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About the job
Job summary
The Home Office is the lead government Department for immigration and passports, crime, police, fire, and counter terrorism significant issues which are at the heart of the agenda of HM Government. The challenges and opportunities the Department faces are significant and rapidly changing in the global environment in which we operate. Strong analytical advice is needed to navigate these challenges, and the Home Office has a reputation for putting analysis at the heart of decision-making.
Part of the Home Office Analysis & Insight directorate, the Performance Reporting & Analysis Unit (PRAU) provides reporting and analysis of performance for the Migration & Borders Mission and associated operational Capabilities. We support Ministers, the Executive Committee, Policy and Operational leads and other analytical functions with the management information (MI) that they need, as well as producing data for publication and other forms of external release. The Unit also provides advice and support to others in the Department on how to make best use of performance information and is leading on the transformation of MI systems and capabilities.
PRAU is geographically spread across four primary locations (London, Liverpool, and Sheffield and Croydon), with most staff working in line with the Departments hybrid working arrangements which would see the post holder spend 40% of their week in the office, with the remainder working from home. Candidates will need to agree a base location of either Croydon, Sheffield or Liverpool with a requirement for periodic attendance at other Home Office locations.
Job description
Senior Data Engineers lead a small team of Data Engineers in the implementation of complex data flows to connect operational systems, data for analytics and BI systems.
As a Senior Data Engineer, you will identify, build, modify and manage data flows between complex systems using the appropriate solution.
You will be working with the Data Services Science community, who set the scope of data engineering work through user research and data pipelines. Through sharing work with Product Owners, you will identify strategies for how the service is best able to support business needs.
You will work with fellow members of the Data Engineering community to set the direction of the service technology and data architecture. You will also mentor more junior members of the team – promoting challenge, collaborating and encouraging an agile approach to working.
Responsibilities
Your main day-to-day responsibilities will be:
Analysing problems and experimenting with possible solutions to find the underlying causes of issues or discrepancies to identify problems and to assist in the development of innovative solutions
Analysing and reporting test activities and results, supporting data engineers and stakeholders on data analysis issues
Designing and implementing a data streaming service, including the development of new data models and ETL processes
Ensuring the successful delivery of completed data loads for customers, Data Engineers and Data Scientists, troubleshooting where required
Designing, building and testing data products and solutions that are complex or large scale, through full development, test and deployment lifecycles
You will also be expected to carry out the following day-to-day activities:
Applying concepts and principles of data modelling and producing relevant and varied data models across multiple subject areas and providing guidance on how to use them
Delivering continuous improvement by identifying positive changes that can be carried out to improve performance e.g. to improve data quality and storage capacity
Contributing to the re-platforming of data systems into public cloud and the refresh of tooling applications
Designing, writing, iterating and optimising code from prototype to production-ready
Leading work on database management and mapping data to the agreed data model
Translating and presenting clear insights from data profiling and source system analysis to support the end use of the data, while being an advocate for the team
Reviewing requirements, specifications and defining test conditions
Working with data privacy and information security staff to assure that security and privacy requirements are identified and addressed in solutions
Person specification
Essential criteria
Youll have a demonstrable passion for Data, with the following skills or some experience in:
The delivery of projects in data analysis, solution design and end user reporting
IT programming and automation, experience of using change management tooling is particularly essential.
Using tools such as industry standard ETL tools, network databases and scheduling and orchestration tools, experience with T-SQL based development and scripting particularly essential.
Using modern / open source programming languages in order to deliver data development / engineering products
Using Cloud Data technologies, solutions and future Cloud Data Strategies
Effectively managing and communicating with non-technical and senior stakeholders about performance and analysis
A numerate degree or equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
It would be desirable to also have the following skills or some experience in:
Applying data analysis techniques and tools
Working with Big Data tools and data stores
Using modern / open source programming languages in order to deliver data
Development / engineering products
Working in an agile and complex data environment
Understanding industry recognised data patterns and standards and their applications
working with existing Home Office and OGD data sets (e.g. CID, CRS, API etc.)
Experience of working with Azure Synapse will be an advantage
An Agile Foundation
ITIL v3 or v4 Foundation
Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA)
This post is eligible for a DDaT RRA. Successful candidates with exceptional skills and experience may apply for a RRA between £2,500 – £7,300. This allowance is subject to an initial review within six months of taking up the post and thereafter an annual review in-line with departmental priorities and could be reduced or withdrawn at any time.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Changing and Improving
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Delivery and Operation – Service Operation
o Database Administration DBAD Level 3 - Development and Implementation – Systems Development
Data Modelling and Design DTAN Level 3 o Database design DBDS Level 3 - Strategy and Architecture – Business Strategy and Planning
o Innovation INOV Level 3 - Technical Strategy and Planning – Data Management DATM Level 3
o Methods and Tools METL Level 3
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.
Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 20/11/2023 If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn.
Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the Civil Service Jobs website.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete:
A CV detailing job history/qualifications/skills
A statement of suitability (personal statement) (maximum 500 words)
Provide evidence of the lead behaviour Changing and Improving (250 words maximum)
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
The statement of suitability should be aligned to demonstrate your skills and experience for the role and how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the job description.
The sift will be held on the CV, behaviour and the statement of suitability (personal statement).
However, if a large number of applications are received, the initial sift will be conducted on the statement of suitability. Candidates who pass the initial sift will then be progressed to a full sift where the CV and behaviour will be scored.
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview which will be a blended approach of technical and behaviour-based questions on all those listed in the advert. The technical element will assess your Technical Skills as per SFIA Framework (SFIA 7 Framework (sfia-online.org))
Sift and Interview dates
Sift is expected to take place week commencing 20th November 2023.
Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 11th December 2023.
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert, however on occasions these dates may change.
Interviews will be carried out via video. Candidates will be required to have access to:
A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
Good internet connection
Microsoft Teams
PLEASE NOTE: Due to time constraints we may not be able to offer alternative interview date(s). It is therefore expected that candidates who are successful at sift stage will make themselves available during the above time frame given.
Further Information
For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.
A reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role or similar role become available within that period you may be offered this position.
Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.
We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.
Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidates responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.
Transfer Terms: Voluntary.
If you are invited to an interview you will be required to bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.
Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.
Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
- Complete the Assistance Required section in the Additional Requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a language service professional
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the Contact point for applicants section.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Home Office Resourcing Centre
- Email : HORCCampaignTeamCorporateEnablers@homeoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance
HORecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.
