Head of data science

Band 8b · Data scientist · 603 job evaluation points

UK GDaD PCF level: Head of data science

Most often performed at Civil Service grade G7 or G6.

The head of data science has complete oversight of data science within their organisation.
At this role level, you will:
set direction
build capability
oversee resourcing, budgeting, professionalism and outputs and products
support and enable future IT developments
understand and use a wide range of data science techniques, tools and technologies
lead on ethics
communicate and present data science and data ethics effectively to ministers and senior leaders
champion the role of data science in supporting organisational priorities, and in collaborative working across professions
represent the department on data science matters

Contains public sector information from the UK Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework (https://understand-digital-data-roles-skills.service.gov.uk/), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.

Responsibilities

Set the direction for data science and AI across the organisation, in line with its strategy and priorities.
Lead on the ethics, safety, and assurance of the organisation's models and AI, and advise the board on them.
Oversee resources, budget, and the quality of data science products.
Represent the organisation on data science and AI with health and care partners, researchers, and regulators.
Build data science capability and careers across professions.

Skills

Skill	Expected level	What this level means
Applied maths, statistics and scientific practicesUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: identify opportunities to develop statistical insight, reports and models to support organisational objectives, while collaborating across the organisation effectively critique statistical analyses use a variety of data analytics techniques (such as data mining and prescriptive and predictive analytics) for complex data analysis through the whole data life cycle use model outputs to produce evidence and help design services and policies understand a broad range of statistical tools, particularly those deployed within the organisation, and can use these appropriately and help others to use them
Data engineeringUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: work with data engineers and data scientists to design and provide products for the organisation
Data ethics and privacyUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: oversee compliance with data ethics standards and legislation across the organisation develop, manage and continuously improve an ethical framework within your area develop a data ethics culture, influencing others to act on it ensure data ethics is applied appropriately when formulating, implementing and evaluating organisational policies and programmes
Data science innovationUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: demonstrate practical knowledge of data science tools and techniques develop data science solutions that maximise insight identify opportunities for how data science can improve data practices
Delivering business impactUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: champion the role of data science within the organisation understand and champion user research, and can design and manage processes to gather and establish user needs identify and create opportunities to develop and deliver data science products to support organisational objectives, while collaborating across the organisation to fulfil meaningful goals take responsibility for delivering scalable data science products into the organisation, and establishing maintenance support
Developing data science capabilityUK GDaD PCF	Expert (4)	You can: act as a leader or technical specialist, providing detailed support and guidance within the organisation and helping colleagues to develop skills set the direction of CPD (continuous professional development) within your team keep up to date with new developments in data science and can match those to opportunities in your organisation talk confidently about the benefits of data science approaches to existing and potential customers demonstrate an in-depth understanding of a wide range of data science techniques, such as machine learning and natural language processing, and detailed knowledge of at least one specialism use these techniques to build data science solutions, including reports, models and dashboards
Programming and build (data science)UK GDaD PCF	Working (2)	You can: write and test scripts and create basic models in one or more languages collaborate on shared codebases, using a variety of methodologies
Understanding product deliveryUK GDaD PCF	Practitioner (3)	You can: understand the differences between delivery methods, such as Agile and waterfall, and can choose the most appropriate method to deliver each product define the minimum viable product (MVP) and support decisions about priorities work with specialists in multidisciplinary teams to smoothly deliver data science products into the organisation
Understanding health and care servicesThis reference	Expert (4)	You can: shape organisational strategy using a deep understanding of the health and care system represent the organisation with health and care partners and leaders anticipate how policy and service changes will affect digital services and care
Information governance and data protectionThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: lead data protection impact assessments and information sharing agreements advise teams on lawful basis, consent, confidentiality, and retention investigate incidents and recommend improvements
Safe and fair AI in health careThis reference	Expert (4)	You can: set the organisation's standards for assuring and monitoring AI in care lead the assurance of high-risk models before and after deployment represent the organisation with regulators and partners on safe and fair AI
Clinical risk managementThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: lead hazard identification and risk assessment for a product or change write and maintain hazard logs and clinical safety case reports agree risk controls with product teams and check that they work advise teams on applying clinical risk management standards
Medical device software regulationThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: assess whether a product is a medical device, and its likely class plan the regulatory work for a product with quality and clinical colleagues
People managementThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: line manage a team, setting objectives and running appraisals support wellbeing and manage attendance, performance, and conduct plan the team's development and succession
Budget managementThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: hold and manage a budget, forecasting and explaining variances build a business case with costs and benefits

Typical qualifications and experience

Extensive experience of leading data science across an organisation.

Band 8b outline

Knowledge: Expert knowledge across several disciplines or a large service.
Autonomy: Shapes policy and strategy for a large area.
Scope: Several services or teams, or a principal-level discipline.
Leadership: Manages managers, or is the principal authority in a discipline.
Accountability: Several services, their staff, and their budgets.

Job evaluation (illustrative)

Factor	Level	Level summary	Points
Communication and relationship skills	5	Gives highly complex or contentious information needing developed persuasion and negotiation, presents to large groups, or communicates where there are significant barriers to acceptance.	45
Knowledge, training, and experience	7	Highly developed specialist knowledge across the range of the specialism (master's level or equivalent).	196
Analytical and judgemental skills	5	Judgements on highly complex facts or situations needing analysis, interpretation, and comparison of options.	60
Planning and organisational skills	5	Forms long-term strategic plans, with uncertainty and effects across the organisation.	60
Physical skills	2	Skills gained through practice, such as standard keyboard use or driving.	15
Responsibility for patient and client care	1	Helps patients, clients, or relatives during incidental contact.	4
Responsibility for policy and service development	4	Implements policy and develops policy or services for a service or several areas.	32
Responsibility for financial and physical resources	3	Authorises payments, buys some assets or supplies, monitors or holds a delegated budget, or maintains assets.	21
Responsibility for people	4	Line manages a function or department, designs training programmes as a main duty, or delivers a full range of HR services.	32
Responsibility for information resources	5	Designs and develops major information systems, or runs information systems for several services as the main duty.	34
Responsibility for research and development	4	Coordinates and carries out research and development programmes.	32
Freedom to act	5	Works within general policies, and in most cases decides how to interpret them.	45
Physical effort	1	Sitting, standing, and walking, with little physical effort.	3
Mental effort	3	Frequent concentration on unpredictable work, or occasional prolonged concentration.	12
Emotional effort	1	Rare exposure, or occasional indirect exposure, to distressing circumstances.	5
Working conditions	2	Occasional unpleasant conditions, frequent travel or outdoor work, or near-continuous screen use on most days.	7
Total (Band 8b: 585 to 629)			603