90177 - Lead Data Engineer (1 role available), Data Directorate, Ministry of Justice
Lead Data Engineer (Grade 7), Data Directorate, Ministry of Justice
Hello!
Welcome to the Data & Analysis directorate at the Ministry of Justice and thank you for taking an interest in this role. We’re looking for 1 Lead Data Engineer to join our growing team. The successful candidate will join the Data Modelling and Engineering Team (DMET), although we also work closely with the Data Platform team. A summary of the type of work the teams are involved in can be found in our handbook. We're also hosting a webinar on Monday 2nd September 2024 from 18:00 to 19:00 for anyone interested in learning more about the team and the roles we’re currently recruiting. You can sign up via this link.
This is a great opportunity to work with leading cloud technology and help change the way data is used in the public sector. Data engineers at MoJ play a critical role in our mission to put data at the heart of decision-making. We're looking for people with the drive to develop a deep understanding of data needs and data availability across specific areas of the Ministry of Justice. You will work in a team of Data Engineers, alongside Analytics Engineers, to bridge the gap between data producers and data users, developing analytical pipelines and self-service tools to acquire and transform data, making it available on our Analytical Platform.
As a Lead Data Engineer your work might involve:
- leading a team of Data Engineers to build robust and scalable automated data flows to connect operational systems, data for analytics and business intelligence (BI) systems
- creating and promoting best practices within the team and wider
- applying knowledge of systems integration to your work
- championing data engineering across the department and wider
- collaborating with a range of stakeholders to understand their needs and establish project goals and deliverables
- using a range of AWS services to deploy your solutions in a reproducible, sustainable manner
You may also be expected to carry out the following day to day activities:
- updating and maintaining technical documentation
- leading and organising team-building and development initiatives for data engineering and wider
- supporting the Ministry of Justice's Analytical Platform users to use our data and tools
- line managing more junior colleagues
- keeping up-to-date with current trends and best practices in engineering for continuous improvement
About you
We welcome applications from anyone with the skills we consider to make a good data engineer. You may not currently be in a data engineering role and that's ok. Many of our team members have a background in analysis, software engineering, data science, and more.
Essential Skills
You’ll have a demonstrable passion for Data Engineering, with the following skills or some experience in:
- leading a technical team, preferably one that uses Python and SQL, as well as strong technical skills in these languages
- automated testing, for example with pytest
- version control tools, such as git
- continuous integration and deployment, such as GitHub Actions
- designing and building data pipelines
- translating complex data sources into useful and usable data sets
- communicating with stakeholders and managing expectations
- setting technical direction within a team and developing the capability of others
Desirable skills
It's a bonus if you also have experience of:
- Kubernetes and container-based workflows
- continuous integration and deployment tools, such as GitHub Actions
- cloud infrastructure, especially AWS, and infrastructure as code tools, such as Terraform
- orchestration systems, such as Airflow
- big data tools, such as Spark
- data transformation tools, such as dbt
- Data Lake table formats, such as Iceberg
We make our workplace as inclusive as we can. Find out more about how we support equality and diversity.
Salary and benefits
If you're based in London, your base pay will be between £58,847 and £79,313, which may include an allowance of up to £20,466
Outside London, your pay will be between £54,358 and £74,525, which may include an allowance of up to £20,167.
You'll also get:
- a generous defined benefit pension, with employer contributions from 26% to 30%
- flexible working options, including part-year working, term-time working, reduced hours, compressed hours and job sharing
- 26 days leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 31 days after 5 years
- compassionate maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave, with up to 26 weeks leave at full pay, 13 weeks with partial pay, and 13 weeks further leave
- training and development opportunities, including access to Pluralsight, DataCamp and Civil Service Learning
- 5 days paid volunteering leave
- a cycle to work scheme
- season ticket loans, childcare vouchers and eyecare vouchers
- a quarterly reward and recognition scheme
- exclusive deals on travel, food, and entertainment
- secure bike parking and subsidised onsite gyms (subject to location)
Location
We welcome applications from candidates based across the UK. Candidates will have the option of being based in the Leeds or London HQ offices (with flexible working arrangements available) or your nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office: see this map for more details.
Recruitment process
You'll need to apply online by submitting:
- an anonymised CV, including career history, responsibilities, and achievements
- a cover letter, explaining why you're the right person for the job and how you meet the criteria above – this should be no longer than 750 words
There will be an initial sift of applicants, comparing submitted evidence against the ‘About you’ criteria. We’ll assess your application and get back to you in around two weeks to let you know if we’d like to invite you to an interview.
The interview
There will be one interview, covered in two sections, which will include a technical exercise and assessment of civil service behaviours. The interview will take place via Microsoft Teams.
The purpose of the technical exercise is to test your technical skills. The exercise will last one hour and will involve completing some scenario-based tasks using Python. More information on the exercise will be provided to candidates invited to interview.
In the second section of the interview, candidates will be assessed against the following civil service behaviours:
- Changing and Improving
- Managing a Quality Service
You can find out more about behaviours via the Civil Service Success Profiles.
We recommend that you use the STAR approach – situation, task, action, and result – when structuring your answers. Further information can be found on the National Careers Service website.
Interviews are likely to take place in October 2024. The highest scoring candidates who pass the interview will be offered a role. If you do well at the interview but we don't offer you a role right now, we'll keep your details for a year and let you know if other opportunities come up. The whole process can take up to a month.
Further information
If you require any additional information about the role, please contact:
dmet-dataplatform-recruitment@digital.justice.gov.uk.
You can also ask questions at the webinar on Monday 2nd September - sign up link here.
If you're based in London, your base pay will be between £58,847 and £79,313, which may include an allowance of up to £20,466
Outside London, your pay will be between £54,358 and £74,525, which may include an allowance of up to £20,167.
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.
Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.
All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Training
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Support
- A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
- Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
- Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
- Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
- To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please see our Disability Confident Scheme Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.
Diversity & Inclusion
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 Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
19/09/2024, 23:55 hours.
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com Please quote the job reference - 90177.
If you require any additional information about the role, please contact:
dmet-dataplatform-recruitment@digital.justice.gov.uk.
You can also ask questions at the webinar on Monday 2nd September - sign up link here.
To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.
For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).
If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:
- You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
- You were studying abroad
- You were living overseas with parents
In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account.
Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.
We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.
Application form stage assessments
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Interview stage assessments
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
· UK nationals
· nationals of the Republic of Ireland
· nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
· nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
· individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
· Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
This Vacancy is closed to applications.