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Birmingham, Liverpool, Newport (Gwent), Norwich
Job Summary
This role is being conducted by Global resourcing. For further information please contact CCS-LDS@global-resourcing.com
Are you an experienced Data Scientist, passionate about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)? Do you want to help deliver efficient and valuable public services within a high-impact public sector organisation?
The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) plays a vital role in enabling government organisations to access innovative, efficient, and cost-effective solutions. At the forefront of digital transformation, CCS drives initiatives that enhance public procurement, delivering exceptional value and supporting public sector innovation. Through its Digital & Data Services directorate, CCS is building a world-class capability to revolutionise how the public sector approaches change.
As a Lead Data Scientist, you will sit at the forefront of identifying, assessing, and implementing cutting-edge data science techniques including Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Your ability to collaborate with colleagues across the organisation will help optimise customer journeys, predict market trends, and automate internal workflows.
Job Summary
The role sits at the forefront of identifying, assessing, and implementing cutting-edge data science techniques at CCS, including machine learning and artificial intelligence. The successful candidate will collaborate with colleagues across our organisation to optimise customer journeys, predict market trends, and automate internal workflows.
Directorate Overview
The Digital & Data Services (DDS) directorate is at the heart of CCS's digital transformation journey, responsible for delivering modern, efficient, and user-centred digital services that support over £30bn of public sector procurement annually. We're building a world-class digital capability that will revolutionise how the public sector buys common goods and services.
Job Description
Team Summary
The role of Lead Data Scientists sits in the AI Impact and Assurance team, reporting to the Head of AI Impact and Assurance. This team sits at the forefront of exploring, assessing and implementing exciting data science techniques at CCS, including machine learning and artificial intelligence.
Responsibilities
* Lead and guide team members, manage performance to ensure a high-performing team, and support staff development through regular feedback
* Lead the technical delivery of complex data science projects, encompassing data analysis, model development, and presenting clear outputs to both technical and non-technical audiences.
* Deploy advanced analytical techniques, including machine learning, with a specific emphasis on Large Language Models (LLMs) and other Generative AI models, exploring novel datasets to drive insight and improve decision-making at CCS.
* Contribute to improving CCS’s understanding of customer journeys using unstructured data and developing sophisticated predictive algorithms.
* Produce high-quality production code in Python (other languages such as R or SQL might be used as needed).
* Promote best development practices, including regular code reviews to other team members, and identifying opportunities for standardisation and process improvement.
* Work collaboratively with key stakeholders across CCS, broader multi-disciplinary teams (including a mix of delivery partners, internal colleagues, and colleagues from across government) to identify where data science and AI can strategically support the organisation and the government commercial agenda more widely.
* Review and understand product capabilities from native AI within existing platform partners, and proactively identify opportunities to exploit these tools effectively, navigating inherent ambiguities and dependencies.
* Champion building out the data science capability across the department – supporting analysts, thinking about how we can embed data science across all areas of the business and supporting CCS’ goals to be using data in innovative ways.
Responsibilities
* Lead and guide team members, manage performance to ensure a high-performing team, and support staff development through regular feedback
* Lead the technical delivery of complex data science projects, encompassing data analysis, model development, and presenting clear outputs to both technical and non-technical audiences.
* Deploy advanced analytical techniques, including machine learning, with a specific emphasis on Large Language Models (LLMs) and other Generative AI models, exploring novel datasets to drive insight and improve decision-making at CCS.
* Contribute to improving CCS’s understanding of customer journeys using unstructured data and developing sophisticated predictive algorithms.
* Produce high-quality production code in Python (other languages such as R or SQL might be used as needed).
* Promote best development practices, including regular code reviews to other team members, and identifying opportunities for standardisation and process improvement.
* Work collaboratively with key stakeholders across CCS, broader multi-disciplinary teams (including a mix of delivery partners, internal colleagues, and colleagues from across government) to identify where data science and AI can strategically support the organisation and the government commercial agenda more widely.
* Review and understand product capabilities from native AI within existing platform partners, and proactively identify opportunities to exploit these tools effectively, navigating inherent ambiguities and dependencies.
* Champion building out the data science capability across the department – supporting analysts, thinking about how we can embed data science across all areas of the business and supporting CCS’ goals to be using data in innovative ways.
Person specification
Essential Criteria (To Be Assessed At Application Stage):
* A degree in data science OR a quantitative subject with professional training and experience in data science.
* Can demonstrate an in-depth understanding of a wide range of data science techniques, such as machine learning and natural language processing, with detailed knowledge of at least one specialism.
* Significant experience with Large Language Models (LLMs) and other Generative AI models, including understanding their capabilities, limitations, and practical application.
* Significant experience delivering data science projects as part of a team and experience of shaping and leading analytical projects.
* Substantial ability and experience of coding in Python and/or R.
* Proven experience collaborating effectively as part of broader multi-disciplinary teams, including working with delivery partners, internal colleagues, and cross-government teams.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Leadership
* Delivering at Pace
* Communicating and Influencing
* Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Collaboration
Alongside your salary of £57,954, Crown Commercial Service contributes £16,789 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
What we will offer you, here are some of the benefits you can expect:
* Competitive salary
* Generous pension scheme
* A discretionary non-contractual performance related bonus
* Working remotely in addition to working in advertised office location
* Flexi time scheme (available for B1-B6)
* Minimum 25 days annual leave to a maximum service related 30 days excluding bank holidays
Explore Fully How We Will Reward your Work.
Want to make a difference? Find out more about the rewarding work that we do in our candidate pack.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it isfound. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil ServiceD&I Strategy.
We want to make our recruitment process accessible to everyone, so if there is any way that we can support you, please contact recruitment@crowncommercial.gov.uk
Working flexibly, delivering outcomes
CCS is a flexible business with a smarter working model where our colleagues benefit from a mix of home and office working. Successful candidates are expected to work from one of the office locations listed. Our current office attendance approach requires a minimum of 26 days per quarter (approx 2 days per week, which may be subject to change) in CCS office locations or off site meetings with suppliers, customers, partners, networking / industry events. This is pro rata for those who work part time. Our smarter working principles mean that our people have the advantage of both office and offsite based collaboration and learning, as well as working from home. This way of working allows us to honour our commitment to being a responsible business, offer flexibility and better work life balance as well as ensuring we deliver our business with confidence and in accordance with our CCS values.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.
Selection Process
Candidates who are successful at sift will be contacted as soon as possible following the closing date and advised of the interview process in more detail. The sift and interview times and dates to be confirmed. (Subject to change)
To find out more about our recruitment process please click here
Please note: Applicants can make use of artificial intelligence but the information presented at application must be factual.
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, which the Civil Service may use to fill future suitably similar vacancies across government for candidates who are considered appointable following interview. Should you be placed on a reserve list and want to be removed please contact recruitment@crowncommercial.gov.uk.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) 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 : Callum Randle or Lawrence Harris
* Email : CCS-LDS@global-resourcing.com
* Telephone : 0208 253 1806
Recruitment team
* Email : CCS-LDS@global-resourcing.com
Further information
Our recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles details of which can be found at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact recruitment@crowncommercial.gov.uk in the first instance.
If you remain unsatisfied with the response you receive you can then contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk
https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/careers-with-ccs
Seniority level
* Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
* Employment type
Full-time
Job function
* Job function
Engineering and Information Technology
* Industries
Government Administration
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