Legislation.gov.uk is a vital resource that has transformed public access to legislation in the UK and has put the statute book into the hands of millions of people who need to read, quote or cite legislation.

The National Archives, in its capacity as the King’s Printer of Acts of Parliament, the King’s Printer for Scotland and the Government Printer for Northern Ireland, has statutory obligations to register, publish, and make available in print, legislation produced by the UK and Scottish Parliaments, the Welsh Senedd, the Northern Ireland Assembly, and the Governments of the four nations. These statutory obligations are managed by the Legislation Services team at The National Archives. We are responsible for legislation.gov.uk, the official home of enacted and revised UK legislation and the only comprehensive free-to-use source of updated UK legislation.

Open data is at the heart of our legislation services. The legislation data we curate and create is a valuable public asset, comprising document data in XML, graph-based data in RDF, and website usage data. The National Archives holds an increasing volume of rich metadata about legislation, including amendment and application data, bibliographic information as well as exhaust data from our publishing processes and website operations.

The team is committed to improving and developing this service, particularly our data offering. We are looking for a data developer to join the Legislation Services Team and grow their data skills. Your focus will be on improving the underlying legislation data, enhancing it and creating new datasets from the text of the legislation. You will also investigate how the legislation data can be organised and delivered in such a way that increases the accuracy of re-use and the ability of AI to consume the data in a meaningful way. You will be contributing to a service used by a wide range of users, including data re-users, who derive insights from legislation. These include academics and researchers, and those developing innovative products, services and applications in Law Tech.

This role would suit someone who is motivated to make important public records accessible, enjoys working in the open in a multidisciplinary agile team, and is keen to make legislation available as data, driving innovation in reuse.

You should be familiar with XML and RDF and be keen to understand the internal makeup of the legislation documents and our schemas. You should be proficient in at least one modern programming language; familiarity with cloud computing and experience of using AI and prompt engineering to process data to extract content would also be an advantage. You will have a passion for learning and developing your skills and will thrive in an environment which values and supports continuous learning.

This is a full time post. However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department.

A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site for a minimum of 60% of their work time.

SC-level Security Clearance or willingness to obtain SC clearance is mandatory for this role and requires that you have lived in the UK for the last 3 years. Please do not apply if you have not lived in the UK for the last 3 years as your application will be rejected.

How to apply:

If you are an internal applicant: please do not use the link on this page. Please apply via your employee Workday account.

If you are an external applicant: to submit your application please click the 'Apply' button on this page.

You will be asked to provide details of your work experience and write a personal statement, not exceeding 1200 words. In your personal statement please explain, using examples, how you meet the essential criteria given below. You may draw on knowledge, skills, abilities, experience gained from paid work, domestic responsibilities, education, leisure interests and voluntary activities. Please note selection for interview will largely be based on the information you provide in this section.

We understand that you might use artificial intelligence (AI) and other resources to assist with your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn’t include ideas or work that isn’t your own. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

Essential criteria:

• Data technologies: A strong understanding of data structures, common data formats (including JSON, XML and RDF) and algorithms for data manipulation and traversal. Knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript.
• ETL Processes: Excellent skills in pattern analysis with a broad knowledge and experience of relevant technologies for encoding, manipulating and structuring complex structured and unstructured text (i.e. document based) data at scale. For example, working with ETL tools, programmatic techniques in Python, Shell scripting, XSLT and Natural Language Processing tools.
• Data development: Excellent software development experience gained in a professional environment. Able to code in a modern programming language, e.g. Python, with the desire and aptitude to develop your skills in other languages. Experience of modern development approaches including Agile and Test-Driven development; source control tools such as Git.
• Problem-Solving: Demonstrates a proactive and solutions-focused approach to investigating and resolving problems. Able to understand new concepts and quickly assimilate the details of complex systems. Proactive in learning new technologies and assimilating new knowledge.
• Communication and relationships: Strong communication and relationship building skills, able to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders, support and host discussions within a multidisciplinary team, with potentially difficult dynamics, be an advocate for the team externally, and manage differing perspectives.
• Data Governance: Understanding of data governance practices, including data quality, reference and master data, data interoperability, validation and techniques to ensure integrity.
• Approach to work: Work collaboratively and in the open with exceptional accuracy and attention to detail. Demonstrable ability to prioritise tasks and deliver high quality work to agreed deadlines. A commitment to developing new skills and sharing your expertise with others.

Closing date: Wednesday 14th May at midnight