Lecturer (Data Science) at the Data Science Campus, ONS Job description

The Data Science Campus is seeking to expand the current range of data science capability programmes delivered in-house. As part of this rapid expansion we are recruiting Lecturers in Data Science within our Newport, London and Titchfield offices with a varied range of skills and experience.

The use and management of data is becoming ever more important in a modern economy. Data analytics is driving competitiveness and better public services, improving the lives of citizens. To realise the potential that new data sources hold, we need to be alive to opportunities as they arise and ensure people have the right skills to unleash innovation through data science.

As a Lecturer at the Data Science Campus you will deliver high quality and research-led teaching at both undergraduate and graduate level equivalencies. You will work in partnership with colleagues in the Campus and the ONS Learning Academy to design, commission and deliver data science teaching programmes to colleagues from a variety of backgrounds across the ONS, and other government and public-sector departments.

It will be essential that you continuously develop and keep up to speed with rapidly evolving data science techniques. You will contribute to the research output of the Data Science Campus by undertaking research that leads to meaningful and impactful ONS outputs and government policy improvements. As part of your research responsibilities you will lead or work within multi-disciplinary delivery teams and collaborate with others in government, industry, academia and charities, both in the UK and internationally.

The Role

As a Lecturer in Data Science you will:

• Design and deliver data science teaching programmes for courses and contribute to module development as part of a module team.
• Supervise the work of students including mentoring students on the cross-government Accelerator programme, and mentoring Master’s students from partner universities undertaking thesis work at the Data Science Campus.
• Conduct research aligned to one or more of the core Data Science Campus themes: The Evolving Economy; The UK in a Global Context; People and Society; Urban & Rural; and Sustainability.
• Develop research networks through regular networking, international conference and seminar presentations, giving conference and seminar papers at local, national and international level, and publishing in peer-reviewed academic journals.
• Inspire the next generation of data scientists within the public sector as a mentor and thought leader within the wider government data science community, through internal government conferences, seminars and workshops.

Person Specification

You will have:

Experience of teaching in Higher Education including module design, curriculum development and student supervision, as appropriate to career history.

A strong record of research as demonstrated through publication and conferences, and the ability to effectively communicate this research to a broad audience.

Skills and Experience

Data Science is a broad and multi-disciplinary field at the intersection of statistics, computer science, maths and systems engineering. We welcome candidates who compliment our existing activities and can demonstrate expertise in some or all the following areas:

• Programming ability in R, Python or other data analysis relevant language(s).
• Data analytics – such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, statistical modelling, pattern recognition, supervised and un-supervised learning, data mining, predictive analysis and natural language processing (NLP).
• Data management/curation – such as the manipulation and analysis of complex, high volume and high dimensionality data, data modelling (including semantic technologies), relational and non-relational databases, cloud storage and data management, interoperability and standardisation for data, metadata management.
• Data engineering – such as the design of algorithms, implementation of big data solutions, multi- core/distributed processing, SQL and NoSQL database systems, statistical analysis languages and tooling.
• Story-telling and data visualisation – including the visualisation of insights drawn from data and building of data driven products.
• Scientific research methods – analytical, independent, critical and curious analysis of data, literature reviews.
• Systems engineering - applied to data/information/intelligence challenges in complex environments.

Launched in March 2017 and based at ONS headquarters, set in Tredegar Park between Newport and Cardiff in South Wales, the Data Science Campus is a new, purpose built centre for excellence that is playing a key role in developing the UK’s international presence and reputation in guiding the data science agenda, and developing cutting- edge statistics and analytical techniques. As well as supporting ONS to apply new techniques to understand the UK’s economy and society, the Campus is a hub for government to gain practical advantage from the wider investment in data science research.

In addition, the Campus partners with universities and academic institutions across the UK to deliver and support a range of research and teaching programmes, including the Masters in Data Analytics for Government (MDataGov) delivered by Oxford Brookes, University College London and University of Southampton, and the Data Science for Public Good PhD programme delivered in partnership with the Alan Turing Institute.

To find out more about us and what we do, please visit https://datasciencecampus.ons.gov.uk/ or follow us on Twitter @DataSciCampus.

How to apply

Please apply online: https://www.beapplied.com/apply/xf8rcxjbcd

Please upload your current CV and complete four short answer questions.

Your CV should evidence the qualifications, skills and experience listed in the person specification paying attention to the job role advertised detailing previous roles and responsibilities and key achievements.

Your four short answer questions should highlight how your skills and experience are relevant to the criteria within the person specification.

When completing your answers please only answer the question asked and do not make references to earlier answers. Questions are reviewed on an individual basis and not in succession or order.

Sift

Your application will be sifted against the qualifications and short answer questions evidencing the skills and experience detailed on the person specification.

Interview

Once you have passed the sift stage, you will be invited to an interview where you will be assessed against the essential skills and experience and the following civil service core competencies at interview:

• Leading and Communicating
• Collaborating and Partnering
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

If selected for interview further information will be provided.

Sift interview dates and location: Specific dates and venues will be confirmed to candidates who are invited to interview.

For additional information please read our interactive Candidate Pack: http://ow.ly/mpyv30jGC42