Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London – Canary Wharf (Core HQs) or Homeworking Job Summary 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. Data science is a broad and fast-moving field spanning maths, statistics, software engineering and communications. Data scientists will often work as part of a multidisciplinary team, using data and analytics to inform and achieve organisational goals. In This Role, You Will: • be inquisitive • explore and visualise data • make recommendations to address complex problems and to inform strategic and operational decision making • use data ethically and appropriately • be innovative and adaptable • explore existing and new data using a range of statistical tools and techniques, such as machine learning and predictive analytics • find patterns in data and transform them into organisational insight The Chief Data Officer Group (CDO) consists of a large community of data scientists, government analysts (GSG, GORS, GES, GSR), mathematical modellers, epidemiologists, information specialists, and data engineers. This is a unique opportunity to help provide crucial information and insight to support the management of high-profile health incidents alongside ongoing surveillance activities. UKHSA has a strong data science community with learning opportunities, community groups and hackathon events. We predominantly code in Python and R and utilise AWS and Azure based cloud environments. The teams use Agile ways of working including software such as Confluence and Jira to manage delivery. Our Enterprise Data and Analytics Platform (EDAP) is enriched with curated, consistent, and high-quality data from existing platforms as well as providing access to a range of analytical tooling. Job Description At UKHSA we recruit to a standardised job descriptions for data scientists. We are currently hiring to the following role: Data Science Hub – The Data Science Hub applies innovative data science and AI techniques to advance UKHSA’s strategic goals by providing specialist support and empowering teams across UKHSA to use these capabilities effectively. We deliver impactful, well-documented, and maintainable data science and AI solutions. We work closely with scientific and analytical teams, promote best practices and continuously upskill team members with varied projects. We have deployed multiple LLM based products into production on a High-Performance Computing cluster (HPC) in key areas of focus including Hepatitis and Tuberculosis. We Also Anticipate Additional Roles Becoming Available In Future From Which We May Appoint From The Reserve List Of Strong Candidates. One Such Role Is Outlined Below: Public Health Analysis team - We are a collaborative, customer-facing group working across the full range of hazards to public health. We draw on all available data sources, particularly public health data and hospitalisation data, to deliver timely, actionable insights for senior leaders and ministers. Our work combines rigorous quantitative analysis with intelligence assessment techniques to address critical questions. These include identifying sectors and communities at heightened risk of high-consequence infections and evaluating the domestic impact of emerging health threats. We provide near real-time intelligence on epidemiological risks and transmission during periods of healthcare pressure. We also deliver analysis products of cross-cutting public health hazards to support informed, evidence-led strategic decision-making at very senior levels. The GDD Profession consists of people who work in a digital, data or technology specialist role. They design, build and run government digital services. They are responsible for the way we find, access and use data and for the technology infrastructure which support those services. There are currently about 18,000 people working in the Profession. The Profession consists of people working within specialist communities of practice. There is a full list of roles on GOV.UK: Capability Framework Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities • Applied maths, statistics and scientific practices: You can apply analytical methods including exploratory data analysis, visualisation and statistical testing to reach accurate conclusions. You can use analytical approaches to interpret data confidently. You can summarise and describe data to support decision making. • Data engineering and manipulation: You can select and use the most appropriate tools and techniques to manipulate and transform the data for data science products. You can collaborate with data engineers. • Data science innovation: You can apply data science innovation in your approach to new questions, opportunities, data and techniques by using an inquisitive mind. You can improve methods and maximise insights. You can apply your data science innovation to produce creative solutions to data science problems. • Delivering Business Impact: You can understand processes, data and strategic priorities. You can apply data science techniques to produce and present data science products. You can design solutions that meet user needs, allowing for design and ethics standards. You can work towards the successful delivery of products and establish maintenance requirements. • Developing data science capability: You can work with data scientists and developers to share skills. You can ensure that your team can access the right technologies to create products. You can develop your data science skills. You can routinely engage with and update your continuous professional development (CPD). • Ethics and privacy (data science): You can understand and comply with frameworks, standards and laws, including General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Data Protection Act (DPA) and the Equalities Act. You can work with legal, policy and public colleagues, government departments and ministers to clearly communicate ethical issues and ideas. You can store and treat data appropriately. • Programming and build (data science): You can use programming tools to undertake analysis and create scalable data products. You can identify and reuse common approaches and code. You can document and test code to ensure its quality. You can understand the organisation's tech stack and get code into production by working with developers and architects. • Understanding product delivery: You can use different product delivery methods (such as Agile) and phases to make decisions. You can work collaboratively with other professionals. You can use knowledge of product management to deploy data science products into the organisation. You can show data science is used effectively to support products and services. At UKHSA we recruit to a standardised job descriptions for data scientists. We are currently hiring to the following role: Data Science Hub – The Data Science Hub applies innovative data science and AI techniques to advance UKHSA’s strategic goals by providing specialist support and empowering teams across UKHSA to use these capabilities effectively. We deliver impactful, well-documented, and maintainable data science and AI solutions. We work closely with scientific and analytical teams, promote best practices and continuously upskill team members with varied projects. We have deployed multiple LLM based products into production on a High-Performance Computing cluster (HPC) in key areas of focus including Hepatitis and Tuberculosis. Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities • Applied maths, statistics and scientific practices: You can apply analytical methods including exploratory data analysis, visualisation and statistical testing to reach accurate conclusions. You can use analytical approaches to interpret data confidently. You can summarise and describe data to support decision making. • Data engineering and manipulation: You can select and use the most appropriate tools and techniques to manipulate and transform the data for data science products. You can collaborate with data engineers. • Data science innovation: You can apply data science innovation in your approach to new questions, opportunities, data and techniques by using an inquisitive mind. You can improve methods and maximise insights. You can apply your data science innovation to produce creative solutions to data science problems. • Delivering Business Impact: You can understand processes, data and strategic priorities. You can apply data science techniques to produce and present data science products. You can design solutions that meet user needs, allowing for design and ethics standards. You can work towards the successful delivery of products and establish maintenance requirements. • Developing data science capability: You can work with data scientists and developers to share skills. You can ensure that your team can access the right technologies to create products. You can develop your data science skills. You can routinely engage with and update your continuous professional development (CPD). • Ethics and privacy (data science): You can understand and comply with frameworks, standards and laws, including General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Data Protection Act (DPA) and the Equalities Act. You can work with legal, policy and public colleagues, government departments and ministers to clearly communicate ethical issues and ideas. You can store and treat data appropriately. • Programming and build (data science): You can use programming tools to undertake analysis and create scalable data products. You can identify and reuse common approaches and code. You can document and test code to ensure its quality. You can understand the organisation's tech stack and get code into production by working with developers and architects. • Understanding product delivery: You can use different product delivery methods (such as Agile) and phases to make decisions. You can work collaboratively with other professionals. You can use knowledge of product management to deploy data science products into the organisation. You can show data science is used effectively to support products and services. 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 in applying analytical and statistical techniques using a variety of software/codebases including practitioner level knowledge of coding including version control, SQL, R and/or Python or other programming languages relevant to data science. • Experience in wrangling, cleaning and preprocessing data for readiness for analysis. • Understanding of Machine Learning approaches including regression, classification and clustering using train-test approaches and evaluating performance with metrics such as precision, recall and F1 • Working independently and in collaboration with others to deliver multiple concurrent projects, • Highly proficient in organisational skills with proven ability to schedule work to meet tight and challenging deadlines, and to manage complex, multiple tasks (verbal and written) • Ability to construct and effectively communicate data stories using data visualisation techniques and narrative storytelling with an understanding the caveats and limitations of the data. • Understanding of quality assurance, data validity, reliability and confidentiality issues and statutory information governance requirements • Well-developed problem-solving skills and a flexible approach to developing solutions including stages between user requirements to product delivery. • Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to influence, communicate, present and capture requirements from technical and non-technical stakeholders. • Able to make independent decisions on tasks and projects; ability to escalate decisions with recommendations. Alongside your salary of £40,661, UK Health Security Agency contributes £11,779 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% Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours, Ability, Experience and Technical skills. Stage 1: Application & Sift Success profiles Behaviours statements You Will Be Required To Complete An Application Form. You Will Be Assessed On The Listed 12 Essential Criteria, And This Will Be In The Form Of: • An Application form (‘Employer/ Activity history’ section on the application) • Three behaviour statements (250 words per behaviour) • A 750 word statement of suitability matching your skills to the essential criteria Please write 250 words per behaviour The Behaviours Are: • Working together • Communicating and Influencing • Changing and Improving This should outline how you consider your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria. The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of: • Meets all essential criteria • Meets some essential criteria • Meets no essential criteria The pile 'meets all essential criteria' will proceed to shortlisting. Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist on the lead criteria of: • Strong proficiency in applying analytical and statistical techniques using a variety of software/codebases including practitioner level knowledge of coding including version control, SQL, R and/or Python or other programming languages relevant to data science. Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications/large amount of successful candidates (please see attached job description). If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview & assessment Please do not exceed 1500 words in total. We will not consider any words over and above this number. Feedback will not be provided at this stage. Stage 2: Technical Assessment You will be invited to remote Technical Test. Technical tests/interviews will be held week commencing 28/07/25, 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 25 minutes. The assessment is predominately designed to test your coding and mathematical skills, and the marking will align to the DDAT 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 11/08/25, please note these dates are subject to change. This vacancy is being assessed using Success Profiles and Technical skills/Ability. During the interview we will assess you against the below: Behaviours • Working together • Communicating and Influencing • Changing and Improving Technical Elements From The DDAT Data Science Profile: • Delivering business impact • Developing data science capability Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Selection Process Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV. Eligibility Criteria External: Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants). Location This role is being offered as homeworking or hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs. 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). 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. 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) Your application may be rejected and/or you may be subject to disciplinary action if evidence of plagiarism is detected. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as your own. Internal Fraud check If successful for this role as one aspect of pre-employment screening, applicant’s personal details – name, national insurance number and date of birth - will be checked against the Cabinet Office Internal Fraud Hub and anyone included on the database will be refused employment unless they can show exceptional circumstances. Currently this is only for External candidates to the Civil Service. Careers website Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. 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 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. 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 : Jenny Tootell Jenny.Tootell@ukhsa.gov.uk • Email : Jenny.Tootell@ukhsa.gov.uk Recruitment team • Email : recruitment@ukhsa.gov.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 http://www.healthjobsuk.com/vacancy/7308360