Embedding Data Science in Government Analytical Professions Data

Embedding Data Science in Government Analytical Professions Data Science GSS Professional Support Team Text

Government Data Scientist Candidate Pack

What is Data Science? Data Science is needed to analyse data from the government’s own systems as well as new material from surveys, social media and big data scraped from the web. Data Scientists will help government understand tackle some of the key challenges facing society on topics such as the economy, health, education or transport. Programming and database skills used to gather unstructured data, piece it together with other data, analyse it, and make robust recommendations and presentations based on the results have already begun to influence policy decisions. 1

How are we defining data science? New approach Volume Variety New Approach A ‘data first’ mindset; exploring the data to find insights & potential improvements using new & innovative techniques Data science Velocity New technology 24 New technology New, low priced storage in the cloud, with unrestricted technology capable of running software which can gain speedy insights

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What skills are we looking for in a data scientist? Distinguishing features that combine to form data science Overlap with existing government analytical professions Layering multiple datasets Data C++ Tools R SQL Real-time or High volume of data that frequently updated requires specialist data technology to process Javascript Python Programming languages Classification Techniques Regression Clustering Approach 446 No. SQL Databases APIs Visualisation libraries (e. g. D 3. js) Cloud Unstructured data Pig Hive Map. Reduce Hadoop Cutting-edge tools for large data sets Dimensionality Reduction Predictive analytics Feature extraction Segmentation Tackling specific known policy and operational questions Data cleaning Text mining Strongly aligned with decision making Prototyping Natural Language Processing Machine learning Data mining The freedom to experiment and use a creative mindset to explore patterns and associations in data

Applying to be a Government Data Scientist In addition to a relevant qualification, to be considered for interview, all candidates will need to complete and pass an online multiple choice test that assesses basic statistical and numeracy skills. Also candidates will need to provide evidence against the job specific ‘knowledge and application of techniques’ plus at least one of the other job specific competencies. 5

Qualifications You’ll be a graduate or post graduate with: � a minimum of a 2. 2 degree in a numerate discipline, computer science or IT equivalent which demonstrates core statistical skills. Or � an MSc in a post graduate qualification in one of these subjects Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics (this is not a definitive list). 6

Job Specific Criteria Knowledge of Techniques: � Can demonstrate breaking a complex problem into a clear structure, and the appropriate use of statistical, and data science knowledge to achieve a specific end goal. � Can describe the main theoretical and practical features, assumptions, and limitations of the analytical techniques and tools used in their area. Can recognise appropriate circumstances in which to use these techniques and tools, and how to interpret the expected outputs. � Can demonstrate experience and a depth of understanding of at least one programming languages: such as Java, R, or Python. Impact with Analysis: � Can demonstrate effort taken to understand a problem given to them, and continuing engagement with the customer to understand the requirement right up until delivering a solution. � Can demonstrate the ability to share, present, and explain findings to both peers and seniors – that is, can pull out the main story using appropriate data visualisation techniques and the appropriate language for their audience. Data Structuring: � Experience of finding, matching, and combining data sets into a form that can be used to answer a specific question, while preserving the underlying information. � An understanding of relational databases, and/or other structured forms of data. An understanding of how to access the data in these structures. � Demonstrates a willingness to continue improving their understanding of different data structures, such as Hadoop, XML, JSON, and how to use them for analysis. 7

Civil Service Competency Framework The Competency Framework sets out how we want people in the Civil Service to work. It puts the Civil Service values of honesty, integrity, impartiality and objectivity at the heart of everything we do and it aligns to the three leadership behaviours that every Civil Servant needs to model. The framework outlines ten competencies which are grouped under the three leadership behaviours. These headings will be used in our vacancies to indicate essential and desirable candidate requirements. Candidates must use the selection process to demonstrate that they have, at the very least, all the essential requirements and, if possible some or all of the desirable ones. The full framework is available online at the following link: http: //www. civilservice. gov. uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Civil-Service. Competency-Framework-July-2012. pdf. Competencies are used to establish suitability for a post because if you have done something well in the past then its expected that you can do it again in the future. 8

Civil Service Competencies Changing and Improving � � � Can demonstrate keeping abreast of new and evolving technologies, and analytical tools to deliver results effectively. This may be, through employing new methods or using existing tools in new and innovative ways. Can demonstrate ability to use data in new ways, rather than automatically and uncritically following prescribed methodologies. Has experience of researching ways in which processes can be made more efficient through new technology and creative thinking, and has the ability to develop an effective implementation strategy. Has actively sought, insightful, ways to present analysis. Can confidently communicate these analyses to a wide range of stakeholders. Can demonstrate willingness to take managed risks, ensuring these are planned and their impact assessed. Collaborating and Partnering � Has experience creating and maintaining trusting working relationships with a wide range of people. � Can demonstrate effective collaboration and information sharing, whilst having the confidence to challenge assumptions. � Has proactively sought information, resources, and support from others outside an immediate project. Delivering at Pace � Has regularly reviewed what and who is required to make a project/activity successful, and has made ongoing improvements in response. � Has taken ownership of tasks assigned to them � Has continually checked own and team performance against a collaborative tasks’ outcomes, making suggestions for improvement when problems were identified. � Broke down a project into regular challenging goals, and monitored quality as these were achieved. 9

