Data Scientist
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Tēnei tūranga – About the role
The data scientist in the Risk Analytics and Data Science team is a technical position within MBIE, in the Joint Targeting and Analytics team within the Immigration Risk and Border branch in Immigration New Zealand (INZ). The Immigration Risk and Border branch works to collaboratively identify and mitigate risk early and to reduce harm to the integrity of the immigration system, system users, and New Zealand.
The Joint Targeting and Analytics (JTA) team offers specialist expertise in the analysis of data and information to identify and target immigration risk. Services provided by the team include:
- Delivery and management of the Visa Triage process.
- Risk identification and targeting at the NZ border.
- The provision of risk models and analytics.
The Risk Analytics and Data Science team delivers statistical analysis and data modelling in the Visa Processing Value Chain, at the border and across other MBIE / INZ risk related functions.
The data scientist provides timely, innovative, and practical data science solutions to complex analytical problems. The data scientist is a specialist internal consultant working closely with JTA and wider R&V colleagues to understand their needs, challenges, and opportunities. The data scientist will source data from a range of sources, build and maintain risk models to identify relevant Immigration risk and ensure. The data scientist will take steps to ensure that models are built within the Algorithm Charter framework.
The role actively keeps up to date with the latest developments within data science to ensure INZ uses the most appropriate 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 demonstrable competency in the use of specialist data and analytics software/languages (preferably SAS or 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 of New Zealand and other regulations and frameworks as appropriate or the ability to quickly acquire this knowledge.
- A willingness to step in and assist with other data related work on an as needed basis.
- 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 NZ citizen or hold a permanent residence class visa.
Delivery Management
- Applies appropriate analytical techniques to the preparation, development and testing of algorithms in a timely fashion.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of monitoring processes to assess the effectiveness and performance of analytics interventions.
- Proactively engages Joint Targeting and Analytics team members and stakeholders to assess risk identification including the development of viable recommendations for data science projects.
- Provides analytical support for tasks and solutions to INZ wide challenges, including supporting the implementation of new data and analytics projects.
- Contribute to delivering agreed outcomes including reports, presentations and other outputs to document and communicate findings to customers.
- Contribute to the management of existing models and further continuous improvement.
Relationship management
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with the Risk Analytics and Data Science team including wider Joint Targeting 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.
- Draws upon new and existing relationships to exchange ideas, resources and know how.
Wellbeing, health & safety
- Display commitment through actively supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives.
- Ensure own and others safety at all times.
- Comply with relevant safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, safe systems of work and event reporting.
- Report all incidents/accidents, including near misses in a timely fashion.
- Be involved in health and safety through participation and consultation.
Tō tūranga i roto i te Manatū – Your place in the Ministry
The Data Scientist position reports into the Manager Risk Analytics and Data Science within the Immigration Risk and Border 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
