Lead Data Scientist (Data Science and AI) - Insight

Job summary

Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. Whether you're seeking purpose, growth, or a workplace that gives you a true sense of belonging, hear from some of our employees as they share their story about what it’s really like to work at HMRC.

Visit our YouTube channel to watch the full series and come and discover your potential.

This role is part of HMRC Valuation Office, formerly known as the Valuation Office Agency. We have recently integrated into HMRC. As we continue the transition to our updated HMRC branding, you may still see some VOA logos or references in our advertisements for a temporary period.

HMRC Valuation Office are the public sector’s property valuation experts and advisers with a vision to be a world-leading provider of public sector valuations. Our work is vital to the collection of over £60 billion of revenue which goes back into communities, touching every citizen and every business across England and Wales.

Job description

Role Overview

A newly established Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DS&AI) for Operations function aims to generate insight, improve operational processes and help the agency meet future demand while improving the quality of our valuations.

You will play a leadership role in driving forwards our aim to position the VO as a practical test bed for operational data science and AI. You will engage with our stakeholders across the department to identify the highest impact areas to work in and lead innovative projects, both internally and collaboratively through our partners and the wider tech sector. As such this role provides you with a fantastic opportunity to shape, develop and expand data science and AI capability across the organisation. This is a leadership role that requires organisation-wide strategic thinking. You will be part of wider HMRC Data science and AI community and collaborate as appropriate.

Within ID&A our work is varied, interesting and most importantly it’s impactful. As ID&A we are committed to our values of happiness and growth to build a culture where everyone can thrive.

“I am proud to lead a team of passionate, talented, and committed professionals and I am passionate to make ID&A even better place to work where people enjoy their work and can bring themselves in. ID&A is a highly knowledgeable and, above all, very friendly directorate comprising of 130 members across data, analytical, and other professions, based in various locations across the country. We put a particular focus on learning and development, career development, supporting each other to overcome challenges, learn new skills and creating a culture where innovation is a norm. If you are a strategic thinker with experience of successfully leading on organisation-wide Data Science and AI functions I want to hear from you. We can provide you with a unique opportunity to shape, change and drive Data Science and AI across VO and provide an excellent experience that’ll enhance your future career prospects and skills development” - Tetyana Mykhaylyk, Director of Information, Data & Analysis

Key responsibilities

Established in 2025, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DS&AI) for Operations was created to drive a step‑change in how VO Operations use data, analytics and AI to deliver better outcomes. The function works hand‑in‑hand with operational teams to meet the analytical needs of modern government, from advanced analytics to the responsible adoption of generative AI tools that support day‑to‑day decision‑making and delivery.

The function is currently split across two Grade 6-led partner teams; Lead Data Scientist (Data Science and AI) - Insight and Lead Data Scientist (Data Science and AI) - Enablement. The Lead Data Scientist (Data Science and AI) - Insight is leading on the data science projects which are being carried out, as well as the customer research and insight element of the team utilising the tools and technologies delivered through Enablement.

This trawl is linked to the Lead Data Scientist (Data Science and AI) – Enablement ( reference number 459394) campaign. Where candidates are invited to a SEE and interview for both trawls, a single interview process will apply and candidates will be invited to attend one interview only.

Working in close partnership with the other Lead Data Scientist (Data Science and AI), you will play a pivotal role in advancing the DS&AI function and shaping the strategic vision for the organisation’s use of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence to enhance operational performance. Your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Leadership & Vision: Take ownership of the development and direction of DS&AI, setting bold, forward-thinking strategies that will leverage Data Science and AI to deliver improved public services and drive organisational efficiency.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Secure strong engagement, commitment and support from senior leaders and managers, fostering a shared commitment to the DS&AI vision and strategy across all levels of the organisation.
• Team Development: Lead and nurture a high-performing team, providing line management to three Team Leaders and supporting a wider group of seventeen colleagues. Champion professional growth and capability within the team.
• Delivery for Operations: Lead the end‑to‑end delivery of data science and AI solutions that are embedded into operational services, ensuring ideas move rapidly from concept to live use and deliver measurable benefits for frontline teams.
• Collaboration & Innovation: Work closely with Operations to gain a deep understanding of business needs and challenges, developing practical, innovative solutions that make a meaningful difference across the agency.
• Influential Leadership: Act as a champion for a holistic, organisation-wide approach to data and analysis, promoting a culture of innovation, excellence and inclusivity within the VO.
• Senior Leadership Contribution: Play an active role within the wider ID&A Senior Leadership Team, deputising for the Deputy Director of ID&A when required, and contributing to the strategic direction of the directorate.

To explain more about the job, we are holding a live event on 11th May 2026 at 11:00am (allow 1 hour)via Microsoft Teams for candidates to find out about more:

eventbrite.com/o/valuation-office-agency-36616694113?msockid=03986b8d155d65a708a67ccc14866428

Please note each event will close for new bookings after 5pm the day before the event. You will receive a joining link to access the event by 09:30am on the day of the event.

