Senior Data Scientis

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

General

1. To support clinicians, researchers and non clinical staff in performing statistical analysis and producing data models
2. To lead on and manage statistical and data science projects with clinicians, researchers and non clinical staff and guide the input of team members in projects
3. To use data and technical analysis to extract insight from data for clinical and operational purposes, identifying solutions, recommending process and business rule improvements
4. To interpret statistical results and explain them, verbally and in writing, so as to be understood by non-statisticians
5. To advise on the appropriate techniques for data analysis and interpretation, advising analysts when data science and statistical work feasible
6. To identify and recommend improvements in reporting, software or other systems, which contribute to the performance of the systems or accuracy of data
7. To utilise explorative data science techniques to extract usable insights from data and explain data-driven recommendations to others through clear visualisations
8. To explore and stay up-to-date with various modelling techniques, advising on those optimal for the purpose
9. To ensure selected techniques remain to be fit for purpose through on going monitoring and robust data pipelines
10. To plan own workload and projects appropriately
11. To test own work and peer-review team member's work
12. To support the learning of team colleagues and mentor junior team members
13. To create and maintain documentation on analysis undertaken for the creation of tools and reports for CODU projects
14. Any other duties commensurate with the post and grade that may be requested by the Lead Data Scientist

Communication and Relationships

1. Communicate professionally with senior clinicians and service managers. This may require the use of specific clinical terminology to understand issues being raised in detail
2. Represent the Clinical Outcomes and Data Unit and Digital Services as appropriate in internal and external meetings, reporting back on progress. The post holder must be able to travel and be sufficiently confident to forge effective working relationships with partner organisations as required
3. Advise, support and lead on reporting at appropriate directorate, divisional and Trust level meetings
4. Be a point of contact for CODU, managing queries, problems, requests, and incidents ensuring they are logged and tracked
5. Lead, manage and action the resolution of assigned tasks in an efficient and professional manner. Post holder must conform to Trust and departmental procedures and working practices, seeking further advice and information when necessary

Knowledge, training and experience

1. Post holder must be adept at researching and understanding complex, multi-departmental clinical data flows, and apply advanced levels of understanding of specialty specific data
2. Expert at understanding problems and utilising various software to provide data insight tools using appropriate analytical techniques
3. An exceptional attention to detail, ensuring high quality and efficient new processes are implemented
4. Work closely with other teams in digital services (software development, data engineering) to understand cross over in work streams, and potential implications
5. Support the highly important requirements of the performance management and income teams. Post holder should have an awareness of NHS financial and performance reporting
6. Be continuously aware of changes to working practices for colleagues across the trust. Ensure that products are amended to reflect these changes, and meet expectations of stakeholders

Analytical

1. Apply statistical and analytical knowledge to critically appraise and challenge the results of outputs ensuring only meaningful information is delivered to the clinical/business stakeholders.

Responsibility - policy and service

1. Act as an ambassador for the CODU by developing and maintaining excellent working relationships with users across the organisation, delivering against local requirements and national targets
2. Lead in the development and maintenance of a culture of service provision and continuous improvement for own areas
3. Be responsible for implementing policies for own work area and for proposing changes to policies, in line with legislation, Trust and NHS policies and guidelines across the Trust, where appropriate
4. Pro-actively participate in ensuring that services delivered within the Trust reflect best practice with respect to organisational, NHS and legislative requirements and guidelines including IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL), Data Protection Act (1998), Information Standards, Information Security and compliance with NHS Information Governance
5. Participate in Information Governance and security as required and ensure appropriate governance and security in own area
6. Ensure change management is applied in own areas and follows implemented policies and procedures
7. Ensure all documentation relating to own area of work is complete and fit for purpose
8. Participate in Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for allocated incidents and problems; instigating emergency action, when required, liaising with other Trust Managers, as appropriate.

Responsibility - Staff/HR/leadership training

1. Responsible for line management of own team in line with appropriate policies, procedures, working practices and guidelines, ensuring all resources are deployed to maximise an efficient and effective delivery of support services to patients and users
2. Provide regular performance reports on progress, status and achievements for own area to be used by management and users
3. Undertake and support the development of staff in line with personal development reviews and other associated guidance.

Responsibility - finance and physical

1. Be responsible for the safe use of ICT hardware and software
2. Monitor the maintenance and support contracts allocated to own area, ensuring continuity of service and budget management. Liaise with third party suppliers to identify and evaluate potential value for money contracts
3. Liaise with external agencies, suppliers and contractors ensuring delivery of service is in line with agreed contracts
4. Support business appraisals and business case production when required in partnership with Trust stake holders. Undertake solution searches and appraisals of supplier proposals
5. Ensure Trust procurement processes and procedures are followed in a timely and efficient manner and participate in the procurement process where relevant, providing assistance for the development and assessment of procurement documentation as required
6. Ensure Trust Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs) and procurement guidelines are followed and adhered to

Project Management

1. Advise and participate in the development and implementation of projects, where required, ensuring Informatics provision of integrated solutions and user objectives are achieved.
2. Ensure project tasks, where required, are successfully delivered in line with agreed timescales and budgets.
3. Support the activities of project boards and project teams, when required, and making presentations, where required, to all levels of staff.
4. Ensure any project management documentation or reports are delivered in line with agreed standards and timescales.

