Data Scientist

Job summary

This role sits within the Data Analytics Service Team in the Public Sector Fraud Authority. You will be working as a Data Scientist to advance how the government uses data to find fraud within the public sector. You will support the engagement with government agencies to support them in identifying where data analysis could be applied to their business processes to most effectively counter residual fraud risks.

You will work closely with a range of stakeholders; helping agencies fully map the data processes underpinning their schemes, identifying the information and analytics gaps that are the root cause of suspected fraud risks and advising on analysis and products to address residual fraud risks. With support and guidance, you will apply data science best practises to build innovative products and present any findings, outputs and recommendations to senior stakeholders.

The role will sit within a multidisciplinary team of data scientists, data engineers, delivery managers and business analysts.

Job description

Responsibilities

The jobholder’s key responsibilities will be to:

• Conduct analysis using a range of complex data sources related to fraud and economic crime.
• Perform analysis in Python and SQL, including machine learning.
• Use cloud based microservices to develop and deliver large language model based products
• Communicate analysis clearly and in an engaging manner to non-technical audiences, drawing out the key messages.
• Present findings, outputs and recommendations to stakeholders, managing sensitivities in the results and maintaining good relationships with these stakeholders to facilitate future work.
• Develop and improve interactive dashboarding and setting the direction for current and future reporting using tools such as PowerBI.
• Explore and describe data using a variety of tools and be able to present them to wider audiences without data backgrounds.
• Work effectively with a range of stakeholders, within and outside of Government, on collaborative projects and to promote the work of the team.
• Maintain your own professional development and build a strong supportive and inclusive culture across the team.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• Degree / Masters in computer science, maths, statistics, economics or related disciplines or professional experience in a data science team.
• Programming experience in SQL and a coding language (preferably Python) covering data manipulation, job automation and analysis.
• Understanding of machine learning tools/packages and the typical machine learning development process.
• Understanding of project delivery methodologies - preferably agile and scrum working.
• Understanding of version control tools and best practices.

It will be beneficial for applicants to have:

• Experience using cloud computing services such as Azure or AWS.
• Experience with Large Language Models, Langchain, Retrieval-Augmented Generation, Prompt Engineering.
• Experience with using network analytics software and configuration of fraud detection tools and/or analytics platforms.
• Experience with model explainability and consideration of ethical outcomes of machine learning models.

Qualifications

Degree / Masters in computer science, maths, statistics, economics or related disciplines or professional experience in a data science team

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

• Data Science - Experience
• Data Science - Presentation

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,760, Cabinet Office contributes £12,677 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

Things you need to know

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, 500 word Statement of Suitability (aligned to the essential criteria) and Behaviours. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Note: In the event of high application volumes - Cabinet Office will sift on the following behaviour:

• Seeing the Big Picture

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Technical skills.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving

Technical

We'll assess your technical ability during the selection process with:

• Data Science - Experience
• Data Science - Presentation

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – TBD

Expected interview date/s – TBD

Interview location - Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 10 years’ UK residency in the past 10 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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)
• 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)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Ricky Reed-Killick
• Email : Ricky.Reed-Killick1@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.

Attachments

Cabinet Office Employee Offer (2) Opens in new window (pdf, 302kB)Cabinet Office Terms and Conditions - External 2025-02-20 (2) Opens in new window (docx, 94kB)