EC-603 Data Scientist

NHS Scotland; England; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job description

Flexible Location: Based throughout Scotland, NES is a remote friendly employer supporting office and hybrid working. We’re happy to talk about how you want to work.

Work Pattern: Fixed Term, Full Time, 37 hours per week

Fixed-term or Secondment** until 31 March 2026

• For NHS applicants, an NHS secondment will be offered in the first instance. For non-NHS applicants, a fixed-term or secondment would be considered.

You must have eligibility and entitlement to work in the UK which is required to be maintained throughout your period of employment.

Who We Are

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) is the national health board with statutory responsibilities to effect sustainable change through workforce development, education and training across the health and social care system in Scotland, while working at UK level with partner organisations.

NES Technology Service (NTS) has created a strategic programme for the transformation of digital based services to allow NES to become a leading digital organisation in Scottish Health, digital by default and fully aligned with the Scottish Government’s technology strategies.

Our Technology

We are in the business of providing safe, secure and innovative technology products and services that aim to improve outcomes across education, training, workforce, health and care in the public sector in Scotland. Using modern cloud-based technology we deliver sustainable products and services for the future.

The Opportunity

We are looking for two Data Scientists (Information Analyst Business Partners) to join our small, but highly talented and growing team to collaborate and solve some of the most complex challenges in health and social care.

Do you want to play a key role in delivering statistics to the NHS and the wider public in the form of Official Statistics reports?

Do you want to improve the evidence base for workforce planners and other professionals involved in ensuring that NHS Scotland has the right staff, in the right place with the right qualifications?

Do you enjoy working in a small team, using data science to make workforce data available and understandable to a wide range of stakeholders across the Health & social care sector?

Do you enjoy working at pace and being adaptive to an ever-changing environment?

Working within the Data Group you will have the opportunity to work with new and innovative technologies to deliver data and intelligence that will directly inform the development and delivery of data for workforce planning for health and care professionals, and the general public.

What We Love To See

Data Scientists offer a broad range of skills and experience, if you can offer some or all of these, we’d love you to apply:

• Significant experience of analytical, research and evaluation methods
• Experienced in using R and SQL or similar analytical coding languages e.g. Python
• Knowledge of current frameworks of information and statistical governance
• Demonstrate honesty, integrity, care and compassion when dealing with others, utilising tact and persuasion skills when necessary
• Ability to work on own initiative, to organise and prioritise own workloads, to meet strict deadlines

Benefits Which Matter

As a valued employee of NHS Scotland, you can enjoy an extensive range of benefits including:

• Life-work balance - with opportunities for flexible working and hybrid working
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Annual incremental salary progression (up to the maximum of the salary band) plus annual NHS salary scale review
• Annual Leave - 27 Days increasing in line with service plus 8 days public holiday
• NHS discounts and more

Diversity and Inclusion

Developing a successful national service for Scotland is impossible without ensuring we consider the diverse needs, perspectives and backgrounds of everyone in Scotland in our work.

We are focused on hiring the very best talent available for NES, and actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and aim to ensure everyone is treated fairly, with respect and has a positive recruitment experience – regardless of the outcome.

It’s not essential to be in data science role right now. You may be returning from a career break (e.g. maternity, paternity, caring for others) or returning after working in another field. Your experiences elsewhere can bring a fresh perspective to our work.

If you are considering applying and feel it would be helpful to discuss this initially, please contact [e-mail]

Next Steps

• NHS candidates will be considered firstly on a secondment basis, and so are strongly encouraged to discuss this with their current NHS employer at the earliest opportunity, ideally prior to application.

Our recruitment process is currently 100% remote and if successful you would initially work remotely, working from our offices as operationally required.

All applicants who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail.

Online interviews (including a short presentation) will take place on the week beginning 12 May 2025. The presentation topic will be sent to candidates selected for interview.

For further information please refer to the Job Information Pack below.

Unless otherwise stated the deadline for applications is 23:59 hours on the closing date. Please note, CVs will not be accepted.

If you have any queries regarding the NHS Scotland National Recruitment Portal or the recruitment process, please don't hesitate to contact our recruitment partners, the East Region Recruitment Service, at: [e-mail]