NHS Employers

Data Scientist

The closing date is 09 February 2026

Job summary

We are looking for a Data Scientist to play a central role in informing national pay negotiations and supporting employers across the NHS. This is a unique opportunity to use your analytical expertise to influence policy, support fair and sustainable pay systems, and help build a resilient NHS workforce for the future.

Main duties of the job

The role is responsible for delivering all data analytics activity in NHS Employers that supports this work, including: supporting the full cycle of regular annual pay and reward work; providing tailored data and insights and expert technical advice on pay and reward related topics; providing expert intelligence, statistical and strategic analysis to develop options for negotiation/implementation of pay and reward priority strategies; supporting the work of the directorate with specialist projects throughout the year.

About us

The NHS Confederation is the membership organisation that brings together, supports, and speaks for the whole healthcare system in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The members we represent employ 1.5 million staff, care for more than 1 million patients a day and control £150 billion of public expenditure. We promote collaboration and partnership working as the key to improving population health, delivering high-quality care, and reducing health inequalities.

NHS Employers is the employers organisation for the NHS in England, commissioned by the DHSC on behalf of the NHS. NHS Employers supports workforce leaders and represents employers and systems to develop a sustainable workforce and enable them to be the best employers that they can be.

Details

Date posted

26 January 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£45,239 a year and £4000 London Weighting (if applicable)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

NHS1161732

Job locations

2

The Calls

Leeds

West Yorkshire

LS2 7JU


2nd Floor

18 Smith Square

London

Westminster

SW1P 3HZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Responsibilities

  • Programme manage and lead the delivery of analytical work programmes of the Employment Relations and Reward Directorate by providing expert workforce intelligence, statistical and analytical support to the development, negotiation and implementation of pay and workforce strategies for the NHS in England.
  • Develop and maintain effective relationships with employers in the NHS, NHS Digital, NHS England, Health Education England, Department of Health & Social Care, Office of Manpower Economics and in the NHS Trade Unions e.g. UNISON, RCN, BMA.
  • Develop appropriate methodologies to model the costs of pay systems (in-year and over multiple years) and to assess the financial and non-financial implications of making changes to these systems;
  • Create what if scenarios to examine the potential costs and benefits of potential pay policies.
  • Produce clear and concise written reports detailing analytical methodologies used, with results and conclusions.
  • Create and maintain query databases holding workforce and pay data.
  • Convert policy questions into technical specifications for data and analysis work.
  • Produce tools/guidance to support employers in understanding the financial impact of new pay systems and opportunities for benefits realisation.
  • Provide analytical support in the commissioning of surveys, data collection exercises and communication products.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Responsibilities

  • Programme manage and lead the delivery of analytical work programmes of the Employment Relations and Reward Directorate by providing expert workforce intelligence, statistical and analytical support to the development, negotiation and implementation of pay and workforce strategies for the NHS in England.
  • Develop and maintain effective relationships with employers in the NHS, NHS Digital, NHS England, Health Education England, Department of Health & Social Care, Office of Manpower Economics and in the NHS Trade Unions e.g. UNISON, RCN, BMA.
  • Develop appropriate methodologies to model the costs of pay systems (in-year and over multiple years) and to assess the financial and non-financial implications of making changes to these systems;
  • Create what if scenarios to examine the potential costs and benefits of potential pay policies.
  • Produce clear and concise written reports detailing analytical methodologies used, with results and conclusions.
  • Create and maintain query databases holding workforce and pay data.
  • Convert policy questions into technical specifications for data and analysis work.
  • Produce tools/guidance to support employers in understanding the financial impact of new pay systems and opportunities for benefits realisation.
  • Provide analytical support in the commissioning of surveys, data collection exercises and communication products.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Expert in Excel and Access
  • Significant relevant experience of using their analytical expertise to model complex scenarios.
  • Excellent written and oral communications skills, in particular the ability to convey the results of complex analysis and modelling to non-technical specialists, and senior management.
  • Ability to grasp complex issues quickly and to interpret them for a variety of audiences.
  • Able to proactively manage own programme of work, adjusting priorities responsively when necessary.
  • Up to date knowledge and understanding of employment relations and pay and reward issues.
  • A strong understanding of the key NHS workforce issues and how this affects delivery of NHS services.
  • Well-developed understanding and awareness of the political climate in relation to the NHS and its workforce
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Expert in Excel and Access
  • Significant relevant experience of using their analytical expertise to model complex scenarios.
  • Excellent written and oral communications skills, in particular the ability to convey the results of complex analysis and modelling to non-technical specialists, and senior management.
  • Ability to grasp complex issues quickly and to interpret them for a variety of audiences.
  • Able to proactively manage own programme of work, adjusting priorities responsively when necessary.
  • Up to date knowledge and understanding of employment relations and pay and reward issues.
  • A strong understanding of the key NHS workforce issues and how this affects delivery of NHS services.
  • Well-developed understanding and awareness of the political climate in relation to the NHS and its workforce

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Employers

Address

2

The Calls

Leeds

West Yorkshire

LS2 7JU


Employer's website

https://www.nhsemployers.org (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Employers

Address

2

The Calls

Leeds

West Yorkshire

LS2 7JU


Employer's website

https://www.nhsemployers.org (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Analytics

Robert Rowell

Robert.Rowell@nhsemployers.org

Details

Date posted

26 January 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£45,239 a year and £4000 London Weighting (if applicable)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

NHS1161732

Job locations

2

The Calls

Leeds

West Yorkshire

LS2 7JU


2nd Floor

18 Smith Square

London

Westminster

SW1P 3HZ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

NHS Employers's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)