Data Science Graduate 2024

As the UK’s communications regulator, we’re delivering vital work that helps keep the UK connected and shapes the future of how we’ll stay connected with each other.

Our work covers everything from phones and broadband, through to TV, radio, the postal service, and wireless devices. We’re also taking on the challenge of making the online world a safer place. And we need people of all backgrounds, skill sets, and experiences to help us achieve our goal of making communications work for everyone.

Data in Ofcom

Data underpins much of Ofcom’s work as an evidence-based regulator. Data specialists work across our organisation, extracting insights and informing our policy and operational work. Ofcom’s Data Innovation Hub supports these colleagues, and the development of our data capability more broadly. This team fulfils three functions: 

• Delivering a step change in our capability to organise, manage, understand and extract insights from data, by developing innovative tools and improving our knowledge;
• Helping colleagues across the organisation deliver their policy or organisational priorities by undertaking targeted projects involving the analysis or visualisation of data; and
• Providing advice to data specialists throughout the organisation.

The role

As a Data Science graduate you will have the opportunity to work within the Data Innovation Hub and with data specialists in other groups across the organisation. You will have the opportunity to use and further develop your data science skills on projects across all of our sectors, such as broadband and mobile networks, radio spectrum engineering, market research and audio/video content.

We have a culture of continuous learning, so you will be able to benefit from a range of training opportunities, ranging from e-learning modules, internal or external classroom-based courses, hackathons and on-the-job learning. You will also be supported by senior data scientists and you will be mentored throughout your time on the graduate programme.

The Data Science role at Ofcom could be perfect for you if you're looking for the following in a graduate scheme:

• The opportunity to put your degree into practice, with a chance to apply your skills
• Continuing to learn in a supportive environment, from colleagues with backgrounds in other disciplines such as researchers, analysts, economists, lawyers and policy specialists and technical experts
• Making a difference for millions of people
• Starting a rewarding career in an increasingly important and dynamic sector for the UK economy.

About you

At Ofcom, we're looking for:

• An undergraduate degree in a mathematical, statistical, natural science, computer science, engineering or economics subject; or a post-graduate degree in a subject related to data science, advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence or machine learning
• A basic understanding of, or familiarity with data science concepts, such as mathematical problem solving, geospatial analysis, probability, statistics, curve-fitting, artificial intelligence or machine learning; and relevant tools such as Python or R.
• Ambitious and passionate individuals who live by our values of: Excellence, Collaboration, Agility, Respect and Empowerment
• Must have the Right to Work in the UK for the duration of the programme without requiring sponsorship

Benefits

Ofcom offers a number of benefits to employees including:

• Flexible benefits allowance
• Pension allowance
• 25 days holiday 
• Day off for your birthday
• Private medical insurance
• Life assurance
• Annual health check
• Income protection insurance

The Application 

The application process consists of three stages:

• Initial application
• Blended Assessment
• Assessment Centre (to be held in Feb-Mar 2024)

For this role, you can be based in either the London, Manchester or Edinburgh offices.

Ofcom is a forward-thinking, inclusive employer and recognises the value of diversity to truly make communications work for everyone. Our vision is to ensure Ofcom is a place where our people can work hard and be themselves. We aim to recruit from the widest pool of candidates possible – no matter your social background, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or disability. We strive to be representative of the whole of the UK and our aim is to be an employer of choice for everyone.

We champion flexible working patterns including job shares where we can. Discover more about working at Ofcom at careers.ofcom.org.uk

We strive to ensure all our recruitment information and processes are accessible to and useable by everyone. If you would like to receive any information in a different way or would like us to do anything differently to help you apply for our roles, please let our recruitment team know by emailing resourcing@ofcom.org.uk or by telephone on 0330 912 1378.

As a Disability Confident employer, we offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for our advertised jobs. When you apply, you can let us know if you would like your application to be considered under this scheme (sometimes known as ‘guaranteed interview scheme’). Find out more about the scheme here:  https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/jobs/disability-confident-scheme