Contents
- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know
- Apply and further information
About the job
Job summary
You will be a part of the Chief Scientific Adviser’s Office (CSAO) which sits at the heart of the Department’s science community, supporting the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) in all aspects of his work.
The Chief Scientific Advisers Office (CSAO) reaches across the Defra organisations, providing professional leadership and support to ensure science is at the heart of policy and advice. The teams lead on cross cutting science issues and bringing forward new and emerging science and technology across the Department. Defra has an ambitious and broad remit that requires the better exploitation of data held across Defra organisations, government and academic communities.
The CSAO, in partnership with Digital, Data Technology and Services (DDTS) is delivering the Data Analytics and Science Hub (DASH), an exciting new service seeking to enable Defra group to better exploit data through analytics and data science. It will provide better access to data and a data science and analytics platform (the DASH platform) alongside skills and community development to support the delivery of high quality cross cutting analysis for Defra priorities (including Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment, Environment Land Management, Net Zero and across the Governmental 25 Year Environmental Plan targets). DASH will accelerate data science-based exploration and innovation for decision making and enable skills development for all scientists and analysts in Defra.
You will lead the Product Development part of the DASH team, which encompasses:
- The Discovery service, working with existing and potential users to develop our DASH Platform through requirements gathering and developing proof of concept projects to test features, and
- The development of a new Data Science Project Accelerator service, to support innovation across Defra group through targeted support to priority data science projects, including through the development of academic partnerships.
Job description
As Head of DASH Product Development, you will be expected to:
- Provide leadership to the Discovery and Projects Accelerator workstreams, including through line-management of two SEO data scientists
- Help drive the development and implementation of data governance and standards for the analytical and science community, and develop processes to support the ethical use of data and data science
- Design the Projects Accelerator service and recruit the team
- Ensure the Product Development service produces high quality requirements that are fit for purpose for design and development of the platform
- Build multidisciplinary, collaborative relationships across Defra organisations, looking to maximise the benefits from linking data to address priority policy questions
- Support the Head of the DASH in leading engagement with the Data Science community both within Defra and strategically across government (and to industry and academia) to further data exploration and innovation to deliver insights into decision making
- Work in partnership with the DASH leadership team to lead the wider team and ensure the service we provide meets user needs.
- Be an advocate for data science and DASH across Defra Group, driving innovation and uptake of skills and available tools
Person specification
We would love to hear from you if you have the following skills and experience:
- Strong knowledge of data science and experience leading teams to deliver data science projects / products, ideally in cloud computing environments
- Good technical skills in appropriate programming languages (for example R, Python, SQL)
- Experience of working with or in digital teams as part of agile product development
- Proven ability to identify the needs of users and shape appropriate technical solutions to meet these needs
- Excellent project management skills, with an ability to manage competing priorities and multiple projects effectively
- Proven ability to develop and manage collaborative relationships across teams / organisations to deliver shared goals
- Ability to effectively communicate with and influence diverse stakeholder groups to deliver data science projects / products, including being able to explain data concepts and practices to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
- Experience of contributing to or knowledge of the development of analytical platforms and cloud computing services e.g., Microsoft Azure, AWS or Databricks
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Data Science product development skills and experience
Benefits
- 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 average employer contribution of 27%
- We offer 25 days annual leave (rising, over 5 years, to 30 days) for full time new entrants to the Civil Service and those Civil Servants on modernised terms and conditions. Existing Civil Servants on pre-modernised terms will retain these.
Blended Working
Defra operates a blended working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.
Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending minimum of 40-60% in the workplace, unless exceptional circumstances apply and/or you are a contractual home worker.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Marie Longnecker
- Email : marie.longnecker2@defra.gov.uk
Recruitment team :
- Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
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:
Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission
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