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General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £34,140 - £37,105. London salary range is £38,661- £42,019. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
05-Dec-2024
Post Type
Permanent
Job ID
595

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Associate Data Scientist: Data Science & AI Hub

Location: National*

Closing Date: 05 December 2024

Interviews: From 07 January 2024

Grade: HEO

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

Salary: London: £38,661 - £42,019; National: £34,140 - £37,105 which may include an allowance up to £1827

Working pattern: Full-time, part-time, job share, 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 an Associate Data Scientist: Data Science & AI Hub here at the Ministry of Justice, to be part of our warm and collaborative Data Directorate.

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

We are a multi-disciplinary team of around 80 staff that sits at the heart of the Ministry of Justice providing data science 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. 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 and the public-facing Criminal justice system (CJS) delivery data dashboard. We regularly deliver insights that directly influence corporate, operational and policy decisions. Our projects span the data science spectrum including machine learning, natural language processing, large language models and optimisation.

You will work as part of multi-disciplinary teams to deliver data science products and analysis. Below are further details of the HEO data scientist roles currently available in the division:

Criminal Justice System Data Science: Cross-CJS data

The cross-CJS data asset is an initiative led by the Criminal Justice System (CJS) Data Improvement programme and aims to bring together datasets from the Ministry of Justice, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Police for the first time. The postholder will be involved in the innovative exploratory analysis of the cross-CJS data and the subsequent development of new data science projects. Past and current projects include developing machine learning models to predict time taken for Crown Court cases to get through the system and, separately, classification models to predict victim attrition. We also recently developed a Streamlit-based MVP dashboard to disseminate analysis and metrics on victim attrition.

Criminal Justice System Data Science: Prison Capacity modelling

This team is responsible for producing a high-priority series of short-term prison demand models to inform capacity. The postholder will be responsible for investigating potential predictive data sources and using data science techniques to produce forecasting models. They will monitor and upgrade existing modelling to improve approaches and reduce uncertainty. The postholder will need to be comfortable working at a fast pace, using a variety of data sources and engaging with a range of stakeholders.

In both posts, you will be encouraged to develop your data science skills and experience through both formal and informal training. The majority of projects will be conducted using Python, R and SQL on our AWS cloud infrastructure (known as the Analytical Platform) to work with data from across the justice system.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Work with other data scientists on shared codebases, utilising data science techniques to deliver data science products and analysis across MoJ and the criminal justice system (e.g. within prisons, for the Probation Service).
  • Learn and implement best practice approaches in project delivery, such as version control, code review and unit testing.
  • Share key findings and effectively communicate complex analysis to non-technical stakeholders.

  • Help the team keep up to date with the wider data science landscape and emerging technologies.

  • Contribute to making the Data Science and AI Hub an inclusive and vibrant place to work.

  • 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

  • Experience of applying analytical or data science techniques (e.g. machine learning, large language models, natural language processing, data visualisation and/or statistical modelling).

  • Experience in writing clear, concise and accurate code in Python or R.

  • Experience with data derivation/manipulation techniques and understanding of why it is important.

  • Ability to communicate analytical findings in a way understandable to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Willingness to be assessed against  the requirements for BPSS 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 a CV and Personal Statement (up to 750 words), which describes 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 your Experience, Technical Skills and the following Behaviours during the assessment process:

  • Communicating & Influencing

  • Delivering at Pace

  • Working Together

A diverse panel will review your application against the Person Specification above. 
Successful candidates who meet the required standard will then be invited to a 2-hour panel interview held via video conference.  You will be required to complete a technical exercise during the first hour, followed by a Q&A format for the second hour.
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.
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 recruitment@digital.justice.gov.uk

Job Description Attachment
Download JD - Associate Data Scientist_ Data Science & AI Hub (HEO).docx
Additional Information

If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com.

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 roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

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

• To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);

• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);

• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

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 see our Disability Confident Scheme Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

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 SSCL 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 

Interview stage assessments

Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Delivering at Pace
Experience
Your Experience for this role will be assessed at interview. To learn more about Experience and how they are assessed please click here.
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability
Technical
Experience in writing clear, concise and accurate code in Python or R
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.