Business Continuity Management

1. Participate in the development, exercising, maintaining and reviewing of business continuity plans. Participate the business impact analysis exercises highlighting critical business processes within own area.
2. Be familiar with the Trust Business Continuity Plan and personal responsibilities within where applicable.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Master's degree in an analytical/statistics/data science discipline or demonstrable equivalent experience

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of using programming languages and statistical packages to solve problems using data e.g. Python, R, Stata
• Experience of developing machine learning tools to extract insights and provide recommendations from data
• Experience as a professional statistician/data scientist
• Experience of utilising appropriate statistical techniques to extract insights and provide recommendations from data
• Experience working with analytical professionals, senior managers and a multidisciplinary environment on the publication, development and use of clinical data
• Experience leading projects with multiple stakeholders
• Experience of the use and management of Information within the NHS, academic or pharmaceutical community
• Extensive experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Experience of documenting results for publication
• Experience of successfully managing a number of equally important tasks successfully

Desirable criteria

• Experience of work in a healthcare setting

Skills

Essential criteria

• Technical skills in data manipulation, statistics, machine learning, programming and data visualisation
• Ability to communicate complex system and technical issues to a variety of staff at different levels within an organisation
• Excellent communication skills - verbal, written, presentational and interpersonal
• Ability to clearly explain statistical methods and/or results to audiences of non-statisticians
• Ability to interpret the working practices of others and manage the introduction of new ways of working to improve service delivery creating documentation and policies as required
• Ability to liaise across IT disciplines ensuring common objectives are delivered
• Good organisational skills including time management, record keeping and paying attention to detail
• Able to work to deadlines, prioritise and manage workload in a busy and changing environment
• Flexible, positive, resilient, methodical, team player
• Ability to work under pressure
• Able to confidently converse with senior clinicians, using specialised clinical terminology as required, to understand issues being raised in detail
• Able to objectively analyse, evaluate and interpret information from a variety of sources

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of a wide range of statistical, data science and machine learning techniques, including techniques to determine the appropriate tool for a given scenario
• Knowledge of a range of visualisations, including determining the appropriate visualisation for a given scenario
• Knowledge of data structures and data quality methodologies
• Knowledge of population based statistics
• Knowledge of research methodologies

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of hospital services and how services interlink
• Knowledge of the working practices used within the Trust, e.g. Inpatients, Outpatients, Medical Records and Medical Secretaries
• Knowledge of Oncology at disease group level
• Understanding of how services are commissioned within the NHS
• Knowledge of NHS England, Health & Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) and Department of Health strategies, policies and guidance

VALUES

Essential criteria

• Collaborative, Innovative, Respectful, Trustworthy, Integrity, Responsible

OTHER

Essential criteria

• Evidence of continuing professional and personal development demonstrating a keen interest in data
• Office based role with the need for travel to Christie managed sites or partners as necessary
• Ability to travel to relevant professional conferences nationally/internationally
• Ability to participate with flexible working to meet deadlines

The closing date for this post may be extended if there are insufficient applicants or brought forward if there is a high volume of applicants.

We want to ensure that everyone who works at the Christie or uses our services is welcomed, valued and treated with dignity and respect. The Christie values diversity and is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for all and fair representation across the organisation at all levels. In support of these commitments, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people and people with disabilities for this post. Appointment will be only on merit.

We are committed to creating a balanced and diverse workforce. As such we welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Together we will foster inclusion and tackle inequity and health inequalities in cancer care.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy

All positions within the Christie are subject to the receipt of satisfactory written references, medical clearance and evidence of your Right to Work in the UK. Some roles will require a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. Please note if you are successfully appointed to a post with this Trust, you will be required to pay for your own DBS Disclosure.

By applying for this post you are agreeing to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system. Please note, all communication regarding your application will be made via email, please ensure you check your junk/spam folders as emails are sometimes filtered there.

If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, I regret that on this occasion your application will have been unsuccessful.

The Inter-Authority Transfer (IAT) process is a critical and beneficial component of ESR and will form part of the recruitment process. In the event that you are successful following interview your previous NHS employment data, if applicable will be transferred from your current / most recent employer.

Overseas candidates wishing to apply for this position and who would require immigration sponsorship, may wish to self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for the post on the UKVI website.

You should be aware the Trust operates a No Smoking Policy and therefore employees are not permitted to smoke at work.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Documents to download

• Job Description & Person Specification (PDF, 408.4KB)
• The Christie Vision (PDF, 45.9KB)
• Strategy Brochure (PDF, 5.8MB)
• Hospital Parking (PDF, 116.3KB)
• Trust Membership - Christie Talent (PDF, 23.0KB)
• Travel to The Christie (PDF, 3.8MB)