Data Scientist

Job Introduction

Salary: £55,310.87 and a London Allowance of £4,613.61 per annum

Contract Type: Fixed Term - 12 months (with the potential to be extended)

Location: Force Headquarters, 200 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 9TJ

Type of Working Arrangement: Blended approach of home and office-working is available

Hours: This is a full-time role (37 hours per week)

British Transport Police (BTP) is the national police force for the rail network throughout Great Britain. We are the ‘Guardians of the Railway,’ putting passenger safety at the heart of what we do. Our values are simply: We Care, We Do the Right Thing, We Strive to Be Better Every Day, We Are One BTP, and We Are Proud to Protect. Join us and help create an environment where we can all be our best every day.

The Opportunity:

British Transport Police have an exciting opportunity for Data Scientists to join our Analytics and Insights team. This is a key role at the centre of our data and analytics capability. You’ll act as a data science expert, using advanced analytical techniques to unlock insight, improve decision-making, and drive tangible improvements across the force. 

Working across a wide range of operational and corporate challenges, you’ll help us better understand demand, risk and vulnerability — and design innovative solutions that make a real difference to policing outcomes.

What you'll be doing:

• Leading the application of data science and advanced analytics across BTP to solve complex organisational challenges
• Developing predictive models and analytical products (e.g. demand, crime and vulnerability modelling) to support better decision-making
• Working with stakeholders across the force to translate business problems into data-driven solutions and clearly communicate insight to senior leaders
• Driving innovation by exploring new tools, techniques and data opportunities, and promoting the use of data science across the organisation

What you'll bring to the team:

• A degree in a numerate discipline (e.g. Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science or similar)
• Experience applying data science techniques such as machine learning, predictive modelling and data analysis to real-world problems
• Strong technical capability, including working with large and complex datasets and tools such as SQL, Python, R or similar
• The ability to communicate complex analytical insight clearly and influence decision-making at senior levels

What we offer:

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days after 5 years.
• Family-friendly policies, including up to 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave.
• Bespoke benefits platform and Blue Light Card access.
• Salary sacrifice options for cycles, home technology, gym membership, and electric vehicles.
• Access to the Transport Benevolent Fund for health, welfare, and financial support.
• Development opportunities, including fully funded apprenticeships.
• Excellent Pension scheme:  We offer the BTP GPP Police Staff Pension Scheme, administered by Royal London. This group personal pension plan is available to all police staff and is a defined contribution scheme. It provides the flexibility to vary your pension contributions from 4.4% to 12% of your salary. For more information, visit the Royal London dedicated pension page or email us at Pension-Queries@btp.police.uk. Note: If you are an existing member of Police Staff in the RPS, your pension will not be affected.

Further information about this vacancy can be found in the attached job description.

Vetting: Successful applicants will be required to pass Recruitment Vetting (3 years minimum UK residency required), including a full background and financial disclosure. For more information and Top Tips, please see attached document. 

Medical: We’ll ask for relevant health and medical history details to support employee wellbeing.  

References: We'll ask for references to cover the past 5 years.

Notice Period: This role is subject to a 1 month notice period.

Applications will be via an up-to-date CV and online application form, as part of this application please outline how your skills and experience demonstrate your suitability for the role.  AI can be a useful tool to spark ideas or help you organise your thoughts, but when it comes to your application, we want to hear from you, not an algorithm. What truly stands out to us are genuine stories, personal insights and the experiences that have shaped who you are. Authenticity matters - it helps us understand your motivations, your strengths and how you’ll contribute to our team. So, use AI if it helps you get started, but let your own voice lead the way.

Completed applications must be submitted by 11.59pm, 12th May 2026.

Inclusion & Diversity: 

We are committed to building a workforce where everyone feels they belong.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences. Diversity strengthens our teams, improves our services and helps us better represent and support the communities we serve.

We are proud to be an inclusive employer and strive to create a workplace that is fair, respectful and accessible to all. We actively work to challenge discrimination, remove barriers and ensure equity throughout our recruitment and employment practices.

If you need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment or selection process, please let us know - we are happy to support you. Your talent, your potential, and your unique perspective matter here. 

For more information on Inclusion or the Disability Confident Scheme, please click the links Inclusion & Diversity Disability Confident Scheme

Join Us:

Ready to take the next step in your career? At BTP, you’ll have the opportunity to grow, make a real impact, and be part of something extraordinary.

Find out why BTP could be the perfect fit for you - About Us - British Transport Police

Curious about what life at BTP is really like? Hear directly from our people and discover what makes working here so rewarding. Explore real stories on our blog: Our Stories - British Transport Police

For further information, please contact our Resourcing Team - RecruitmentTeam@btp.police.uk.