Principal Data Scientist

The NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) is the national body responsible for all matters relating to the prevention, detection and investigation of economic crime across the NHS. The Principal Data Scientist role focuses on applying and delivering advanced data analytics, machine learning, statistical analysis, and fraud detection techniques within the NHS. Responsibilities include personally developing, managing fraud detection models, leading a team, and aligning data science initiatives with NHSCFA goals. The role involves project planning, defining data roadmaps, and ensuring delivery of counter-fraud insights as directed. Key duties include communicating complex findings to non-technical stakeholders, influencing decisions, and embedding advanced analytics into team operations. The post holder must ensure rigorous testing, governance, compliance with government data standards, and maintain data integrity and transparency. In addition, engaging with domain experts internally and externally to underpin detection approaches.

Our vacancies are popular and we may close this vacancy early should we receive a significant number of applications.

This role requires NPPV 2

For an informal chat please talk to George Cooke, Head of Advanced Data Analytics ***email_hidden***.

• Apply expertise in all areas of Data Science and Advanced Data Analysis by conducting highly complex detection of fraud and insights across a range of counter fraud and business areas with data.
• Line manage a team of analysts and data science professionals.
• Plan priorities, explore opportunities and conduct data science and analysis in counter fraud areas.
• Demonstrate practical expertise of data science including tools, detection techniques and standards used in counter fraud (e.g. ML/DL/GenAI/Analytics and statistics. Including the application of data science with unstructured data (LLMs)
• Engage with stakeholder to ensure appropriate context is applied to data and insights from detection approaches.
• Develop and implement AI/ML algorithms to detect emerging fraud patterns while ensuring compliance with all laws, professional practice, government and internal frameworks.
• Collaborate with counter-fraud experts and domain experts in the NHS
• Communicate progress and outcomes to senior managers, staff, and external agencies, including negotiation timeline where required.

Please See Job Description

We have offices in Coventry, Newcastle and London and offer flexible, hybrid, and home-based working. In addition to the advertised salary working in the London area will attract High-Cost Area Supplement where appropriate. The NHSCFA values and respects the diversity of its employees and aims to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including an invitation to the first stage of the selection process and consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability. We encourage applications from individuals interested in a secondment opportunity. If you are applying on this basis, please ensure you have obtained agreement in principle from your current employer. When you apply for this role, you will be redirected to our recruitment system TRAC. The NHSCFA does not hold a sponsor licence in respect of skilled worker visas and so is unable to employ candidates requiring sponsorship.

To comply with the HM Government Functional Standard GovS 007, and specifically the Personnel Security Standards, individuals employed by NHS Counter Fraud Authority will be required to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Standards checks.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: George Cooke Job title: Head of Advanced Data Analytics Email address: [email protected]