About the Role
and our Ideal Candidate
The Data Scientist(s) will be joining the corporate data service and will play a key role in the delivery of the data strategy.
In this role, you will:
1. Tackle Big Challenges: Apply data science to help solve critical issues like social care pressures, support residents struggling with their finances, and help tackle homelessness.
2. Deliver Insights: Create visualizations and predictions that improve decision-making and help us better understand our residents.
3. Collaborate: Work with diverse stakeholders and data professionals to use data more effectively and bring new ideas to the organization.
4. Innovate: Use modern data technologies and inspire a data-driven culture throughout the Council.
Note: There are two positions available. These are linked grade positions, grade and salary point will be decided based on the skills and experience of the successful candidates.
About You
We are looking for a creative problem-solver, collaborative and adaptable colleague with a passion for using data for good. You will have:
5. Technically Proficient: An expert in Python and SQL, with strong skills in data visualisation tools. You will possess the mathematical and statistical abilities to clean, analyse, and model large, complex datasets.
6. A High-Quality Coder: Able to produce well-written, understandable, and reusable code that is optimised for performance.
7. A Clear Communicator: Capable of explaining complex technical concepts to diverse audiences, managing stakeholder expectations, and articulating the value of data projects to senior management.
8. Experienced in Project Delivery: With a proven track record of leading data projects and delivering data products or services with limited supervision.
9. A Continuous Learner: Passionate about self-development, exploring new tools and techniques, and inspiring the organisation to be data-driven.
10. Impact-Driven: Able to create insights and predictions that unlock value and help to reimagine public services.
11. Committed to Data Integrity: Knowledgeable about data governance, security, and protection regulations for sensitive data.
Supporting Statement
In your supporting statement please tell us 'What motivates you to pursue a data science role within local government? Please describe a specific project or accomplishment from your professional experience where you used data to solve a complex problem or drive a positive outcome. ( to words)'
About Us
The new Data Service is part of a shared Digital & IT service for the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and the London Borough of Sutton. Both councils have ambitious transformation programmes that depend on a more effective use of data to gain better insights and improve council services for residents. The team will also play a key role in supporting each Council’s AI and digital ambitions.
Being a new service the successful candidate(s) will have an opportunity to grow, learn and set direction.
Both Councils have data strategies with the strong backing of management and colleagues. The data strategy aims to:
12. Set a data architecture and build a platform that makes it easier for the organisation to find, combine and use data.
13. Establish a data governance framework to improve quality and handling so staff can have confidence in data products.
14. Upskill our data analysts and council employees and recruiting data specialists.
15. Select and embed new tools and technologies to improve data usage.
16. Promote a more data-driven culture at all levels in the organisation.
The role reports directly to the Head of Data.
Our Offer To You
As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer you a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career and skills. We’re constantly striving to improve our ways of working so putting your ideas across however big or small; will be fully encouraged and supported by your colleagues and our dynamic and experienced management team.
Employees have access to a wide range of benefits to enable staff to achieve a work life balance, some of which include:
17. A generous annual leave entitlement of 25-32 days, plus bank holidays (pro-rata if part-time working hours apply) depending on service and grade.
18. Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, shared parental, adoption and dependents leave
19. Three volunteering days per year in Kingston
20. Hybrid working (dependent on the role)
21. Flexible and agile working arrangements using Google Chromebooks
22. Learning and development portal offering a range of courses
23. Discounts on a range of local shops, restaurants, gyms and leisure centres
24. Interest free season ticket loans
25. Local Government Pension Scheme
26. Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme
27. Zip car scheme
28. Confidential health & wellbeing and counselling support