Senior Data Scientist – Joint Targeting & Analytics
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Tēnei tūranga – About the role
The Senior Data Scientist will primarily support the Our Future Services work program. The Our Future Services programme will deliver a more cost-effective immigration system that is more productive, more effective at managing immigration risk, and provides a better experience for our customers and staff. The programme will be delivered through multiple workstreams working in parallel, with each workstream implementing key initiatives with set milestone dates.
You will be part of the Risk Analytics and Data Science (RADS) team within Immigration New Zealand. As a Senior Data Scientist, you will play a key role in the Enabling Foundations Workstream and will report to the Manager, RADS. You will be responsible for developing and deploying analytics models and network analytics capability and supporting the implementation of the Risk Analytics Platform and connection to ADEPT, and ongoing monitoring/tuning of model performance. This Senior Data Scientist will source data from a range of sources, build and maintain risk models to identify relevant Immigration risk and take steps to ensure that models are built within the Algorithm Charter for Aotearoa New Zealand framework. You will also be required to support the business-as-usual activities of the RADS on an as needed basis. A willingness to step in and assist with other data related work on an as needed basis.
The role actively keeps up to date with the latest developments within data science to ensure INZ uses the latest tools and methods within data science and incorporates these to existing processes within INZ.
Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role
Personal specifications
- Comprehensive statistical and analytical knowledge and the ability to apply this to solve problems.
- A demonstrated experience in the development of network analytics capability in the identification of risk.
- A demonstrable competency in the use of SQL, Python and R.
- Contributes to the end-to-end data science lifecycle, from data collection and cleaning to model development and maintenance.
- Experience in building safe and effective operational models, in line with the Algorithm Charter for Aotearoa New Zealand and other regulations and frameworks as appropriate or the ability to quickly acquire this knowledge.
- An understanding of relevant data science processes, systems, and methodologies to the identification of risk.
- Proven ability to develop trust, credibility, and effective working relationships with fellow team members.
- Personal motivation to achieve quality results which reflect attention to detail, personal discipline and adherence to policy and process.
Qualifications
- Post graduate qualification, preferably in statistics, operations research, econometrics, or a similar discipline.
- The ability to gain and maintain a national security clearance as required.
- Must be a New Zealand citizen or hold a Permanent resident visa.
Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables
Delivery Management
- Apply appropriate analytical techniques to the preparation, development and testing of algorithms in a timely
- Contribute to the development and implementation of monitoring processes to assess the effectiveness and performance of analytics interventions.
- Proactively engage with Joint Targeting and Analytics team members and stakeholders to assess risk identification including the development of viable recommendations for data science projects.
- Contribute to assessing specific risk identification and targeting issues and opportunities across the Visa Processing Value Chain and at the Border.
- Contribute to developing an approach for addressing those issues and opportunities through detailed analysis and/or interaction with key teams.
- Contribute to the management of existing models and further continuous improvement.
- Manage own workload and ensure your time is being used effectively and efficiently, in alignment with agreed strategy and plans and escalate issues when necessary.
Relationship management
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with the Risk Analytics and Data Science team including wider Joint Targeting and Analytics.
- Deliver services that actively support and contribute to the achievement of the INZ’s outcomes, and that deliver to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
- Draw upon new and existing relationships to exchange ideas, resources and know how.
Coaching and training
- Provide mentoring, support and technical advice to team members by developing and delivering training material and best practice.
- Ensuring quality and consistency of advice and practices in relation to their contribution to the team’s work.
Wellbeing, health & safety
- Displays commitment through actively supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives
- Ensures own and others safety at all times
- Complies with relevant safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, safe systems of work and event reporting
- Reports all incidents/accidents, including near misses in a timely fashion
- Is involved in health and safety through participation and consultation
Tō tūranga i roto i te Manatū – Your place in the Ministry
The Senior Data Scientist position reports into the Manager Risk Analytics and Data Science within the Immigration Risk and Border Operations branch. The branch sits within the Immigration New Zealand group.
To mātou aronga – What we do for Aotearoa New Zealand
Hīkina Whakatutuki is the te reo Māori name for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Hīkina means to uplift. Whakatutuki means to move forward, to make successful. Our name speaks to our purpose, Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All.
To Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All, we put people at the heart of our mahi. Based on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi, we are committed to upholding authentic partnerships with Māori.
As agile public service leaders, we use our breadth and experience to navigate the ever-changing world. We are service providers, policy makers, investors and regulators. We engage with diverse communities, businesses and regions. Our work touches on the daily lives of New Zealanders. We grow opportunities (Puāwai), guard and protect (Kaihāpai) and innovate and navigate towards a better future (Auaha).
Ngā matatau – Our competencies
Cultivates innovation We create new and better ways for the organisation to be successful by challenging the status quo generating new and creative ideas and translating them into workable solutions.
Nimble learning We are curious and actively learn through experimentation when tackling new problems by learning as we go when facing new situations and challenges.
Customer focus We build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions by listening and gaining insights into the needs of the communities we serve and actively seeking and responding to feedback.
Decision quality We make quality and timely decisions that shape the future for our communities and keep the organisation moving forward by relying on an appropriate mix of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgement to make valid and reliable decisions.
Action oriented We step up, taking on new opportunities and tough challenges with purpose, urgency and discipline by taking responsibility, ownership and action on challenges, and being accountable for the results.
Collaborates We connect, working together to build partnerships with our communities, working collaboratively to meet shared objectives by gaining trust and support of others; actively seeking the views, experiences, and opinions of others and by working co-operatively with others across MBIE, the public sector and external stakeholder groups.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
As an agency of the public service, MBIE has a responsibility to contribute to the Crown meeting its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti). Meeting our commitment to Te Tiriti will contribute towards us realising the overall aims of Te Ara Amiorangi – Our Path, Our Direction, and achieve the outcome of Growing New Zealand for All. The principles of Te Tiriti - including partnership, good faith, and active protection – are at the core of our work. MBIE is committed to delivering on our obligations as a Treaty partner with authenticity and integrity and to enable Māori interests. We are committed to ensuring that MBIE is well placed to meet our obligations under the Public Service Act 2020 (Te Ao Tūmatanui) to support the Crown in strengthening the Māori/Crown Relationship under the Treaty and to build MBIE’s capability, capacity and cultural intelligence to deliver this.
Mahi i roto i te Ratonga Tūmatanui – Working in the public service
Ka mahitahi mātou o te ratonga tūmatanui kia hei painga mō ngā tāngata o Aotearoa i āianei, ā, hei ngā rā ki tua hoki. He kawenga tino whaitake tā mātou hei tautoko i te Karauna i runga i āna hononga ki a ngāi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ka tautoko mātou i te kāwanatanga manapori. Ka whakakotahingia mātou e te wairua whakarato ki ō mātou hapori, ā, e arahina ana mātou e ngā mātāpono me ngā tikanga matua o te ratonga tūmatanui i roto i ā mātou mahi.
In the public service we work collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders now and in the future. We have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. We support democratic government. We are unified by a spirit of service to our communities and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.
What does it mean to work in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Service?(external link) — Te Kawa Mataaho The Public Service Commission
