Head of Analytical Data Science

This is an exciting time to join the Department for International Trade as we promote British trade and investment across the world. This is important work and is vital to UK prosperity.

The Analysis Group within DIT exists to make better policy and to ensure that policy delivery has the biggest positive impact on the UK’s economy. We are here to ensure that Ministers and DIT’s leadership can make informed policy and operational decisions, based on the best possible analysis.

Reporting directly to the Chief Statistician, this ‘Head of Analytical Data Science’ role leads on data science in the Analysis Group. The role is responsible for developing and implementing an analytical data science strategy - working with senior colleagues to scope and then leading teams to provide internal consultancy to deliver data science projects utilising advanced visualisation techniques, natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to directly support trade, investment, and negotiations. This is a fantastic opportunity to use your data science skills to deliver impactful projects and help shape the data science landscape within a young government department.

Find out more about the work that we do at DIT at our LinkedIn pages and our Civil Service Careers page.

Job description

As a senior data scientist within the Analysis Group at DIT, you will:

- Lead work to develop and implement an analytical data science strategy that: delivers innovative data science analysis and tools to draw insights from a rich variety of datasets to enhance the quality of trade policy development and trade negotiations and improves the quality, efficiency and impact of analysis across DIT by developing data science capability
- Raise the profile of data science across DIT ensuring impact across all projects
- Work closely with data scientists within Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) to strengthen and lead the DIT data science community
- Collaborate with data science teams across Government departments to share best practice and encourage innovation

Hybrid Working

Informal hybrid working arrangements will be available as agreed with the vacancy manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Most DIT employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending 2-3 days a week (pro rata) in an office, on average. If your office location is London, you will be eligible to receive London weighting.

**Responsibilities**:
Essential Criteria
- Be a strong, confident and empowering leader
- Have advanced data science technical skills and be able to manage a complex programme of data science projects
- Be able to drive innovation in the use of new data, analytic techniques, and use of technology
- Have a track record of delivering complex statistical data science projects and ensuring impact with senior leaders
- You will have to be strategic, innovative and forward looking in building and deploying data science capability taking into account both current and likely future demands for data science approaches
- Have a collaborative approach and work closely with other teams to deliver shared departmental objectives as well as contributing to and developing networks across the Government data science community

Desirable Criteria
- Experience using Git for version control and maintaining good documentation standards

Personal Attributes & Skills
- You should have experience of leading data science projects and engaging stakeholders through each phase of a project. Above all, you should have a natural curiosity and drive to expand your knowledge and skillset to help solve complex problems

**Qualifications**:
You must hold one of the following qualifications to progress further:

- Have worked in a statistical/data science field and are able to demonstrate continuous professional development (via a CPD Log Book) in statistics or data science at the same level as a foundation degree/HND (Level 5)
- Have achieved or on track to achieve a level 4 apprenticeship including at least 2 years in a statistical or data analysis field in government and are able to demonstrate continuous professional development in statistics or data analysis (via a CPD log book signed off by a manager or mentor who are members of the statistical profession)

Memberships
Behaviours

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

- Leadership
- Changing and Improving
- Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

- Data Science. You will be asked at interview to describe an innovative data science project you worked on and how it impacted decision making.
- You will also be assessed against the GSS competency framework, focusing on acquiring data/understanding customer needs and data analysis for G7.

**Benefits**:

- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Ci