to develop & grow
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Generous civil service pension based on defined benefit scheme, with employer contributions of 28.97% from April 1st 2024 (Contribution Rates)
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25 days leave (plus bank holidays) and 1 privilege day usually taken around the Kings birthday. 5 additional days of leave once you have reached 5 years of service.
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Compassionate maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave policies, with up to 26 weeks leave at full pay, 13 weeks with partial pay, and 13 weeks further leave. And maternity support/paternity leave at full pay for 2 weeks, too!
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Wellbeing support including access to the Calm app.
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Bike loans up to £2500 and secure bike parking (subject to availability and location)
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Season ticket loans, childcare vouchers and eye-care vouchers.
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5 days volunteering paid leave.
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Free membership to BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT.
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Some offices may have a subsidised onsite Gym.
Person Specification
Essential
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Experience of applying data science techniques (e.g. machine learning, large language models, natural language processing, classification, survival analysis)
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Experience in writing clear, concise and accurate code in Python or R, experience with SQL is also desirable
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Experience with data derivation/manipulation techniques and understanding of why it is important
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Ability to communicate analytical findings in a persuasive way to technical and non-technical audiences
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Identify the benefits or impact of analytical or data science work
Willingness to be assessed against the requirements for BPSS clearance
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.
How to Apply
Candidates must submit a CV and Statement of Suitability (up to 750 words), which describes how you meet the requirements set out in the Person Specification above.
We are recruiting using a combination of the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability and Success Profiles Frameworks. We will assess your Experience, Technical Skills and the following Behaviours during the assessment process:
A diverse panel will review your application against the Person Specification above.
Successful candidates who meet the required standard will then be invited to a 2-hour panel interview held via video conference. You will be required to complete a technical exercise during the first hour, followed by a Q&A format for the second hour.
Should you be unsuccessful in the role that you have applied for but demonstrate the capability for a role at a lower level, we reserve the right to discuss this opportunity with you and offer you the position without needing a further application.
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, from which further appointments may be made.
Terms & Conditions
Please review our Terms & Conditions which set out how we recruit and provide further information related to the role and salary arrangements.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact [email protected].
