People Analytics and Insight Data Scientist

This role sits within the Deputy Director People pillar, placing the team at the heart of the Air People Directorate, supporting and influencing data and analysis across the different People areas. The role is part of the Digital and Analytics team, which is set up to:

• Provide the 2* directorate and wider RAF with the best digital solutions, people data, analytics and insights available.
• Support data driven decision making.
• Ensure quality data is maintained and reflected in our data and dashboard products.

The People Analytics and Insight Data Scientist position is a new role which will play a critical part in driving the analytical outputs of the People Analytics and Insight team. The products and processes developed within this role will directly link to the quality and timeliness of decision making at senior levels.

This is an exciting position with opportunities to develop advanced analytics outputs and structures which will be crucial to progressing the scope of and impact of the team.

While the role does not require direct line management of others, part of its purpose will be to develop tools that can be utilised and maintained by existing members of the team, building greater resilience and contributing to their future development. The team has ambitions to deliver a 10-year analytics roadmap as part of the People Analytics Transformation (PATx). This is aimed at transitioning into the employment of more advanced analytics. This role will be pivotal in refining and facilitating delivery of this strategy.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

The People Analytics and Insight Data Scientist will develop advanced analytical products that improve the quality and timeliness of senior decision-making. The post holder will develop and maintain data models, machine learning pipelines, forecasts, dashboards and supporting data processes. The post holder will work with stakeholders across Air to turn complex workforce questions into clear, evidence-based insights, while ensuring products are robust, assured and maintainable by the wider team. The post holder will work autonomously within agreed priorities, applying professional judgement when selecting analytical methods and escalating matters with wider policy or strategic implications.

The post holder must have the ability to work in a fast-paced and evolving environment, where attention to detail is critical. The projects (military & civilian data) have considerable interest at all levels of the leadership and as a result the post has significant exposure to senior civilian and military staff. This is a positive, fast-moving team, at the forefront of the RAF in terms of modernising the way the Department captures and utilises data.

The job holder is responsible to SO1 People Analytics and Insight for:

• Creating data models, machine learning pipelines, forecasts and other advanced analytical processes to support team outputs.
• Identifying and clearly explaining data-led solutions to business problems, including recommendations for non-technical and senior stakeholders.
• Developing data cleansing, transformation, validation and assurance processes that support accurate, timely and reliable analysis.
• Engaging stakeholders across Air to identify opportunities for advanced analytics, facilitating data discovery and applying RICE analysis where appropriate.
• Leading small teams of data analysts when required, setting the analytical approach and ensuring delivery to agreed quality standards and timescales.
• Refactoring existing products and processes where specialist expertise is not available within the analyst team, ensuring technical quality, resilience and maintainability.
• Working with SO1 People Analytics and Insight to identify skills gaps and recommend and prioritise technical upskilling for the wider team.
• Providing training and designing product maintenance arrangements that reflect the capability of the analysts who will sustain them.
• Deputising for SO1 People Analytics and Insight when required, including coordinating tasks, presenting technical matters and representing People Analytics at executive meetings within delegated authority.
• Managing and delivering higher-complexity Management Information requests received through the People Analytics Front Door, including integrating multiple data sources, resolving data-quality issues and providing evidence-based recommendations.
• Completing all required project documentation and complying with relevant security, assurance, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, and mandatory training requirements.

A first- or second-class honours degree in a numerate discipline, computer science or IT equivalent which demonstrates core statistical skills.

OR practical experience working in a statistical/data science field and are able to demonstrate continuous professional development in statistics/data science.

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)

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

This vacancy will assess candidates using Experience, Technical Skills and Behaviours under the Success Profiles framework.

Candidates will be required to complete a CV and a Statement of Suitability of no more than 500 words.

Statement of Suitability

Please explain how you meet the requirements of the role, providing evidence of your experience applying data science, statistical and analytical techniques to solve business problems, taking into account the Technical Skills highlighted for assessment below.

In particular, applicants should demonstrate:

• Experience of developing analytical products using programming languages such as Python, R, SQL or equivalent.
• Experience of applying statistical, modelling or forecasting techniques to generate insight and support decision making.
• An ability to communicate complex analytical findings effectively to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience of developing, assuring and maintaining analytical products, data pipelines or data models.
• Evidence of relevant qualifications, professional development and technical skills applicable to data science.

Candidates should provide clear examples of their personal contribution, the techniques and tools used, and the impact or outcomes achieved.

Key Civil Service Behaviours at sift and interview

Candidates will be assessed against the following Key Civil Service Behaviours at sift:

• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

With the following behaviours assessed at interview:

• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical Skills

Candidates will be assessed against the following Data scientist - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework technical skills at sift:

• Programming and Build (Data Science)
• Applied Maths, Statistics and Scientific Practices
• Delivering Business Impact

With the following technical skills assessed at interview:

• Programming and Build (Data Science)
• Applied Maths, Statistics and Scientific Practice

In the event that a large number of applications are received we may conduct an initial sift on your CV, Statement of Suitability and the lead behaviour of Changing and Improving.

Further information:

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.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.

Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

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