Job Description
General Information Salary The national salary range is £41,463 - £45,276, London salary range is £47,657 - £52,040. Your salary will be dependent on your base location Working Pattern Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working Vacancy Approach External Location National Region National Closing Date 16-Apr-2025 Post Type Permanent Civil Service Grade SEO Number of jobs available 2 Job ID 4365
Descriptions & requirements Job description
Data Ethicist
Location: National*
Grade:SEO
(MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain this grade on lateral transfer)
Closing date:16th April 2025
Interviews: from 16th May 2025 (please note that this may be subject to change)
Salary: The national salary is £41,463 - £45,276, London salary range is £47,657 –£52,040. Your salary will be dependent on your base location.
Working pattern: Full-time, part-time, flexible working
Contract Type: Permanent
*We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your local office. Office locations can be found ON THIS MAP
The Role
We’re recruiting for two Data Ethicistshere at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), to be part of our warm and collaborative Data Improvement Team within the Data Directorate.
We align our Data Ethics roles to the Government Digital and Data Framework, adapted to the appropriate role level.
We create a culture in which people are empowered with the data and information to
make excellent decisions; using cutting edge tools, techniques and collaboration;
putting evidence at the heart of the justice system.We launched our data strategy for MoJ and are working on improvements across data governance, architecture, literacy, ethics, culture, dissemination and linking.
You can read more about the Data Strategy in this blog post.
Data ethics is a cross-cutting discipline that assesses the wider societal impact of technology, producing recommendations for technologists and data professionals. It involves thinking about fairness, accountability, the law, moral dilemmas, and the risks involved in creating technology and data products and policies.
As a Data Ethicist in the Data Ethics Team, you willenable teams across the MoJ to understand data ethics and implement best practice in their work, helping with the rollout and adoption of the newly developed MoJ AI & Data Science Ethics Framework in new business areas.
You’llassist the Data Ethics Lead in providing a data ethics advisory service across the directorate and use your facilitation skills to create safe spaces for data teams to engage in ethical discussions, allowing team members to challenge and question their work in a constructive way.
You’ll get to work in an exciting and innovative area, working on cutting-edge guidance and forming part of a centre of excellence for data ethics.
KeyResponsibilities:
Tools&products:
Advocacy&support:
Ifthisfeels likeanexcitingchallenge,somethingyouareenthusiasticabout,andwant to join our team please read on and apply!
Person SpecificationThe Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Planand the Civil Service D&I Strategy.
How to Apply
Candidates must submit an anonymised CV and a personal statement (up to 750 words),which describes how you meet the requirements set out in the Person Specification above.
We are recruiting using the Success ProfilesFrameworks. We will assess your Experience, Technical Skillsand the following Behaviours during the assessment process:
A diverse panel will review your application against the Person Specification above.
Successful candidates who meet the required standard will then be invited to a 1-hour panel interview held via video conference.
Should we receive a high volume of applications, a pre-sift based on ‘strong understanding of the ethical implications of potential data science approaches’ will be conducted before the sift.
You maybe required to give a 5-minute presentation at interview. Details of this will be sent to those candidates who are invited for interview.
Should you be unsuccessful in the role that you have applied for but demonstrate the capability for a role at a lower level, we reserve the right to discuss this opportunity with you and offer you the position without needing a further application.
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, from which further appointments may be made.
Terms & Conditions:
Please review ourTerms & Conditionswhich set out how we recruit and provide further information related to the role and salary arrangements.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact[email protected]
Additional Information
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.
Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).
For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.
All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Annual Leave
Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.
There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
Training
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
Support
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order
As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.
For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.
Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces. For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans
Redeployment Interview Scheme
Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.
MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.
Civil Service Nationality Rules
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
Reserve list
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.
Contact Information
MoJ:
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]
Please quote the job reference 4365
HMPPS
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]
Please quote the job reference 4365
Job Description Attachment
SEO Data Ethicist Job Description.pdf (Job Description Attachment)
Download Close previewApplication form stage assessments
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods CV or Work History, Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability Experience Questions Application Form Question Word Limit 250
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability Candidates must submit an anonymised CV and a personal statement (up to 750 words), which describes how you meet the requirements set out in the Person Specification Evidence of Experience CV or Work History, Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability
Interview stage assessments Interview Dates from 16th May 2025 (please note that this may be subject to change)
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing Making Effective Decisions Working Together
Experience
Your Experience for this role will be assessed at interview. To learn more about Experience and how they are assessed please click here.
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methodsExperience Questions
Technical
Strong understanding of the ethical implications of potential data science approaches Strong understanding of social issues, the types of bias and discrimination different groups can face, and how to use this knowledge to inform data ethics work Sufficient understanding of data science techniques (such as machine learning, natural language processing, data visualisation)
Other Assessments Which assessment methods will be used? Presentation
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Level of security checks required
Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)
