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General Information

Salary
The national salary is £58,511 - £65,329. London salary is £63,343 - £70,725. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
18-Feb-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 7
Number of jobs available
3
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
14509

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Lead Data Scientist (Python)

Location: National*

Interviews: Interviews likely to take place w/c 23rd March 2026 (dates are subject to change)

Grade: 7

(MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain this grade on lateral transfer)

Salary:

National salary is £58,511 - £65,329 (and the successful candidate may be eligible for an additional skills allowance of up to £16,014)

London salary is £63,343 - £70,725 (and the successful candidate may be eligible for an additional skills allowance of up to £15,970)

Working pattern: Full Time and 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

We’re recruiting for a Lead Data Scientist here at the Ministry of Justice, to be part of the warm and collaborative Justice Data.

This role aligns against Principal Data Scientist from the Government Digital and Data Framework.

This role sits within Justice Data which exists to ensure that high quality data, and algorithms and tools built on that data, are available, trusted, and effectively used to improve decision making across the justice system. It plays a critical enabling role in delivering the department’s strategic, operational, and transformation priorities by turning complex and fragmented data into meaningful insight and practical tools.

This role sits within the Cross-Government Division of Justice Data which addresses complex justice challenges that cut across departmental boundaries. Working with partners across government, academia, and delivery systems, the Division focuses on improving data access, building evidence, and developing practical tools that support better decision-making, frontline delivery, and long-term system transformation.

The successful candidates will join a community of approximately 75 data scientists with portfolios which include prisons, probation, courts, criminal injuries, risk assessment, mental health, prevention, and youth justice. There is a strong culture of sharing best practice, developing cutting-edge capability, and celebrating achievements.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead development of algorithms and tools which improve the delivery of front-line services. The Cross-government Division is currently focused on developing solutions relating to Mental Health, Prevention, and Youth Justice.
  • Support and motivate a team of data scientists.
  • Collaborate with teams across the business to understand data science and AI requirements.
  • Identify where data science can be used to achieve Ministry of Justice objectives.
  • Maintaining and developing open-source tools. For example, our data extraction package,

If this feels like an exciting challenge, something you are enthusiastic about, and want to join our team please read on and apply!

Benefits

  • 37 hours per week and flexible working options including working from home, working part-time, job sharing, or working compressed hours.
  • 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
  • Staff have 10% time to dedicate to develop & grow
  • Generous civil service pension based on defined benefit scheme, with employer contributions of 28.97% from April 1st 2024 (Contribution Rates)
  • 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.
  • 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!
  • Wellbeing support including access to the Calm app.
  • Bike loans up to £2500 and secure bike parking (subject to availability and location)
  • Season ticket loans, childcare vouchers and eye-care vouchers.
  • 5 days volunteering paid leave.
  • Free membership to BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT.
  • Some offices may have a subsidised onsite Gym.

Person Specification

Essential

  • Technical skills: theoretical understanding of and expertise utilising data science techniques for a range of applications (e.g. natural language processing, classification, forecasting, regression).
  • Technical skills: expert level coding skills in python.
  • Project management: leading impactful data science projects from inception to production by setting a clear direction and delivering on milestones.
  • People management: supporting and motivating a team to deliver excellence and derive fulfilment from their roles.

Willingness to be assessed against the requirements for SC 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 an anonymised CV and Statement of Suitability of up to 750 words outlining 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 you against the technical skills from the Government Digital and Data Framework for Principal Data Scientists and the following Behaviours during the assessment process:

  • Leadership - Create and engage others in delivering a shared vision. Value difference, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and opportunity for all.
  • Seeing the big picture - Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.

A diverse panel will review your application against the Person Specification above.

Should we receive a high volume of applications, a pre-sift based only on experience of leading data science projects as evidenced in the CV will be conducted. Following the pre-sift, a full sift will take place based on all the essential criteria in the person specification as evidenced in the CV and Statement of Suitability.

Successful candidates who meet the required standard will then be invited to undertake a short technical test, if you pass the technical test, you will be invited to a 1-hour panel interview (on a separate date) held via video conference. 

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.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

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.

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 datarecruitment@justice.gov.uk

 

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.  This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). 

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

Diversity & 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.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

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) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
  • 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 (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference - 14509

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference

Allowance

National salary is £58,511 - £65,329 (and the successful candidate may be eligible for an additional skills allowance of up to £16,014)

London salary is £63,343 - £70,725 (and the successful candidate may be eligible for an additional skills allowance of up to £15,970)

Application form stage assessments

Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Candidates must submit an anonymised CV and Statement of Suitability of up to 750 words outlining how you meet the requirements set out in the Person Specification above.

Essential
• Technical skills: theoretical understanding of and expertise utilising data science techniques for a range of applications (e.g. natural language processing, classification, forecasting, regression).
• Technical skills: expert level coding skills in python.
• Project management: leading impactful data science projects from inception to production by setting a clear direction and delivering on milestones.
• People management: supporting and motivating a team to deliver excellence and derive fulfilment from their roles.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Interviews likely to take place w/c 23rd March 2026 (dates are subject to change)
Behaviours
Leadership
Seeing the Big Picture
Technical
Short Technical Test
Level of security checks required
DBS Basic
Security Clearance (SC)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

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.