Principal Public Health Data Scientist

Job summary

The Screening Division of Public Health Wales is recruiting to the role of Principal Public Health Data Scientist. This is an exciting role in which the post-holder will apply data science and analytical tools, techniques and methods to support research and service evaluation within the division to improve population-screening-related outcomes.

The Screening Division delivers seven national population-based screening programmes in Wales (bowel cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, abdominal aortic aneurysm, diabetic eye, newborn hearing, and newborn bloodspot) and manages the Antenatal Screening Wales clinical network. It is also currently scoping the delivery of a targeted lung cancer screening programme. As a result, the post-holder could work across several different health areas.

The Principle Public Health Data Scientist will have advanced SQL server and programming skills as well as advanced R or Python skills. These will be used to work with our existing datasets, create linkages to new sources of data, and undertake analysis to develop insights into screening. In addition, the post-holder will be the initial point of contact for screening research and evaluation support and advice for staff and external partners.

For further details or to arrange an informal discussion please contact Todd Smith, Consultant in Public Health ()

Main duties of the job

The postholder will have a senior role in leading research and service evaluation within the screening division. Using strong data science skills and passion for innovation and improvement to lead, scope, shape and deliver various data science and analytical screening research and service evaluation projects with impact. This may include:

Using data analysis and techniques and predictive analytics to develop and communicate insights into screening.

Exploring and linking to alternative data sources to create public health insights.

Preparing datasets for analysis within Public Health Wales or by external partners.

Ensuring divisional adherence to appropriate research and evaluation governance and ethics standards.

Developing data visualisations

Line managing a public health researcher in the division.

Training staff, supervising or mentoring junior staff, and demonstrating specific tasks or work as required of others.

Acting as the initial point of screening research and service evaluation support and advice for Public Health Wales staff and external partners, including screening data availability, access/transfer, quality, analysis, and interpretation.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

About us

We are Public Health Wales - the national public health organisation for Wales. Our purpose is 'working together for a healthier Wales'. We exist to help all people in Wales live longer, healthier lives. With our partners, we aim to increase healthy life expectancy, improve health and well-being, and reduce inequalities for everyone in Wales, now and for future generations.

Together, our teams work to prevent disease, protect health, and provide leadership, specialist services and public health expertise. We are the main source of public health information, research and innovation in Wales. Never more has public health been so important as we come through the Coronavirus pandemic, face the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis and tackle and prevent the harmful effects of climate change.

Our organisation is guided by our Values, 'Working together, with trust and respect, to make a difference'. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that values equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications which represent the rich diversity of the communities we serve and from those wishing to work part time or on a job share basis.

To find out more about working for us and the benefits we offer please visit

For guidance on the application process, please visit

Job description

Job responsibilities

Qualifications

Essential

Masters degree, or equivalent experience, that includes components related to data science, computer science, or software engineering. This might include, but is not limited to, the following subjects: mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science, geo-spatial science, physics, economics, econometrics, chemistry, biology, and ecology.

Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable criteria

PhD or equivalent experience with a strong component relevant to data science

Experience

Essential criteria

Proven experience of leading the delivery of timely, innovative data science projects with impact, to meet user needs

Recent or in-depth experience of working with project management frameworks, leading a multi-disciplinary team, across the whole project lifecycle

Effective verbal and written communication of complex data science and analytical issues and results to technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leaders

Experience of identifying, developing and delivering data science coaching, mentoring and / or training

Working effectively across organisational and professional boundaries

Proven experience of line management and staff development

Experience of developing delivery plans, establishing work priorities, delegating effectively, ensuring a capability to deliver, monitoring performance and giving feedback

Able to develop partnerships across Organisations and drive collaboration between people to achieve desired outcomes.

Experience of handling patient-identifiable data and information management, including authorising the release of data

Desirable criteria

Experience of Agile delivery management

Experience of working with healthcare data and IT systems, particularly NHS and screening data.

Experience of working with screening programmes.

Five or more years of experience of data management and analysis

Health sciences background

Skills

Essential criteria

Evidence of advanced R or Python skills, including good coding, documentation, and versioning practice.

Evidence of advanced data analytics and statistical skills (for example, machine learning, natural language processing, supervised and unsupervised learning, econometrics and regression, causal inference) deployed to deliver data products with impact

Advanced SQL server and programming skills

Advanced skills in data management/linkage/engineering, for example manipulation and analysis of complex, high volume, high dimensionality data; relational and non-relational databases; SQL / noSQL databases; data linkage; structured and unstructured data; management and analysis of big data.

