Data Scientist
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Tēnei tūranga – About the role
The Data Scientist is a team member position in MBIE, within the Verification and Compliance branch in Immigration New Zealand.
The Data Scientist contributes to the operations of the Joint Targeting & Analytics team. The team is responsible for providing robust analytical advice to support immigration decision makers.
The Data Scientist will use their technical expertise to:
- Source and integrate information and data for use in data analytics techniques such as data mining.
- Apply an innovative approach to undertaking complex statistical and pattern analysis including identification, preparation and oversight of data modelling algorithms.
- Collaborate with colleagues to develop, test, maintain and continuously improve analytical and statistical models.
- Apply new analytical techniques and tools to enhance risk management, identification and targeting.
- Share expertise and learnings, mentor and guide team members, INZ staff, and international counterparts.
- Support strategic data and analytics initiatives within broader MBIE by providing specialist expertise and championing initiatives as appropriate.
The Data Scientist is responsible for ensuring quality and consistency of advice and practices in relation to
their contribution to the team’s work.
Key relationships
Joint Targeting & Analytics Manager.
Business Analytics & Targeting Manager and teams.
Border Intelligence Targeting Manager and team.
Intelligence, Data and Insights teams.
INZ Governance Committees.
MBIE Data Warehouse.
MBIE Chief Data and Insights Officer.
Joint Border Analytics team members.
Project teams.
Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role
Personal specifications
- A demonstrable competency in the use of specialist Data mining and Analytics software such as R or Python, as well as a willingness and ability to learn and apply new tools and software quickly at a high standard.
- A demonstrable competency in quantifying and presenting clearly and succinctly the benefits of advanced analytics and data mining packages, to both technical and non-technical.
A proven track record and experience in:
- Using Advanced Analytic tools to conduct complex analyses of large amounts of data or information.
- Working across multiple analysis disciplines and processes.
- Professionally active and aware of recent developments in methodologies and practices.
- Using analytics modelling in a risk and / or operational research environment.
- Delivering solutions that make sense to the organisation and are of a consistently high standard.
- Translating complex and technical information into information easily understood by non-technical staff.
- Creating value through the use of advanced modelling or statistical analysis.
- Producing high quality written reports.
Must be a NZ citizen or hold a residence class visa. May require NZ security background check.
Qualifications
› Tertiary qualification, preferably specialising in statistics or computer science at Masters level or higher.
Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables
Statistical analysis and modelling
- Identify, prepare, and implement data modelling algorithms.
- Create, test, validate and oversee the operationalisation of new models.
- Undertake complex statistical pattern analysis and/or error calculations to support interpretation and use.
- Integrate and transform data, using techniques to deal with data quality issues, issues, errors and sparse data, including imputation approaches.
- Apply efficient coding techniques and best practice version control and code management.
- Identify business problems, manage, or mitigate risks and implement innovative solutions.
- Assist in identifying data sources or elements capable of improving targeting sensitivity at any of the business processes’ risk intervention points.
- Assist in identifying analytical techniques and tools to enhance the identification and targeting of risk and value.
- Demonstrate a structured and pragmatic approach to analysis, including working with stakeholders to interpret/ validate and communicate results.
- Provide advice and support for the development and management of targeting rules and co-design and/or peer review risk model code.
- Help develop and implement visualisation and monitoring processes to communicate systems effectiveness and performance.
Relationship management
- Work with stakeholders to understand business needs and interpret and validate results.
- Build relationships with key staff to ensure they are equipped with the knowledge and contribute to other targeting, analytics or insights projects.
- Act as a conduit between technical data teams and the business.
Coaching and training
- Provide mentoring, support, and technical advice to team members by developing and delivering training material and best practice guidelines.
- 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 Data Scientist position reports into the Business Analytics and Targeting Team Leader within the Verification and Compliance 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