Person specification

We are looking for a passionate innovative leader who can think strategically and deliver quick wins at pace at the same time with experience in utilising data science and AI to drive operational improvements. We welcome applications from a range of professions.

Essential Requirements

• A strong track record of shaping and delivering a data science and AI vision into prioritised, outcome‑focused operational plans, delivering measurable improvements while navigating complex environments and competing stakeholder priorities.
• Proven ability to secure commitment from senior leaders and operational stakeholders, translating complex analytical or technical concepts into clear, compelling narratives that drive adoption, behaviour change and sustained impact.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver data, analytics or digital products using Agile and iterative delivery methods, balancing innovation with risk, governance and operational realities, and demonstrating delivery of tangible outcomes.
• Demonstrable experience of working in close partnership with operational or delivery functions to ensure analytical and AI solutions are practical, usable, and embedded into day to day processes.
• A visible and enabling leadership style, with experience of building high‑performing, inclusive teams, developing leadership capability, and fostering a culture of collaboration, learning and continuous improvement.
• Applied maths, statistics and scientific practices.
  • Significant experience leading applied data science work (e.g. ML, LLMs, predictive modelling, optimisation, risk‑based allocation or analytical insight) that has directly improved operational or delivery performance, prioritisation or service outcomes.
• Delivering business impact and innovation.
  • Experience of integrating data science and/or AI with user research, customer insight or business analysis to ensure solutions are evidence‑based, user‑centred and aligned to real operational and customer needs.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

• As part of the interview you will be asked technical questions to assess your technical skills.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £73,092, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £21,174 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs.

We offer a generous leave allowance that starts at 25 days, increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days and a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.
• Family friendly policies.
• Personal support.
• Coaching and development.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it’s really like to work for HMRChear from our insiders or visit Thinking of joining the Civil Service.

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.

How to Apply

If you can meet our person requirements above, we are keen to hear from you.

To apply for this post, you must complete an online application with the following:

• A CV setting out your Job History and Previous skills and experiences.
• A Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words), please outline your suitability for the role. Please pay particular attention to the ‘Essential Requirements’ and ‘Person Specification’ outlined in the advert when providing your answer.

Sift - 29th May 2026. Please note these dates are provisional and may be subject to change.

• We will assess you on your CV and Personal Statement.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead essential criteria via the Personal Statement:

• A strong track record of shaping and delivering a data science and AI vision into prioritised, outcome‑focused operational plans, delivering measurable improvements while navigating complex environments and competing stakeholder priorities.

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

Staff Engagement Exercise

If successful at sift stage, you will be invited to take part in a Staff Engagement Exercise (SEE) on 16th June 2026. The SEE will take place via Microsoft Teams. More details will be provided at this stage. Please note this date is provisional and may be subject to change.

Interviews - 25th June 2026. Please note these dates are provisional and may be subject to change. These will be confirmed should you be invited to interview.

Interviews are currently taking place using Microsoft Teams Video. We will provide more detail if you are shortlisted for interview.

• We will assess you on the Behaviours listed in the job description, Technical questions and In Tray Exercise.

At the interview, the panel can then probe further and ask applicants to provide further specific examples that show how they best demonstrate their skills.

In Tray Exercise

To assess your technical skills at interview, you will be asked to deliver a 10 minute presentation, followed by a line of questioning to demonstrate your suitability. No prior preparation is required; additional information will be provided at the commencement of your interview.

Technical

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

• How you meet the technical skills aligned to your profession at Grade 6, as aligned to Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework:

Application Hints and Tips

For more information on Success Profiles, tips on how to write a successful application and find out more about what’s involved in the application process please visit About the application process , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk).

Further Information

Hybrid working at HMRC

HMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time).

Reasonable Adjustments

We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

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

• Contact the UBS Recruitment Team via resourcingteamvo@hmrc.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.

Criminal Record Check

Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.

Locations

As part of the application process, you will be asked to tell us which of the locations available you can work in. You will be able to specify up to 2 options. Please be aware that you can be posted to any location that you put in your preferences. If you would only like to be posted to one location, please confirm one location only.

Successful candidates must select one of the locations noted in this advert as their base office and will be expected to undertake regular travel to this location under HMRC hybrid working policy.

Due to the way the CS Jobs system is set up, when choosing your preferred locations, you will find that the Canary Wharf location will not appear on the list of options.

• Should you wish to choose Canary Wharf as a location then please select Tower Hamlets.

If your location preference is for the following site, it’s important to note that this is not long-term site for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time.

This site is:

• Benton Park View, Newcastle - moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle

You will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage.

Terms & Conditions

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.

Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.

Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.

Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.

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.

Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.

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

Reserve Lists

If we have more successful candidates than available vacancies, we will hold a 6 month reserve list.During that time, we may use the list to fill the same, or similar roles with closely matching essential criteria, without further testing of merit. Any appointments from the Reserve list will be made in strict merit order.

Concerns/Complaints

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you may make a complaint, by contacting the Central Recruitment Team at the following address: resourcingteamvo@hmrc.gov.uk

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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 : Tetyana Mykhaylyk
• Email : tetyana.mykhaylyk@hmrc.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment-principles/