Data Scientist

NHS
Leeds
1 day ago
Create job alert

We are looking for a Data Scientist to play a central role in informing national pay negotiations and supporting employers across the NHS. This is a unique opportunity to use your analytical expertise to influence policy, support fair and sustainable pay systems, and help build a resilient NHS workforce for the future.

Main duties of the job

The role is responsible for delivering all data analytics activity in NHS Employers that supports this work, including: supporting the full cycle of regular annual pay and reward work; providing tailored data and insights and expert technical advice on pay and reward related topics; providing expert intelligence, statistical and strategic analysis to develop options for negotiation/implementation of pay and reward priority strategies; supporting the work of the directorate with specialist projects throughout the year.

About us

The NHS Confederation is the membership organisation that brings together, supports, and speaks for the whole healthcare system in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The members we represent employ 1.5 million staff, care for more than 1 million patients a day and control£150 billion of public expenditure. We promote collaboration and partnership working as the key to improving population health, delivering high-quality care, and reducing health inequalities.

NHS Employers is the employers organisation for the NHS in England, commissioned by the DHSC on behalf of the NHS. NHS Employers supports workforce leaders and represents employers and systems to develop a sustainable workforce and enable them to be the best employers that they can be.

Job responsibilities

Responsibilities

  • Programme manage and lead the delivery of analytical work programmes of the Employment Relations and Reward Directorate by providing expert workforce intelligence, statistical and analytical support to the development, negotiation and implementation of pay and workforce strategies for the NHS in England.
  • Develop and maintain effective relationships with employers in the NHS, NHS Digital, NHS England, Health Education England, Department of Health & Social Care, Office of Manpower Economics and in the NHS Trade Unions e.g. UNISON, RCN, BMA.
  • Develop appropriate methodologies to model the costs of pay systems (in-year and over multiple years) and to assess the financial and non-financial implications of making changes to these systems;
  • Create what if scenarios to examine the potential costs and benefits of potential pay policies.
  • Produce clear and concise written reports detailing analytical methodologies used, with results and conclusions.
  • Create and maintain query databases holding workforce and pay data.
  • Convert policy questions into technical specifications for data and analysis work.
  • Produce tools/guidance to support employers in understanding the financial impact of new pay systems and opportunities for benefits realisation.
  • Provide analytical support in the commissioning of surveys, data collection exercises and communication products.
Person SpecificationQualifications
  • Expert in Excel and Access
  • Significant relevant experience of using their analytical expertise to model complex scenarios.
  • Excellent written and oral communications skills, in particular the ability to convey the results of complex analysis and modelling to non-technical specialists, and senior management.
  • Ability to grasp complex issues quickly and to interpret them for a variety of audiences.
  • Able to proactively manage own programme of work, adjusting priorities responsively when necessary.
  • Up to date knowledge and understanding of employment relations and pay and reward issues.
  • A strong understanding of the key NHS workforce issues and how this affects delivery of NHS services.
  • Well-developed understanding and awareness of the political climate in relation to the NHS and its workforce

£45,239 a yearand £4000 London Weighting (if applicable)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time,Flexible working,Home or remote working


#J-18808-Ljbffr

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Data Scientist

Data Scientist

Data Scientist

Data Scientist

Data Scientist - Measurement Specialist

Data Scientist - Imaging - Remote - Outside IR35

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

The Skills Gap in Machine Learning Jobs: What Universities Aren’t Teaching

Machine learning has moved from academic research into the core of modern business. From recommendation engines and fraud detection to medical imaging, autonomous systems and language models, machine learning now underpins many of the UK’s most critical technologies. Universities have responded quickly. Machine learning modules are now standard in computer science degrees, specialist MSc programmes have proliferated, and online courses promise to fast-track careers in the field. And yet, despite this growth in education, UK employers consistently report the same problem: Many candidates with machine learning qualifications are not job-ready. Roles remain open for months. Interview processes filter out large numbers of applicants. Graduates with strong theoretical knowledge struggle when faced with practical tasks. The issue is not intelligence or effort. It is a persistent skills gap between university-level machine learning education and real-world machine learning jobs. This article explores that gap in depth: what universities teach well, what they routinely miss, why the gap exists, what employers actually want, and how jobseekers can bridge the divide to build successful careers in machine learning.

Machine Learning Jobs for Career Switchers in Their 30s, 40s & 50s (UK Reality Check)

Are you considering a career change into machine learning in your 30s, 40s or 50s? You’re not alone. In the UK, organisations across industries such as finance, healthcare, retail, government & technology are investing in machine learning to improve decisions, automate processes & unlock new insights. But with all the hype, it can be hard to tell which roles are real job opportunities and which are just buzzwords. This article gives you a practical, UK-focused reality check: which machine learning roles truly exist, what skills employers really hire for, how long retraining realistically takes, how to position your experience and whether age matters in your favour or not. Whether you come from analytics, engineering, operations, research, compliance or business strategy, there is a credible route into machine learning if you approach it strategically.

How to Write a Machine Learning Job Ad That Attracts the Right People

Machine learning now sits at the heart of many UK organisations, powering everything from recommendation engines and fraud detection to forecasting, automation and decision support. As adoption grows, so does demand for skilled machine learning professionals. Yet many employers struggle to attract the right candidates. Machine learning job adverts often generate high volumes of applications, but few applicants have the blend of modelling skill, engineering awareness and real-world experience the role actually requires. Meanwhile, strong machine learning engineers and scientists quietly avoid adverts that feel vague, inflated or confused. In most cases, the issue is not the talent market — it is the job advert itself. Machine learning professionals are analytical, technically rigorous and highly selective. A poorly written job ad signals unclear expectations and low ML maturity. A well-written one signals credibility, focus and a serious approach to applied machine learning. This guide explains how to write a machine learning job ad that attracts the right people, improves applicant quality and strengthens your employer brand.