Applied Data Scientist ID:4849

Job summary

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and also works on behalf of the Scottish Government and Welsh Government. Our diverse teams of over 3,000 skilled and committed professionals come together to provide research, advice and support to UK Government for safeguarding animal, public and plant health for the benefit of the environment and economy.

APHA is a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, because it helps us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We are dedicated to being an inclusive employer, offering equitable opportunities for all individuals. Our goal is to build a diverse workforce, and we hope to attract applications from all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.

APHA are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Applied Data Scientist with an interest in wildlife epidemiology and management to join our Numerical Sciences Team. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the interface of ecology, data science and policy, supporting projects that inform real-world management and evidence-based decision-making.

Our remit includes identifying, managing, and controlling incidents and outbreaks of endemic and exotic diseases and pests in animals, plants, and bees. We provide unique capabilities and an evidence base for UK government, together with international reference responsibilities. The APHA Wildlife Department is a nationally important centre for wildlife disease management with multidisciplinary skills in epidemiology, statistics, and field ecology. The successful applicant will bolster the department’s role supporting Defra’s policy making and disease outbreak response activities.

Job description

You will play an important role in managing, analysing and interpreting complex ecological, environmental and geospatial datasets, providing analytical support and advice across a diverse portfolio of projects relating to wildlife and disease-risk management. Working closely with colleagues from a range of disciplines, you will help deliver scientifically robust, operationally practical and data-driven analytical solutions, improve data workflows, and generate evidence that supports project delivery and decision-making.

This role offers a varied mix of responsibilities spanning data science, geospatial analysis, evidence synthesis, operational service delivery and research support. It would suit someone who enjoys working with challenging datasets, developing efficient and reproducible workflows, evaluating analytical methods and applying data-driven approaches to solve environmental and ecological challenges. Opportunities also exist to contribute to innovative research, evidence synthesis and model quality assurance activities. You will help develop robust, efficient, reproducible analytical methodologies and workflows that improve our understanding of wildlife populations, movement ecology and disease transmission dynamics.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide analytical and technical support across a range of wildlife management, surveillance and applied research projects.
• Develop, implement and maintain reproducible data workflows that support the collection, processing, analysis and reporting of project data.
• Develop automated solutions to improve the efficiency, consistency and reproducibility of data management, analysis and reporting activities.
• Produce data visualisations, dashboards and analytical outputs that support evidence-based decision-making.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to understand project requirements and identify practical approaches to delivering analytical outputs.
• Communicate analytical findings clearly through reports, presentations and data products suitable for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Contribute to the development of analytical capability, data literacy and good analytical practice across the National Wildlife Management Centre (NWMC).

Person specification

You will need to demonstrate the following:

• Experience of managing, processing and analysing large and complex datasets.
• Experience developing reproducible data workflows, pipelines or automated analytical processes, using programming languages such as R or Python, or GIS software such as ArcGIS Pro.
• Experience communicating analytical findings through reports, visualisations, dashboards or presentations.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to plan and prioritise work across multiple projects and competing demands.
• Ability to work independently whilst contributing effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Degree, or equivalent experience in a numerical, scientific or biological discipline.

Workplace arrangements

The post holder must work from the location listed in the Location section of the advert. The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home.

Periodic travel within the UK and Europe may be required to attend training courses, conferences and scientific meetings. If not based at the Weybridge site, regular visits to the site will be required e.g. minimum one visit per month (travel costs will be covered by the department).

Out of hours work may be required. When overtime or out-of-hours work is required, APHA Management reserves the right to change overtime patterns to meet requirements. You may be eligible for overtime payments and where overtime is approved you will receive appropriate payment.

Health clearance

The post will require Health clearance. You will be expected to complete a questionnaire on your general health and have any necessary vaccinations or health surveillance. This will be arranged by the Health Team, Weybridge. It may also be necessary to undergo a pre-employment medical assessment.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• A 10 minute presentation on a Wildlife Science related scenario will be required. Full details on the scenario will be given at time of interview invite.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,765, Animal and Plant Health Agency contributes

£10,071 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).

Further benefits offered also include:

• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities tailored to your role.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
• Staff bonuses and recognition, salary sacrifice benefit options, and an employee discount scheme.
• Three days special leave with pay, per year, for volunteering (pro-rata for part time employees).
• Making it work for you - With so many flexible options, most people can find a work schedule to suit their circumstances.

These are just a few of our benefits we offer. To find out the full range of what we offer refer to the Information Pack attached for more detail.

Learning and Development

Everyone in APHA is supported to develop their skills and capabilities. When you join the Directorate, you will be welcomed into your new team through an induction programme that will provide you with helpful information on the civil service, our work and our policies. Your line manager will also work with you to establish your priorities for the year, developing a performance, learning and development plan tailored to you and your role.

In return for your dedication, we will support your ongoing personal development through appropriate training. Inclusion, support and the development of our people matter to us. We aim to support the career and personal wellbeing of everyone in APHA.

Things you need to know

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.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

You will be required to complete the following as part of your application:

• A CV-style application submitted through an online tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobs website. There is no requirement to upload your personal CV.
• A 750-word Personal Statement of how you match the details in the Person Specification – the written evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. We encourage you to use the full word allowance of the Personal Statement but not to exceed it.

CV Guidance 

Your CV should consist of your career history, including any key achievements and your main responsibilities in each role and be no longer than 2 pages. Your CV will be used to provide further context on your Personal Statement and scored against the essential criteria. 

Personal Statement Guidance

When completing your Personal Statement, please read and understand the Person Specification thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against. Please ensure you evidence the key personal qualities and experiences that align with the criteria. Consider the Job Description and look to demonstrate how your previous experience may align with the expectations and be applicable to the role. The written evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc.

Scoring for all criteria of the application is from 1 to 7 – A score of 4 and above in each area will progress to interview unless there is a large number of applications. In this instance, an initial sift will be conducted using the personal statement. The panel may agree a benchmark score higher than 4 with a rationale for the decision. Any candidates applying under the Disability Confident Scheme who scores 4 or above on all of the criteria will be offered an interview. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

For further guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV-style application and Personal Statement), you are encouraged to visit the Civil Service Careers website. How to write your CV , Civil Service Careers

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake, please contact us via Science.DirectorateHR@apha.gov.uk with the vacancy reference number, your applicant reference number, and the closing date.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on:

• Your previous experiences relevant to the role requirements outlined in the advert following the Success Profiles: Experience - GOV.UK