Job Ref: COM-22-009
Job type: Full-time 35 hours
Closing date: Sunday 26th June 2022, 11:59pm
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £47,352 - £49,428 (PO5) per annum
Lewisham Council is leading our local partnership to deliver against the priorities of the new National Drug Strategy (2021). As part of this, we’re recruiting for a Data Scientist.
This exciting new role will be key in defining and delivering our local plans, ensuring they are driven by data and intelligence, including the direction of significant new investment and the development of services and improvement initiatives across the Council and our partners.
This is a unique opportunity to be central to helping us to achieve the ambitions for Lewisham around the new drug strategy, helping us to shape and build our data science capability and approach, and create impactful and positive social change.
As well as being central to our substance misuse commissioning, this role will be part of the Council’s developing data science approach, and part of a community of practice of data scientists working centrally and in different parts the Council.
The role
The post holder will be a key part of our Public Health Commissioning Team, but also our central Data and Insight function which has been created to lead on the better use of data and data science to inform service design and planning across the organisation. This role will be responsible for leading data science projects from start to finish, utilising applied data science techniques to help solve some of the most pressing and complex challenges faced by local/regional government and the wider health and social care ecosystem as well as developing and running models and sharing outputs to support decision making.
We’re ambitious for Lewisham - our borough is a hidden gem in inner south east London. We’re proud of our diversity and we work hard to end inequalities; we are a Borough of Sanctuary with a history of welcoming migrants and refugees; we’re also a hotbed of arts and creativity, which is set to be recognised as we become London Borough of Culture 2021.
Our council is changing fast, with a new executive team and ever changing demands and pressures on our public services. This new post will play a key role in helping us to make sure we meet our priorities and provide the best possible services and opportunities for our residents and our staff.
The post holder will work closely with colleagues in the wider Public Heath team and services in the council to identify opportunities for using data (internal and external) and insight in new and innovative ways and design and deliver data and insight dashboards, reports and advanced analytics projects that support our service design and transformation, helping us implement innovative solutions to the challenges we face.
Location: Laurence House, Catford, SE6 4RU
What we’re looking for
The successful candidate will have experience of questioning and challenging conventional thinking, with a continual eye on the bigger picture. They will bring expertise in using appropriate data analytics and machine learning tools, a breadth of knowledge in data science topics and methodologies, and relevant programming skills (Python, R) to build data science products.
In return, we’ll offer excellent development opportunities, plus a range of benefits that includes a career average pension scheme, flexible working and the opportunity to make a real difference to our local community.
Salary details: £47,352 - £49,428 (PO5) per annum
N.B: All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.
Further information: For an informal discussion, please contact Iain McDiarmid (Iain.McDiarmid@lewisham.gov.uk)
Lewisham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.
We value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds.
To find out more, including a full job description and person specification, and to apply, please visit www.lewisham.gov.uk/JobsAndCareers and search council vacancies
Closing date: Sunday 26th June 2022, 11:59pm
The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.
