Principal Data Scientist

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQ’s. We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, (averaged over a month) working at one of UKHSA's core HQ’s (Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, and London) Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). Job Summary We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic Principal Data Scientist to the Advanced Analytics Data Science Team within the multidisciplinary AA Division in the Chief Data Officer Group. You will co-ordinate teams applying a range of cutting-edge data science techniques ranging from classical statistics to generative AI. You Will: • use your skills to develop, evaluate and deploy data science solutions and applications that directly impact health security • have the opportunity to present and author papers on your work. Leading in the team, you will capitalise on the teams’ existing collaborations with organisations across government and industry. There is much cross collaboration with a wide variety of subject matter experts allowing for interesting and boundary pushing work. Job Description Current projects led by Data Scientists in the team include: In This Role You Will: • use large language models to identify discrepancies in guidance documents • evaluate large language models’ suitability for assisting with different tasks in public health • design novel algorithms to process large scale anti-microbial resistance data • design and deploy novel public health focused applications The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation. Current projects led by Data Scientists in the team include: In This Role You Will: • use large language models to identify discrepancies in guidance documents • evaluate large language models’ suitability for assisting with different tasks in public health • design novel algorithms to process large scale anti-microbial resistance data • design and deploy novel public health focused applications The above is only an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. You will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by the directorate. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation. Person specification Essential Criteria • A first- or second-class honours degree in a numerate discipline, computer science or IT equivalent which demonstrates core statistical skills or have worked in a statistical/data science field and are able to demonstrate continuous professional development in statistics/data science at the same level as a foundation degree/HND (Level 5) • Strong proficiency applying analytical and statistical techniques across real-world codebases; practitioner level in SQL and in Python and/or R and/or Python with fluency in Git-based workflows (branching, code review) testing and reproducible environments. Support development of coding capability across the team. • Experience in wrangling, cleaning and pre-processing data in readiness for analysis, including working efficiently with large/complex datasets. Promotes best practice across the team. • Designs and deploys machine learning solutions appropriate to context, selecting sound validation strategies and critiquing model limitations. Embeds responsible practices and team wide standards. • Lead a team of data scientists, ensuring high technical standards and professional development. Ensure effective delivery of programmes of work and manage competing demands under pressure. • Construct and deliver compelling data stories using advanced data visualisation techniques, tailoring messages to business owners, senior leadership, and forums such as conferences. • Mentor data scientists in best practice including software best practice; writing functions, modular code, use of git-based version control systems and embedding peer review. Ensure confidentiality issues and statutory information governance requirements are followed robustly by self and team. • Well-developed problem-solving skills and user centred approach to developing solutions. Ensure evolving user requirements are translated into clear deliverable project outcomes. • Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to influence, communicate, present and capture requirements from technical and non-technical stakeholders. Negotiate confidently and advocate for the value of data science within wider organisational priorities. • Exercise independent judgement to set direction within remit, proactively escalating critical decisions with clear options, trade-offs and risk assessment while ensuring alignment with organisational goals. • Demonstrate a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Fosters an inclusive psychologically safe team culture and addresses inequities. Desirable Criteria: • Understanding of techniques and applications of public health and healthcare intelligence including surveillance, needs assessment, audit and information support to commissioning. • Utilise a range of data sources (clinical, epidemiological environmental and socio-economic data) to support efficient management of public health incident response and for research purposes including engaging with data owners, automating bespoke pipelines, and querying and linking data. • Experience of producing analytical products (e.g., software packages, automated reports, dynamic visualisations/dashboards) for decision making. • Experience implementing testing code and code refactoring to reduce computational timing/required resources. • Experiencing of delivering or overseeing AI projects Alongside your salary of £56,185, UK Health Security Agency contributes £16,276 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 with an employer contribution of 28.97% We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all. Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers Selection process details Selection Process Details Stage 1: Application & Sift This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviour & Experience. You will be required to complete an application form. • Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) • 750 word Statement of Suitability linked to the essential criteria in the form of Behaviour statements linked to each of the three behaviours below (please write a maximum of 250 words linked to each of the three behaviours) Behaviours: • Leadership • Communicating and Influencing • Making Effective Decisions This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge and provide evidence of your suitability for the role. Healthjobs UK has a word limit of 750, your supporting statement must be no more than 750 words. You will receive a joint score for your application form and statement. (The application form is the kind of information you would put into your C.V –please be advised you will not be able to upload your CV. Please complete the application form in as much detail as possible) If we receive a large number of applications an initial sift against the lead behaviour, Leadership, will be conducted. Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we may longlist into 3 piles of: • Meets all essential criteria • Meets some essential criteria • Meets no essential criteria Please note, only applications that meet some or all the essential criteria will be moved forward to the shortlisting stage. Please note feedback will not be provided at this stage. Stage 2: Technical Assessment You will be invited to remote Technical Test. Assessments will be held week commencing 3 November 2025, please note these dates are subject to change. You will be provided with a representative data science task and data set and have 90 minutes to construct a code-based solution. You will then have an interactive remote discussion with a panel. Here you will present your outputs and respond to questions interactively. This session is expected to last around 30 minutes. The assessment is predominately designed to test your coding and mathematical skills, and the marking will align to the GDD data science framework. If you pass this stage, you will proceed to the final interview stage. Feedback will be provided at this stage. Stage 3: Interview (success profiles) You will be invited to remote interview. Interviews will be held week commencing 10 November 2025, please note these dates are subject to change. The Behaviours Tested During The Interview Stage Will Be: This vacancy is being assessed using Success Profiles behaviours, technical skills and ability. During the interview we will assess you against the below: • Leadership • Making Effective Decisions • Communicating and Influencing The Technical Behaviours from the DDAT data science profile will be: • Data Science Innovation • Delivering Business Impact Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Security Clearance Level Requirement: Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard Successful candidates must pass a standard disclosure and barring security check. Eligibility to work in the Civil Service To take up a role in UKHSA you must fall within the Civil Service Nationality Rules. Please see below for a link to more information on this: Civil Service recruitment: nationality rules - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Future location UKHSA is investing in a new state-of-the-art National Biosecurity Centre in Harlow, Essex, which will eventually bring together teams currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale and Porton Down. For more details, please see: Huge biosecurity centre investment to boost pandemic protection - GOV.UK. The new facilities will start becoming operational in the mid-2030s, with full completion by 2038. Staff will move in phases as facilities become available. If you're appointed to a role currently based at Canary Wharf, Colindale or Porton Down, please note that we'll continue investing in these sites for the next decade. As we get closer to the transition, we'll provide full information about relocation support available to staff. Reasonable Adjustments The Civil Service is committed to making sure that our selection methods are fair to everyone. To help you during the recruitment process, we will consider any reasonable adjustments that could help you. An adjustment is a change to the recruitment process or an adjustment at work. This is separate to the Disability Confident Scheme. If you need an adjustment to be made at any point during the recruitment process you should contact the recruitment team in confidence as soon as possible to discuss your needs. You can find out more information about reasonable adjustments across the Civil Service here: https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/reasonable-adjustments/ International Police check If you have spent more than 6 months abroad over the last 3 years you may need an International Police Check. This would not necessarily have to be in a single block, and it could be time accrued over that period. Artificial Intelligence (AI) 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. Link Below: Artificial intelligence and recruitment , Civil Service Careers 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. 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 Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. 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. Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. 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. Diversity and 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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). 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 : toby.nonnenmacher@UKHSA.gov.uk • Email : toby.nonnenmacher@UKHSA.gov.uk Recruitment team • Email : recruitment@ukhsa.co.uk Further information The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact UKHSA Public Accountability Unit via email: Complaints@ukhsa.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk