We are seeking an enthusiastic Higher Scientific Officer to join the multidisciplinary, policy-facing Serious Violence Research and Analysis team. Based within the SBAEA Analysis unit (covering SEND, Behaviour, Attendance, Exclusions, Alternative Provision and Serious Violence), you will apply your operational research and statistical skills to lead on a stretching portfolio of data science and analysis.

This post offers a wide range of opportunities:

• Provide innovative analyses using the unique MoJ-DfE data share, including matching to other DfE datasets to explore evidence gaps
• Exposure to policy officials ensuring the analysis has impact
• Work with colleagues across departments, widening the impact of your work

This is an exciting time to join us given the current high-profile nature of many of our policy areas. We pride ourselves on taking a joined-up approach to evidence-based policy making and you can expect to regularly collaborate with colleagues from other analytical disciplines and influence policy and political stakeholders.

If you have excellent data science and/or statistical skills and can work independently whilst collaborating and communicating clearly with stakeholders we would like to hear from you.

Please note that there is a strong possibility that other positions will become available within FAD. If you are successful at interview but are not offered this position, you will be added to a reserve list for six months, which means you may be contacted about the possibility of these other positions.

About the role

You will lead on:

• Matching the MoJ-DfE data share to other datasets held within the department, to expand the variables and insights provided by this analysis.
• There is scope for you to decide how you analyse this expanded dataset, according to your view of the most important and influential avenues for exploration, as well as based on your development needs.
• Updating and innovating the recently published local-authority level dashboard.
• Work with delivery and policy teams to ensure the DfE’s £45m set of programmes to reduce serious violence among young people are evidence-based.
• Build your skills and others’ – you will have support and the opportunity to develop your own knowledge as part of a large and talented group of data scientists and other analysts in the department.

About the policy area

Reducing serious violence is one of the Government’s top priorities and a key manifesto commitment. The PM-chaired Crime and Justice Taskforce has set a target of reducing serious youth violence by 20% by 2023, making our work high-profile and timely. 

The factors and circumstances which increase a person’s likelihood of becoming involved in serious violence are broad and complex. This means we need to work with colleagues across a range of policy areas to better safeguard children and young people. For example, we work with DfE’s Children’s Social Care and Children in Need teams as well as colleagues in the Home Office, MoJ, DHSC and the Cabinet Office.