Preparing an application � You must show that you have the appropriate level of knowledge, breadth of experience and, where appropriate, professional skill for the post. � You will be asked to submit an application that sets out why you are suitable for the post using the essential competency headings as your guide. You should also provide a CV which includes your qualifications. � Under each heading you should produce a short and snappy statement that describes one relevant example of your best achievement using 1 st person singular (‘I’ not ‘we’) taking account of any word count rule. � You are advised to use the STAR model: - 10 Situation (what was the setting and conditions, and what was your role) Task (what specifically needed to be done – when, why, etc. ) Action (what did you do – in terms of your own contribution and ensuring the contribution of others, How you did it and why) Result (What the outcome was and how you contributed to it – what difference did you make)

Your Application - Key Points � The application form is your first opportunity to say why you would be the best person for the job. � It is a competition so you really need to ensure that you give your best and strongest competency-based examples to reflect what the post requires. � Make it as easy as possible for the sift panel to assess your suitability for the job. This means thinking about the relevance of your examples and how you set them out in your application form. � Unless told otherwise, use one example per competency and use the competency as your heading, providing your example below. � Stick to the word count rule if it’s in place. Failure to provide good evidence will result in your application form not passing the sift 11

Preparing an Application - Your Checklist: q Have you given yourself enough time to put together a well thought out application form? q Have you reviewed the job description carefully so you have a clear understanding of the role? q Have you got a copy of the competency framework handy whilst you are putting your examples q q q q together? Have you chosen your most powerful and relevant examples? Have you included the result and described your contribution/impact? Did you draft first then refine? Have you avoided jargon (assume that the sift panel will have no knowledge of the situation you are referring to)? Have you checked for spelling and typos? Have you written in the first person, ‘I’ and not ‘we’ and used active language such as: ‘I organised’, ’I accomplished’, ‘I calculated’, etc. Have you adhered to the word count limit, where one has been set? Have you put yourself in the Vacancy Manager’s shoes and read your application through from their perspective before submitting? � If the answer to each of the question is ‘’yes’ – Well Done 12

The Sift: 13 � The purpose of a sift is to assess and score the evidence provided on the application form. � The sift panel, which is made up of two or three representatives of the business, will discuss and agree standards against which they assess each application. � There is a single rating scale used throughout Government, which allows candidates to compare feedback from applications made to different departments. Rating 1 2 3 4 5 6 Label Not Demonstrated Minimal Demonstration Moderate Demonstration Acceptable Demonstration Good Demonstration Strong Demonstration 7 Outstanding Demonstration Definition No positive evidence of the competency Limited positive evidence of the competency, without consistency Moderate positive evidence of the competency, without consistency Adequate positive and consistent evidence of the competency Substantial, consistent positive evidence of the competency and includes some evidence of exceeding expectation Evidence provided wholly exceeds expectation at this level � You must score at least 4 for at least two of the Job Specific criteria (minimum standard). � If the competition is strong, achieving a score in two of the Job Specific criteria may not be enough to secure an interview. � GSS operates the Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS). This means that all GIS applicants who meet the minimum standard as outlined above are invited to interview.

Test Day If you have achieved the pass mark set by the sift panel you will be invited to attend the test day You will be asked to sit two written tests: � Problem Structuring Test (PST) - one hour You will then have a short break before sitting the second test � Data Analysis and Dissemination Test – one hour Following the tests there will be short presentations on the analytical professions. The Government Statistician Group (GSG) and the Government Operational Research Service (GORS). There will be an opportunity to ask questions about the professions and the recruitment process. 14

The Interview � If you have achieved the pass mark set for the tests you will be invited to attend an interview. � The purpose of the interview is to test your suitability for the requirements of the role and gives all candidates an opportunity to express their views and present their evidence � You need to prepare well for a good interview – Fail to prepare, prepare to fail � The interview will be based on the competencies that were defined in the vacancy advertisement and will last approximately an hour, although this may vary depending on the role and the number competencies being assessed. � At interview you will also be tested on the Civil Service Competency framework. These skills are not tested at the application form. � Don’t be put off by the panel taking notes. It is important that they make a record of your answers so that they are able to score you at the end of the interview and provide feedback at the end of the process. This feedback will be provided via the Civil Service Jobs website. � The interview, combined with any other selection activity, will inform the panel which candidate is right for the job based on their merit. The job will be offered to the person who would do it best. 8 15

Preparing for an Interview - Your Checklist q Read through your application form to refresh your memory of the q q q q q 16 evidence you provided Think about how you might expand on the examples you gave on the application form Think about other strong examples you could use Arrange a practice interview with people you trust (friends, colleagues, current manager, etc) - practice makes perfect Check out the GSS website Make sure you know where the interview is taking place and how to get there Make sure you take along all requested ID documents Think about what to wear, your posture and your non-verbal behaviour Remember, it’s not about being good enough for the job, it’s being the best candidate for the job – interviews are competitions Remember that pretty much everyone feels the same about interviews – they make you nervous; know what works best for you in terms of calming your nerves.

