Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Data Scientist
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Bristol, Darlington, London, Manchester, Wolverhampton
Job Summary
We are MHCLG
We are looking for two Senior Data Scientists to help transform how the Resilience and Recovery Directorate (RED) uses data, digital services, automation and AI during emergencies that affect communities across England.
When crises happen, decision makers need information they can act on quickly and trust. The directorate works at the core of government’s resilience system, supporting preparation for and response to incidents such as severe weather, flooding, infrastructure disruption, public health threats and other major emergencies. This role is about building the technical foundations that help information move quickly from those closest to an incident to the people who need to act on it.
You will join the new Transformation Unit, a multi-disciplinary team focused on building practical systems, tools and workflows that help colleagues, local partners and other government organisations access, share and use information more effectively. The team's role is not to act as a central analysis function, but to create reusable products and AI-enabled workflows that reduce manual effort, improve situational awareness and make better use of data across the resilience system.
You will work on data science, AI and automation projects that turn promising ideas into reuseable tools and workflows. This could include helping to structure information from local partners, improve reporting flows, support cross-government data sharing, evaluate AI-enabled workflows, or enable users to understand fast-moving situations more quickly.
If you want to use data science and AI to make a real difference during events of national importance, this role offers the opportunity to do just that while developing your technical skills in a supportive, multi-disciplinary team.
Find out more about our Digital teams and what they are working on through our MHCLG Digital blog. Please note that MHCLG do not offer visa sponsorship and applicants will need a valid visa for the duration of your employment.
Job Description
As a Senior Data Scientist, you'll:
- Contribute to the development of data science and AI approaches that help users find, structure, summarise, check or share information more effectively
- Work with colleagues and partners to understand current processes, information flows and user needs
- Build and iterate prototypes, workflows and tools that use data science, large language models, machine learning and automation safely and effectively, working closely with the Senior AI Engineer and wider team
- Experiment with different approaches to ingesting, structuring and reusing information from text, documents, returns and other sources, balancing quality, speed, scalability and cost-effectiveness
- Work with software development, machine learning engineering, delivery and service design colleagues to help move successful prototypes towards services that can be scaled, maintained and improved over time
- Apply good development practices, including clear code, version control, documentation and appropriate monitoring of AI-enabled workflows
- Evaluate AI systems and workflows proportionately, using testing, error analysis, user feedback and monitoring to understand performance, risks, limitations and real-world impact
- Support responsible use of AI by considering privacy, bias, the limits of what these systems can reliably do, and where human oversight is needed
- Explain technical options, evidence, risks and trade-offs clearly to both digital and non-digital colleagues
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As a Senior Data Scientist, You'll
- Contribute to the development of data science and AI approaches that help users find, structure, summarise, check or share information more effectively
- Work with colleagues and partners to understand current processes, information flows and user needs
- Build and iterate prototypes, workflows and tools that use data science, large language models, machine learning and automation safely and effectively, working closely with the Senior AI Engineer and wider team
- Experiment with different approaches to ingesting, structuring and reusing information from text, documents, returns and other sources, balancing quality, speed, scalability and cost-effectiveness
- Work with software development, machine learning engineering, delivery and service design colleagues to help move successful prototypes towards services that can be scaled, maintained and improved over time
- Apply good development practices, including clear code, version control, documentation and appropriate monitoring of AI-enabled workflows
- Evaluate AI systems and workflows proportionately, using testing, error analysis, user feedback and monitoring to understand performance, risks, limitations and real-world impact
- Support responsible use of AI by considering privacy, bias, the limits of what these systems can reliably do, and where human oversight is needed
- Explain technical options, evidence, risks and trade-offs clearly to both digital and non-digital colleagues
Person specification
As a Senior Data Scientist, You'll Have
- Experience using structured and unstructured data with data science, machine learning and large language models to build practical tools, workflows or prototypes
- The ability to identify where data science, AI or automation could reduce manual effort, improve information quality or help people use data more effectively, and to explore these opportunities with technical colleagues
- Curiosity about developments in data science, AI and information-ingestion approaches, and the judgement to identify which emerging tools or techniques are worth testing in a practical delivery context
- Experience writing clear and maintainable Python code, using version control such as Git, and contributing to shared codebases through pull requests, review and feedback
- Evidence of working in an Agile or iterative way, including testing ideas early, learning from users and improving products or workflows over time
- Experience using cloud services such as AWS, Google Cloud Platform or Azure to support data storage, computing or machine learning
- Ability to play your part in emergency response when needed and contribute to RED's 24/7 monitoring for emergencies. Training will be provided and additional compensation is available for any evening or weekend working required
Alongside your salary of £44,004, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £12,747 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
At MHCLG we offer many benefits that range from tailored career pathways and flexible working to MyLifestyle Childcare Voucher and Cycle to Work Schemes. For more information, please click here.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
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Selection process details
Application and Selection
The application process will be split into 2 stages, testing the following Success Profiles:
- Behaviours
- Experience
- Technical
Please ensure your CV does not contain any personally identifiable information.
Note: We do not consider direct CV applications. All applications must be submitted via the provided application link.
Stage 1: Sift (CV)
Experience & Technical: Your CV will be assessed against the criteria in the job description and person specification.
Stage 2: Technical Test
Technical: Candidates who pass the sifting round will be asked to complete and submit a technical test. Those who are successful at this stage will then be invited to interview.
Stage 2: Interview
Behaviours: Changing and Improving, Delivering at a Pace Technical: Technical questions will be based around the essential skills and criteria as listed in the job description.
Sift and Interview Dates
Sifting is envisaged to take place the week commencing 14th September 2026.
Interviews are envisaged to take place shortly after and are currently being held remotely via videocall. This could be subject to change.
Group 1 Digital & Data Roles
MHCLG has implemented the Digital and Data capability framework for Group 1 roles. Applicants that are successful and have been offered a position will be required to complete a capability assessment after the interview.
MHCLG will honour completed capability assessments for this role from other Government Departments for existing civil servants on level transfer only. Please provide a copy of your capability assessment to the Hiring Manager when applying. If you have any queries on pay, please contact the Hiring Manager.
Each experience or technical skill is assessed between 1-3, representing working towards, at or above the job level requirements. You are awarded a proficiency level accordingly, and you will be given opportunity to annually re assess your capability and potentially increase your overall remuneration, through payment of allowances, depending on level of assessed capability.
Candidates moving from another government department have the option to retain their current basic pay if this is within our pay band for the relevant grade.
Senior Executive Officer Group 1 Digital and Data salary
The basic pay for this role will be between £47,444 - £53,575 (London), £44,004 - £50,086 (National). Candidates will usually be recruited to the median of the payscale. A digital allowance may also be payable depending on the level of assessed capability, in order to meet the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating. For applicants in receipt of existing allowances, we will assess each case individually, but we would seek not to exceed the MHCLG overall targeted remuneration rate for the specific grade, location and capability rating for existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply, subject to the statements above.
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