Principal Data Scientist

Details
Reference number

436525

Salary

£57,515

Salary: National £57,515, London £62,034 plus an additional allowance up to £25,543

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

Grade 7

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

DFT - Decarbonisation, Technology & Strategy Group (DTS)

Type of role

Analytical

Architecture and Data

Digital

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

2

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

Birmingham, Leeds, London

About the job
Job summary

Do you want to use data to bring about the next generation of transport decision making and support the development of new AI Tools?

Can you lead high-impact data science projects while inspiring others to build technical excellence across an organisation?

Are you an experienced data scientist?

If so, we'd love to hear from you

Lead the use of Data Science and AI to shape decisions that impact millions. As a senior member of Department for Transports (DFT's) growing Data Science Team, you'll apply cutting-edge techniques and innovation to high-profile challenges, from improving transport networks to advancing the UK's AI ambitions. You'll work with experts across digital, policy and analytics, have access to advanced cloud tools and data, and help set the strategic direction for AI in DfT. This is a unique opportunity to combine leadership, technical expertise and creativity to deliver real-world impact and position DfT as a leader in government data science.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King's birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below

Find out more about what it's like working at DfTc.

Job description

You will play a key role in expanding the use of Data Science and AI across the DfT, helping apply cutting-edge techniques to high-stakes decisions. Working collaboratively with data engineers, digital and policy teams, you'll help embed data-driven insight at the heart of decision-making and increase the impact of data science across the Department.

The Data Science Team, part of the Advanced Analytics Division (AAD), is a growing multidisciplinary unit within the Analysis Directorate, bringing together experts from GORS, GSS, GSE and GDaD. Based across London, Hastings, Leeds and Birmingham, we use techniques from systems thinking and modelling to AI, machine learning and digital twins to tackle complex challenges.

Our ambition for 2025 is to establish DfT as a leader in AI, advancing the Prime Minister's AI Opportunities Action Plan and DfT's Transport AI Action Plan.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren't limited to:

• Engaging with DfT stakeholders to identify high impact data science projects.
• Planning, leading and delivering high value data science projects, acting as the main customer link.
• Carrying out technical work: machine learning and AI, automation, big data analysis tools and techniques, and cloud computing.
• Building data science capability both within the team and across DfT.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile.Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

Required experience:

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Leading and delivering data science projects yourself and through others.
• Engaging with Stakeholders to understand their needs and identify where data science can improve decision making.
• Building technical capability in the team and organisation.
• Expert Python (or similar with a desire to develop Python knowledge).
• Applied maths, statistics and scientific practices. Includes a range of scientific methods through experimental design, exploratory data analysis and hypothesis testing to reach robust conclusions.
• Confidence using analytical approaches and interpreting data.
• Experience inferring, predicting or forecasting using a variety of machine learning techniques. Understanding of good practices in model development and deployment.
• Experience identifying efficient and effective ways to use data science to tackle business and organisational challenges.
• Experience promoting professional development by expanding data science knowledge and sharing best practice across departments/industry.
• Experience presenting, communicating and disseminating data science products and findings.
• Knowledge of data manipulation techniques to produce or improve data.
• Use a range of data sources, analytical tools and techniques to develop and deploy robust data science solutions into the business.
• Understands the ethical considerations of potential data science approaches, and the legislation applicable in this area, i.e. GDPR, DPA etc.

Additional Information

The role is part of the Government Digital and Data profession and utilises an enhanced Capability–Based Pay Framework which provides access to a Digital and Data allowance.

The base pay is £57,515 (National) and £62,034 (London). In addition to this, the role includes a Digital and Data allowance of up to £25,543.

The value of allowance awarded will be based on an assessment of your skills and experience as demonstrated through the selection process. Here are more details on the pay framework.

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 22 hours per week.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• GDaD - Principal Data Scientist: Programming and Build (Skill level: Expert)
• GDaD - Principal Data Scientist: Data Science Innovation (Skill level: Expert)
• GDaD - Principal Data Scientist: Applied Maths, Statistics and Scientific Practices: (Skill level: Expert)
• GDaD - Principal Data Scientist: Delivering Business Impact (Skill level: Practitioner)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,515, Department for Transport contributes £16,662 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King's birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies.

Things you need to know
Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to apply:

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's skills, and potential fit within our organisation.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement

Stage 2: Interview

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (500-word count). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:

• Your experience of using data science techniques to solve problems.
• Your ability to ensure your analysis achieves impact.

The sift will take place from Wednesday 26th November 2025.

Stage 2: Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours – Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace
• Experience – Promoting professional development by expanding data science knowledge and sharing best practice across departments/industry
• Technical – GDaD Framework: Programming and Build, Data Science Innovation, Applied maths, statistics and scientific practices, Delivering business impact

You will also be required to complete:

• A coding exercise to assess the technical elements Programming and Build and Applied maths, statistics, and scientific practices.
• A presentation to assess the technical element Data Science Innovation

Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

The interviews will take place from Wednesday 10th December 2025.

This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site .

Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.

Further information on the selection process

We will also hold a 12-month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for. You can read more about our reserve lists here.

AI Tools and Platforms

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

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 Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

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

Contact point for applicants
Job contact :

• Name : Greg Haigh
• Email :

Recruitment team

• Email :

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website

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