Can produce appropriate and compelling data visualisations, excellent written and oral communication skills

Can identify and develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges to meet user requirements

Desirable criteria

Evidence of ability to meet tight and challenging deadlines, managing complex and multiple pieces of work

Working on cloud platforms, particularly Azure

Use of Git / GitHub or similar

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Specialist knowledge of data science methods

Understand and comply with legal and ethical requirements for data privacy, security and confidentiality, such as the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Caldicott principles.

In-depth knowledge and practical experience of research and evaluation governance and methodology

Desirable criteria

Knowledge of public health challenges

Knowledge of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, or other equivalent quality frameworks.

Personal attributes

Essential criteria

Ability to work to deadlines and under pressure

Flexible approach and commitment to applying skills in support of clinical/scientific priorities

Conscientious and proven team worker with the ability to engage with people at all levels

Able to multi-task in a fluid environment, able to prioritise, plan and manage workload, managing complex and multiple pieces of work/projects

Able to lead and to support team members, especially when they are placed under pressure

Ability to work on own initiative.

Good time-keeping.

Respect confidentiality.

Willingness to learn and develop skills.

Able to make a connection between their work and the benefit to stakeholders.

Desirable criteria

Ability to work in challenging or difficult circumstances

Ability to speak Welsh

Other

Essential criteria

Ability to foster and maintain good working relationships with colleagues at all levels

Commitment to developing own technical data science and core skills

Prepared to travel

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

A Master's degree, or equivalent experience, that includes components related to data science, computer science, or software engineering. This might include, but is not limited to, the following subjects: mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science, geo-spatial science, physics, economics, econometrics, chemistry, biology, and ecology. Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

PhD or equivalent experience with a strong component relevant to data science

Experience

Essential

Proven experience of leading the delivery of timely, innovative data science projects with impact, to meet user needs Recent or in-depth experience of working with project management frameworks, leading a multi-disciplinary team, across the whole project lifecycle Effective verbal and written communication of complex data science and analytical issues and results and issues to technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leaders Experience of identifying, developing and delivering data science coaching, mentoring and / or training Working effectively across organisational and professional boundaries Proven experience of line management and staff development Experience of developing delivery plans, establishing work priorities, delegating effectively, ensuring a capability to deliver, monitoring performance and giving feedback Able to develop partnerships across Organisations and drive collaboration between people to achieve desired outcomes. Experience of handling patient-identifiable data and information management, including authorising the release of data

Desirable

Experience of Agile delivery management Experience of working with healthcare data and IT systems, particularly NHS and screening data. Experience of working with screening programmes. Five or more years of experience of data management and analysis Health sciences background

Skills

Essential

Evidence of advanced R or Python skills, including good coding, documentation, and versioning practice. Evidence of advanced data analytics and statistical skills (for example, machine learning, natural language processing, supervised and unsupervised learning, econometrics and regression, causal inference) deployed to deliver data products with impact Advanced SQL server and programming skills Advanced skills in data management/linkage/engineering, for example manipulation and analysis of complex, high volume, high dimensionality data; relational and non-relational databases; SQL / noSQL databases; data linkage; structured and unstructured data; management and analysis of big data. Can produce appropriate and compelling data visualisations, excellent written and oral communication skills Can identify and develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges to meet user requirements

Desirable

Evidence of ability to meet tight and challenging deadlines, managing complex and multiple pieces of work Working on cloud platforms, particularly Azure Use of Git / GitHub or similar

Knowledge

Essential

Specialist knowledge of data science methods Understand and comply with legal and ethical requirements for data privacy, security and confidentiality, such as the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Caldicott principles In-depth knowledge and practical experience of research and evaluation governance and methodology

Desirable

Knowledge of public health challenges Knowledge of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics or other equivalent quality frameworks

Personal Attributes (Demonstrable)

Essential

Ability to work to deadlines and under pressure Flexible approach and commitment to applying skills in support of clinical/scientific priorities Conscientious and proven team worker with the ability to engage with people at all levels Able to multi-task in a fluid environment, able to prioritise, plan and manage workload, managing complex and multiple pieces of work/projects Able to lead and to support team members, especially when they are placed under pressure Ability to work on own initiative. Good time-keeping. Respect confidentiality. Willingness to learn and develop skills. Able to make a connection between their work and the benefit to stakeholders.

Desirable

Ability to work in challenging or difficult circumstances Ability to speak Welsh

Other (Please Specify)

Essential

Ability to foster and maintain good working relationships with colleagues at all levels Commitment to developing own technical data science and core skills Prepared to travel

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