Senior Data Scientist (Leeds) (Ref: 17762), Wellington TA21

About the job

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

Senior Data Scientist

Location:Leeds

Closing Date:31/5/2026

Interviews:Interviews will take place in person in Leeds on 16th and 17th June.

Grade:SEO

(MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain this grade on lateral transfer)

Salary:National -£42,914 to£46,182 (which may include an allowance of up to£9424)

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Contract Type:Permanent

Number of vacancies:2

Vacancy number:17762

*We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your local office. Successful candidates will be based at our Leeds office. Please ensure that this location is within a reasonable commuting distance for you.

The Role

Please note this role requires you to pass Security Check clearance. Please click on the link for details.

We're recruiting for Senior Data Scientistshere at Justice Digital, Data and Science to be part of our warm and collaborative Data Scientist team.

This role aligns againstData Scientistfrom the Government Digital and Data Framework

These roles sit within Justice Data which exists to ensure that high quality data, and algorithms and tools built on that data, are available, trusted, and effectively used to improve decision making across the justice system. It plays a critical enabling role in delivering the department's strategic, operational, and transformation priorities by turning complex and fragmented data into meaningful insight and practical tools.

The Data Science community at MoJ has around 80 members of staff providing data science support across a diverse and exciting agenda. We create a culture in which people are empowered by data and information to make better decisions using cutting edge tools and put evidence at the heart of the justice system.

We have a track record of delivering services to front line staff using wide ranging data science techniques, including the award-winning safety diagnostic tool, which helps our staff tackle violence in prisons and the public-facing Criminal justice system (CJS) delivery data dashboard. We also created Splink, used across the public sector, private sector, and academia. We regularly deliver insights that directly influence corporate, operational and policy decisions. Our projects span the data science spectrum including machine learning, natural language processing, large language models, traditional statistics, and operational research techniques.

Roles available:

Senior Data Scientist in Probation Data Science&AI:You will be a member of a multidisciplinary product team - working alongside designers, researchers and developers - to embed data science solutions into the Digital tools used by frontline Probation staff. You will take ideas from concept to live service helping Probation staff save time and improve operational effectiveness. Supported by a Lead Data Scientist you'll also help grow team capability by developing junior data scientists.

Senior Data Scientist in Risk Assessment Data Science&AI:The main programme of work entails developing, monitoring and supporting the suite of Actuarial Risk Assessment Instruments (ARAIs), which estimate the probability of various types of reoffending. Current ARAI projects range from analysing the prediction of Violence Against Women and Girls to improving the operational understanding of models using new explainability techniques. As a member of the team, you would help streamline the process for creating, updating and deploying these products, work with Digital and other leads to bring in new data sources, address HMPPS requirements such as modelling demand for new offender services and oversee other team projects to improve our understanding of offender risk using predictive modelling.

You'll receive a range of excellent benefits when you join our department, including:

• A generous employer pension contribution of 28.97% through the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
• 25 days of annual leave, (increasing to 30 days once you have reached 5 years of service), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King's birthday.
• Flexible working arrangements including hybrid working, working part time or compressed hours. Designed to support a positive work-life balance.
• Future-proof work with documentation, model monitoring, and re-assessment schedules.
• Work collaboratively with other data scientists using version control and proportionate dev-ops practices.
• Communicate results and possibilities to a variety of stakeholders.
• Help the team keep up to date with the wider data science landscape and emerging technologies.
• Contribute to the MoJ Data Science Community making it an inclusive and vibrant place to work.
• Contribute to the strategy and direction of technical projects.
• Coach junior data scientists, improving their technical skills and independence.

• Employees are allocated 10% of their working time for personal and professional development.
• A£1k per person learning budget is in place to support all our people, with access to best-in-class conferences and seminars, accreditation with professional bodies, fully funded vocational programmes and e-learning platforms.
• Compassionate maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave policies, with up to 26 weeks leave at full pay, 13 weeks with partial pay, and 13 weeks further leave. And maternity support/paternity leave at full pay for 2 weeks, too!

You can find more details of the Benefits we offerhere.To help picture your life at MoJ Justice Digital, Data and Science please take a look at our blog.
Key Responsibilities:

• Apply appropriate data science tools to build products to robust standards

If this feels like an exciting challenge, something you are enthusiastic about, and want to join our team please read on and apply!
Person Specification

Essential

• Experience of applying data science techniques (e.g. machine learning, language models, and traditional statistical models)
• A foundation in probability and statistics, and an interest in how models work.
• Experience in writing high-quality code in Python (or significant experience with other programming languages and ability to learn Python quickly)
• Data derivation/manipulation in code and/or SQL
• Ability to communicate analytical results convincingly to technical and non-technical audiences
• Able to identify opportunities and applicability of data science and take initiative in project development.

Willingness to be assessed against the requirements for SC clearance

We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring and do not discriminate based on culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor.

Our values are Purpose, Humanity Openness and Together. Find out more here about how we celebrate diversity and an inclusive culture in our workplace.

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 and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.
Salary Information**

Base salary for this role is from£42,914 to£46,182 (which may include an allowance of up to£9424)

• joining the MoJ are expected to start at the minimum of the pay band.
• will retain their current base salary or move to the minimum of the pay band for the role, whichever is higher.
• will either move to the bottom of the new grade's pay band or receive a 10% uplift, whichever provides the greater increase.
• This is a temporary allowance, reviewed annually and may be retained, amended, or withdrawn.

The final offer will reflect the skills and experience you demonstrate during the assessment process.
How to Apply

In Justice Digital, Data and Science, we recruit using a combination of theGovernment Digital and Data Profession CapabilityandSuccess ProfilesFrameworks. We shall assess a combination of your Experience, Technical skills and Behaviours during the assessment process.

Stage 1 - Application and sift:

To apply for this position, you must submit the following as part of your application

• An anonymisedCVdetailing your career history (including any relevant qualifications). Your CV will be assessed against the essential criteria outlined within the Person Specification of this advert.
• APersonal Statement(no more than 750 words) which should outline your experience and skills, giving clear examples of work undertaken. It should specifically address the criteria listed below, using a separate paragraph for each.

Sift criteria:

• Experience of applying data science techniques (e.g. machine learning, language models, and traditional statistical models)
• A foundation in probability and statistics, and …