We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.
Overview
Do you have the passion, values, and ability to help us solve the biggest problems of the justice system?
We have two permanent Head of Data Science roles in our Data Science Hub, within the Data & Analysis Directorate.
We welcome applications from candidates based across the UK. Candidates will have the option of being based in the Leeds or London HQ offices (with flexible working arrangements available) or your nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. These are in Liverpool, Leeds, South Tyneside, Manchester, Bristol, Nottingham, Cardiff, and Brighton, Stafford, Ipswich, Wolverhampton, Sheffield. Alternative locations may be available and will be discussed and agreed on the completion of background checks.
Interviews are likely to take place in November 2022 and will be held via MS Teams. We will keep a merit list for a year for those who successfully pass the interview board but who are not offered a post.
About Data & Analysis
We are passionate about improving justice outcomes through innovative research, data and analysis.
In Data and Analysis, we provide high quality data and analysis helping to ensure strategic, policy, finance, corporate and operational decisions are based on robust evidence.
We create a culture in which people are empowered with the data and information to make excellent decisions; using cutting edge tools, techniques and collaboration; putting evidence at the heart of the justice system.
We are a multi-disciplinary team of around 500 staff that sits at the heart of the Ministry of Justice providing analytical 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. Our collaborations beyond government are seen as ground-breaking.
The Data and Analysis community is made up of analysts and specialists including: Data Scientists, Data Engineers, Statisticians, Operational Researchers, Social Researchers, Economists and other data specialists (such as data strategists, data dissemination, generalists and assurance experts).
What you’ll do
Role 1: Head of Prison Data Science
This is an exciting time to be taking on the Prison Data Science portfolio. 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.
Your role will be to build on these successes and expand the range of services we deliver to operational and policy teams; and to work closely with digital and data strategy colleagues to influence the wider prison digital and data transformation programme and ensure data and data science are at the heart of decision making for the next decade.
Role 2: Head of Risk Assessment Data Science
Effective risk assessment is an important part of how frontline staff working in the Prison and Probation Service make defensible decisions about risk. You will be leading the team that develops the data science tools that estimate likelihood of reoffending and support operational staff decision-making. You will need to build consensus across stakeholders and work closely with policy, operational, data and digital colleagues to effectively prioritise and deliver your team’s portfolio of work.
Both roles:
You will be leading a data science team of c.10 data scientists. You’ll be reporting to the Chief Data Scientist and managing 3-4 lead data scientists, each with a small team.
Key responsibilities:
- You will need to combine data science technical expertise and operational priorities to define the vision across your team’s portfolio in line with departmental objectives, timescales and budgets.
- You will communicate with senior stakeholders and convince them of the strategic value of applying data science and work with them to remove blockers so that the team can deliver efficiently.
- Develop team capability, act as a coach, mentor and role model and champion the adoption of best practice in data science from across government and beyond.
- Provide strategic direction to senior leaders across the department on all things data science. You will work closely with other data leaders to transform the way the department thinks about and uses data, ensuring that future major funding bids incorporate data science at their heart.
- Play an active role in making the Data Science Hub and Data & Analysis an inclusive and vibrant place to work.
Who you are
We’re interested in people who have:
- Strong knowledge of data science (e.g. machine learning and natural language processing) and a track record of leading teams to deliver data science projects / products.
- Strong strategic thinking and problem solving aligned with organisational goals, with ability to identify opportunities for data innovation and promoting adoption and learning of new tools and techniques where appropriate.
- Proven ability to develop capability of a team to tackle real-world business problems using a broad range of advanced analytical techniques.
- A track record of developing strong quality assurance, including producing robust and reproducible analysis using modern version control software.
- Ability to tell the story to technical and non-technical stakeholders, and have success working with diverse stakeholder groups to deliver data science projects / products.
Why join us?
In Data and Analysis, we want all our people to feel valued for who they are and for the work they do. We provide a warm, inclusive place to work and offer a wide range of flexibilities and benefits as part of our people offer to reward our staff.
What we offer
- Flexible working arrangements and a focus on equality of opportunity – including welcoming part-time and/or job-share arrangements, compressed hours, working from home or your nearest Justice Collaboration Centres or Justice Satellite Office.
- Career development – regular development and promotion opportunities across a wide range of roles, career development support, with a generous individual learning and development budget.