Feedback �GSS uses the on-line Civil Service Jobs website to advertise vacancies across the civil service and externally and manage the recruitment process. �Candidates will receive feedback on their application form and, if relevant, their interview performance via the on-line system. This information can be used to support future applications. 17

Other Assessment Activity The interview panels will test candidates on: • • • Their suitability for the job Their suitability for technical/specialist skill (when appropriate) Their suitability for the grade Some recruitment campaigns will include an additional assessment activity as part of the selection process. This could be: - Written exercise Work sample exercises Group role play Presentation (which may involve a follow up question and answer session) Situational judgement test If this is the case, candidates will be made aware beforehand 18

The Data Scientists offer Data Scientists recruited centrally and those who join the GSS will work collaboratively with number of different professions both analytical (Statistical, Operational Research, Social Research, Economist, etc) and I. T/digital. The Data Science network will support: � Induction training, to cover the structure and governance of the GSS, the UK Code of Practice for Official Statistics, and Career Management. � Up to ten training days for the first 3 years, to cover specific skills training linked to data science/statistics/Operational Research/Social Research/economics, as required. � Access to a Data Science Learning and Development programme. � Access to a Government wide Data Science community. � A one year probationary period, where staff will be assessed at 6 months and 12 months by the line manager or Mentor. � Secondment opportunities to other government departments or to external organisations. 19

Professional Status Candidates that are successful through the Data Scientist recruitment will automatically join the Government Statistical Service (GSS). � The GSS is a community for all civil servants working in the collection, production and communication of official statistics. Our members come from a range of professions, including statisticians, economists, social researchers and communicators. They are spread across most UK government departments and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland Wales. The National Statistician is head of the GSS. � We collect, analyse and publish official statistics to help government, business, and the public understand the current state of the UK economy and society. Our statistics allow people to make informed decisions, whether it’s the Prime Minister trying to improve the UK economy, or a citizen interested in the crime rate in their area. � GSS statistics are produced without any political influence, to ensure that they are a trusted and authoritative source of information. 20

GSG or GORS Government Statistician Group (GSG) � This is a professional community for civil servants who are recognised members of the statistics profession. Members of the GSG have unique continuous professional development opportunities and guidance open to them through the GSS Professional Support Team. They allow statisticians to develop both specific statistical skills and operational skills. � Each government department has a Head of Profession (Ho. P) for statistics, who is responsible for professional statistical matters and statistical staff working in their departments. Ho. Ps are professionally accountable to the National Statistician. Government Statistician Group (GSG) � Operation Research (OR) or ‘management science’, is the application of scientific methods to management problems. OR brings intellectual rigour to the decision-making process. This service holds the analytical minds behind many of the government’s policies – policies that touch the lives of everyone in the UK. More than 25 government departments and agencies rely on our OR Analysts to help them find solutions to complex problems – solutions that are vital to improving the quality of life for millions of people across the UK. 21

Learning and Development The learning & development pathway for Data Scientists will: � build on the work of the Government Data Science Partnership accelerator programme. An Induction course will provided as standard on recruitment at the entry level, with additional training being recommended and advertised through the GSS website. � Data Science Induction Course will cover: the structure and governance of the GSS and its relationship with other analytical professions, opportunities for training and career management, the role of GDS and the UK Code of Practice for Official Statistics. Speakers will include ONS Big Data team; experts from departments; GDS. � Data Science specific training will be offered to successful candidates as will training arranged for statistics, economics, operational research and social research. � Specific (networking) events organised throughout the year, e. g. Data Science seminars (showcasing Data Science project work), a Data Science Forum (invited guest speakers from external organisations), will be organised. 22

Security Clearance All new recruits to the GSS must meet certain security standards. All offers of employment are conditional on successful completion of security clearance. The following conditions will affect your security clearance and therefore may affect your eligibility for our vacancies: 23 • Criminal record: If you have criminal records • Nationality and Immigration status: Particularly relevant if there are specific nationality and residency requirements for the advertised role. • Address History: If you have lived at numerous addresses in the UK in the last 5 years. • Lived outside UK: You should have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years and for 5 years or more for higher security roles. • Employment History: If you have had multiple employers in the last 5 years. • Credit Reference Check: If there any financial concerns that could lead to potential vulnerability. The credit reference check is made to assess the financial state of the individual being vetted. • Others factors: Associated with, or have or lived in areas associated with organisations seeking to disrupt the government or have family who have associated with, organisations and/or individuals known to security services e. g. Northern Ireland.

Useful Links Civil Service Competency Framework http: //www. civilservice. gov. uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Civil-Service. Competency-Framework-July-2012. pdf Statistician Competency Framework https: //gss. civilservice. gov. uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Statistician. Competency-Framework. pdf List A Techniques https: //gss. civilservice. gov. uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/GSG-List-ATopic-Guide-January-2014. pdf 24

Good Luck! If you need more information/advice please email: GSS. Capability@statistics. gsi. gov. uk