At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead advanced analytical projects to improve public services using data science and AI.
- Company: Essex County Council, a forward-thinking organisation committed to data-driven decision-making.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a supportive team with a focus on ethical data use and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by transforming data into actionable insights for the community.
- Qualifications: Degree in a quantitative field and 3-5 years of data science experience required.
About The Role
Fixed Term / Secondment opportunity, 12 months. Full Time, 37 hours per week. £47,615 to £56,017 per annum. Location: Chelmsford. Working Style: Anywhere worker. Closing date: Sun 28th June 2026.
Job Purpose
ECC’s Data, Analytics and Performance team transforms complex data into clear, actionable insights. This role sits within the Data Science and AI branch, working closely with other data professionals. As a Senior Data Scientist you will lead the development of advanced analytical solutions that support Essex County Council’s ambition to harness data science and artificial intelligence to improve public services and enable evidence‑led decision‑making. You’ll apply predictive modelling, machine learning, and statistical analysis to generate forward‑looking insights that enhance operational delivery, support strategic decision‑making, and drive transformation.
Accountabilities
- Engage with services to identify opportunities where data science can influence strategy, improve delivery, and support organisational outcomes.
- Scope and deliver data science projects, selecting appropriate techniques and methods, creating project plans, and ensuring milestones are met.
- Conduct exploratory data analysis, including auditing, pattern detection, handling missing data, transformation and visualisation, sharing best practices across the team.
- Create replicable analytical pipelines and data products, accessing data from source and building accessible outputs that are transparent and understandable.
- Develop, calibrate, and evaluate predictive models, using a suite of evaluation tests, ensuring outputs are robust, explainable, and transparent and contextualising risks.
- Translate complex outputs into clear, actionable insights for non‑technical audiences.
- Collaborate with services to optimise data flows, improve data quality, and advise on data collection, processing and analysis to maximise the value of our data assets.
- Pilot and evaluate responsible AI solutions, including internally trained and pre‑trained models, to support ECC’s AI ambitions.
- Provide quality assurance on technical aspects of data science work, ensuring appropriate application and ethical use of data.
- Manage a catalogue of data products and outputs, reviewing usage and impact, and identifying opportunities to improve accessibility and relevance.
- Share data products and insights in accessible formats to promote transparency and collaboration, documenting and publishing work clearly to support reuse, learning and responsible data use.
- Stay current with emerging tools, techniques and best practices and represent the organisation professionally by contributing to communities of practice and sharing knowledge.
Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Educated to degree level in a quantitative field (e.g. Data Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics or Engineering) or equivalent by experience.
- Membership with the Government Data Science Community, Royal Statistical Society (RSS) or British Computer Society (BCS) is advantageous.
- 3–5+ years experience in data science, analytics or a related technical field using applied techniques for organisational impact.
- Knowledge and hands‑on experience with predictive modelling, machine learning and statistical analysis, working across the full data science lifecycle.
- Knowledge of data processing/coding languages such as SQL, R, Python and version control systems for collaborative working and creating robust, replicable analytical outputs.
- Experience working in multidisciplinary teams using influence and negotiation to achieve successful outcomes and experience working in a customer‑focused environment supporting a range of managers.
- Experience in ethical data use and capability building is a plus.
- Experience working in a complex and political environment.
Equal Opportunity
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We are committed to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements of the job and to provide reasonable adjustments. We also interview all veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements of the role.
Additional Information
If your role requires a DBS check, you will be required to register with the DBS update service. This is an annual subscription and you will be responsible for ensuring it is maintained. Please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk for any queries.
Senior Data Scientist in Chelmsford employer: Essex County Council
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where data science and artificial intelligence are at the forefront of improving public services. With a commitment to employee growth, you will have access to continuous learning opportunities and the chance to collaborate with a diverse team of professionals in Chelmsford. Our inclusive culture promotes transparency and ethical data use, making it a rewarding place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the community.
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We think this is how you could land Senior Data Scientist in Chelmsford
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