Junior Data Scientist

As we expand our Data Science team, we are looking for a capable and enthusiastic individual with a background in Informatics or Data Science. You will be eager to develop your technical portfolio and gain further experience in NHS Wales.

We understand the wide breadth of data science and data engineering techniques, and so we encourage interest from individuals with experience in at least one of these skillsets: R/R Studio, Python, business intelligence software, and dashboard visualisations within PowerBI, Tableau, Qlik, or Cognos, automation software such as PowerAutomate, operational research modelling techniques, SSMS/SQL, machine learning packages, and analysis and reporting on complex data.

This is an exciting opportunity for an individual who loves exploring data, developing and using varied techniques in analysis, data science, and operational research, and communicating the findings to multi-disciplinary teams.

Main duties of the job

The main functions and duties of this role include providing analytical support to our programmes, including:

1. Routine Monitoring and analysis of monthly financial returns, facilitating an understanding of the NHS Wales financial position.
2. Employing Effective Analytical Techniques - to deliver unambiguous and robust insight into a complex healthcare system.
3. Creative Data Manipulation and Analysis - of routine data sources, to support problem identification and provide situational awareness using varied techniques, data science, and operational research.
4. Enabling Confident Use of Data - enabling the directorate to use data confidently and appropriately through data support and mentoring.
5. Communicating Analytical Findings - using effective data visualisation, as well as written and verbal communication, to communicate analytical findings to stakeholders.

About us

The NHS Executive works in partnership for and on behalf of Welsh Government, in and with the NHS in Wales and is hosted by Public Health Wales.

Our key purpose is to drive improvements in the quality and safety of care - resulting in better and more equitable outcomes, access and patient experience, reduced variation, and improvements in population health.

We do this by providing strong leadership and strategic direction - enabling, supporting, and directing NHS Wales to transform clinical services in line with national priorities and standards.

To find out more about working for us and the benefits we offer please visit https://phw.nhs.wales/careers/

For guidance on the application process, please visit https://phw.nhs.wales/working-for-us/applicant-information-and-guidance/

Job responsibilities

For further information, please contact Liam Bufton, Head of Analysis, Financial Planning & Delivery Directorate.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Educated to Degree level or equivalent, in a discipline such as operational research, mathematics, computer science, social science, data science, or similar discipline.

Experience

• Experience of communicating complex information to a non-technical audience.
• Experience of performing complex analytical tasks, with minimum guidance.
• Understanding of improvement methodology - specifically data and measurement including statistical process control.
• Knowledge of social research methods such as survey design and evaluation.

Skills and Attributes

• Advanced IT skills with experience of using Microsoft Office applications - particularly advanced MS Excel knowledge.
• Knowledge of programming (e.g., Visual Basic, Python, R) or database query (e.g., SQL) languages.
• Flexible to meet the needs of the service and able to multitask.
• Ability to work to deadlines and prioritise own workload.
• Proactive with the ability to work under own initiative and as part of a team.
• Inquisitive, motivated, and reliable.
• Commitment to self-development, actively seeking feedback and learning.
• Willingness and ability to travel between sites in Wales.
• Developing visualisation utilising business intelligence tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Qliksense, or R Shiny.
• Basic knowledge of relational databases, cloud computing, and/or database management techniques.
• Welsh speaker.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

2nd Floor, Unit 1 Old Field Road, Bocam Park