Mathematical Statistician, Data Scientist and Data...

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is looking to fill multiple vacancies for Mathematical Statistician, Data Scientist and Data Collection Methodologist roles in the Methodology and Data Science Division.

About the business areas

Methodology and Data Science Division (MDSD) in the ABS provides the methods that underpin the production of high quality and trusted official statistics. The organisation looks to us to deliver innovative approaches for current and emerging statistical needs, including solving the statistical challenges of new work to support whole of government initiatives. We collaborate on methodology with other areas of the ABS, international statistical agencies and with the research community in Australia.

To enable the ABS to stay at the forefront of statistical practice in the Information Age, MDSD is seeking highly capable and motivated professionals to contribute to its expanding research and development program in statistical methodology, data science, and data collection methodology.

Within MDSD, the Data Science and Emerging Methods Branch (DSEMB) conducts statistical research and development (R&D) in data access, integration, confidentialisation, machine learning, data quality assessment, data repair, data visualisation, modelling, econometric and other analysis methods for a variety of traditional and emerging data sources. It provides a specialist analytical service to producers and users of social, economic, environmental and demographic statistics within the ABS and in other government agencies.

Also within MDSD, the Statistical Methodology Branch (SMB) provides specialist methodological services to meet new and ongoing demands in official statistics. Much of the work has the goal of ensuring the methods underlying ABS outputs are based on sound, defensible statistical principles and are cost effective. SMB has specific responsibilities for supporting statistical collection and production, with a focus on data quality through all stages of the survey cycle. It provides advice on, and methods for, the most efficient and effective ways of meeting information needs and undertakes research on statistical methods to improve the efficiency and reliability in the production of official statistics.

The positions offer flexible working arrangements (in terms of hours and/or doing some work from home), working in virtual teams (across the country) and collaborating with external methodologists and other experts in academia, other government agencies or overseas in other National Statistical Offices.

For more information about the areas please refer to the Applicant Information Kit.

About the role

As an APS5 in MDSD you will:

• For Mathematical Statisticians and Data Scientists:
• Contribute to methodological/data science projects and provide technical support to other parts of the ABS.
• Use statistical computing languages (such as R, Python or SAS) to manipulate data for statistical design and/or analysis.
• For Data Collection Methodologists:
• Contribute to designing, conducting, analysing and reporting on research and evaluation tasks (e.g. interviews, randomised controlled trials (RCTs), surveys, analysis of metrics, qualitative coding procedures) that advance ABS respondent engagement capability, and provide methodological support on these topics to other parts of the ABS.
• Interact professionally with the public in the context of testing survey materials and infrastructure.
• For all APS5 roles:
• Work under limited supervision and manage your own work outputs while working as part of a team, some of whom may be located in other offices.
• Present the results of experimental, research or methodological work to internal audiences in meetings and seminars.
• Conduct and prepare reports on complex research projects and empirical studies.

As an APS6 in MDSD you will:

• For Mathematical Statisticians and Data Scientists:
• Lead methodological/data science projects and provide technical support to other parts of the ABS.
• Have a very good appreciation of the role of and a sound ability to use statistical computing languages (such as R, Python or SAS) to manipulate data for statistical design and/or analysis.
• For Data Collection Methodologists:
• Design, conduct, analyse and report on research and evaluation tasks (e.g. interviews, randomised controlled trials (RCTs), surveys, analysis of metrics, qualitative coding procedures) that advance ABS respondent engagement capability, and provide methodological support on these topics to other parts of the ABS.
• Interact professionally with the public in the context of testing survey materials and infrastructure.
• For all APS6 roles:
• Liaise and negotiate with internal and external clients to understand their needs for methodological assistance and develop and explain potential solutions.
• Plan, manage, monitor and deliver work outputs while supervising and reviewing the work of other staff members, some of whom may be located in other offices.
• Present the results of methodological work to internal and external audiences in meetings, seminars and conferences, and potentially present training.
• Conduct and prepare reports on complex research projects and empirical studies.

For information about the Selection Criteria for these roles and How to Apply, please refer to the Applicant Information Kit.