Details
Reference number
411057
Salary
£41,458 A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% GBP
Job grade
Senior Executive Officer
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
DFE - Strategy Group - Advanced Analytics Division
Type of role
Analytical
Architecture and Data
Digital
Operational Research
Statistics
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know
- Apply and further information
Location
Bristol - BS2 0EL, Coventry - CV1 2WT, Manchester - M1 2WD, Sheffield - S1 2FJ
Please note – Bristol currently has site controls in place. Therefore, this location option is only available to existing DfE employees already assigned to this office location
About the job
Job summary
An excellent and high profile role has arisen to join the Department for Education and lead on the forefront of delivery of the Opportunity Mission Dashboard.
The Opportunity Mission is a key Government programme on breaking down the barriers to opportunity and DfE is leading on ensuring we create opportunities for children and learners to thrive. The Advanced Analytics Division is leading on developing a dashboard in collaboration with Number 10 to design, build and monitor a large range of indicators that will track progress to achieving the objectives of the mission.
The requirement is for a Senior Data Scientist to lead on the technical delivery of the dashboard working in an agile team with other specialists to ensure successful delivery of the project. The stakeholders include the senior leadership within DfE as well as working closely with our colleagues in Number 10.
Job description
As the lead on technical delivery for the dashboard work you will be part of a dedicated project team with data scientists and other specialisms to manage the successful delivery of the Opportunity Mission dashboard work.
The work involves:
- Reviewing requirements for the content and design of the dashboard and building indicators
- Building automation of the flow of data from source to the dashboard
- Modelling the data to enable ease of dashboard updates and consistent definitions
- Designing and developing the dashboard to meet DfE and Number 10 standards
- Create effective data visualisations and lead the team on maintaining best practices
- Make refinements following user testing
- Technical oversight of whole product and support to other developers.
As a Senior Data Scientist in the Advanced Analytics Division you will be part of a wider dedicated team that utilises advanced analytical techniques and machine learning capabilities to drive efficiencies and enhance value of the data held across the whole department. You will develop analytical solutions that extract valuable insights, patterns and trends that can be used to predict impact and prescriptive intelligence. You will work closely with stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, and data analysts, to provide analytical insights and artificial intelligence that drives positive change.
Person specification
Due to the business need for delivery it is absolutely critical that to apply for the role you must have expertise in Plotly Dash and Python programming. The indicators used will have data from across the whole of DfE and other Government Departments and is managed by a Rapid API so setting up API linkage and development is also essential.
Other Essential Criteria:
- Professional experience in data science or related role with proven tracked record in data science product delivery to accomplish organisational objectives
- Have practical experience in leading innovative, data driven solutions on large or complex data sets including gathering disparate data, extensive data manipulation and iteration of analytical techniques
- Have led on delivery of repeatable and reusable data products and tools which embed analytics into business operations or strategic decision making
- Be confident in delivering complex insights in a compelling and succinct way tailored to the audience
- Be able to convey detailed advice and information to colleagues, including those in more senior grades with a limited understanding of the area
- Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor junior team members
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Plotly Dash and Python programming (Technical Breadth)
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £41,458, Department for Education contributes £12,010 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.
You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.
We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.
As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
Application
To apply for this role you will be asked to provide the following:
- A Personal Details application form
- Your CV including your employment history - this should contain your work experience and any skills, qualifications and accomplishments relevant to the jobs you have completed
- A personal statement - up to 1000 words. This statement should be used to provide examples of how you meet the essential criteria as set out above
- A technical skill example (up to 250 words) to answer the following (aligned to the required technical skill of: Technical Breadth):
- Give an example of when you have delivered a product using Plotly Dash and Python programming to describe how you delivered this and the impact of the work. Please use an example from your experience, using the STAR technique to structure your example.
The sift panel will use the information in your employment history, personal statement, and technical statement to assess your experience, skills and knowledge.
An initial sift will be conducted using the technical statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift will be progressed to a full sift.
We will only provide feedback if we invite you to attend an interview.
Interview
We will invite candidates successful at sift to a video interview. At the interview you will be asked to deliver a 10 minute presentation on leading the delivery of a data project for customers with additional questions to cover the following Civil Service Behaviours:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Delivering at Pace
Other Information
In your application, please don’t include personal information that identifies you.
This means we can recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - it's called name blind recruitment .
Please ensure that you remove from your application, all references to your:
- name/title
- educational institutions
- age
- gender
- email address
- postal address
- phone number
- nationality/immigration status
We understand that you might use AI and other resources for your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn’t include ideas or work that isn’t your own. This is so that your application is authentically and credibly your own.
We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.
The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.
Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.
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.
Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs
Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.
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 Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk 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.
Please refer to the attached ‘Reasonable Adjustments Guide 05_2025 – accessible version’ at the bottom of the advert, for further information.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.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)
- 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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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 . 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 the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. 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 : Heather Martin
- Email : Heather.Martin@education.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : Centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk
Further information
The Department for Education’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition. 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 via CentralRecruitment.Operations@education.gov.uk. 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