- Range of new areas of work and new tools and techniques – we pride ourselves on our excellent deployment of well-established analytical methods, but also our progress to date. Progress such as our ambitious and innovative transformation programme to leverage departmental data and drive evidence-based decision-making using cutting-edge tools and techniques (for example: experimentation, personalisation, artificial intelligence).
- Analysis is at the centre of the Department’s decision making – our transformation programme is focused on maximising our impact on departmental outcomes. The Ministry of Justice’s Senior Team and our Ministerial Team want all decisions to be evidence driven – your analysis will be key in influencing decisions and real-world impact
- Vibrant community – part of a multidisciplinary team that has a supportive culture and is looking to further develop the community with the help of everyone.
- See the frontline and what your work is influencing – regular opportunities to visit our front-line service providers, including courts, prisons, and probation to better understand the areas your analysis is affecting.
How to apply
You’ll need to submit an anonymised CV and Statement of Suitability as part of your application. You will not be considered if you do not provide both.
Your CV should be no more than 2 pages long and should show us your work history and previous experience. It should be well structured, succinct and written in clear language.
Your Statement of Suitability should be no more than 750 words and should give us examples of how your skills and experience match those needed for this role. Consider giving examples that cover all the requirements in the ‘Who you are’ section and use work you have completed to demonstrate how you meet each one.
Selection Process
There will be an initial sift of applicants through comparing submitted evidence against the ‘Who you are’ bullets. This usually takes two weeks, depending on the number of applications.
Applicants invited for interview
Those who make it through the initial sift will be invited to a Civil Service Success Profile interview. In the Civil Service we use Success Profiles to help us find the right person for the job and you will be assessed against the Civil Service success profiles framework at interview stage. We will be using a mixture of methods to assess your abilities, strengths, experience, technical skills and behaviours. We highly recommend learning about Success Profiles and using the Situation, Task, Action, Result and Reflection (STARR) framework when structuring your answers.
The highest scoring candidates that pass the interview will be offered the roles. The whole process can take up to a month.
Presentation
You will be required to give a 5-minute presentation at interview. Details of this will be sent to those candidates who are invited for interview.
Behaviours
The following behaviours will be tested:
- Leadership
- Changing and Improving
- Working Together
In your examples you should include evidence on ‘how’ you demonstrated the requirements and the impact of your work, as well as ‘what’ you did.
Please also refer to the Civil Service Behaviours framework for more details at this grade.
Technical – Data Science Skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- data science expertise
- technical leadership
Technical – Analytical Competency
For external (non-Civil Service) candidates (and unbadged candidates within the Civil Service), as well as the three civil service behaviours and Data Science skills stated above, you will be assessed on your analytical knowledge, experience and abilities, and the impact of your analytical work.
For existing Civil Service analysts from all professions, as well as the three civil service behaviours and Data Science skills stated above, you will be assessed on two sets of the relevant professional competencies at interview. Please refer to the analytical profession frameworks in the appendix section for more information.
Further Information
If you require any additional information about the role, please contact: Data & Analysis Recruitment Team: DataAndAnalysis.Recruitment@justice.gov.uk
Appendix
Examples of MoJ Data Science Hub work and ways of working:
Professional Competencies
- Professional Competency (1) Knowledge & Skills
- GSS - Data Analysis.
- GORS - Knowledge and application of OR Skills and Techniques.
- GES - Analysis of Data.
- GSR - Knowledge and application of GSR technical skills
- Professional Competency (2) Influence & Impact
- GSS - Presenting and disseminating data effectively.
- GORS - Achieving impact with analysis.
- GES - Effective communication.
- GSR - Using and promoting social research
For more information regarding Professional Competency (2) please refer to the analytical profession internet links below. Please note that some aspect of the professional competency may overlap with the MoJ competencies listed above. We therefore recommend that in providing evidence for the professional competency, candidates focus on the technical and methodology aspects of the competencies that are specific to the profession. We will use evidence presented for the MoJ competencies in assessing the wider skills candidates have.
Government Statistician Group (GSG): Further information, including a user guide, can be found within the link below:
GSS Competency Framework 2021
Government Social Research Service (GSR): Further information can be found within the link below:
GSR Competency Framework 2022
Government Operational Research Service (GORS): Further information can be found within the link below:
GORS Competencies
Government Economic Service (GES): Further information can be found within the link below:
GES Professional Standards 2022
TOP