Actuarial Business Analyst

Badger Holdings (Pty) Ltd; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance analytics company based in the Western Cape is seeking an experienced Actuarial Business Analyst – Data Science and Machine Learning Lead. The successful candidate will lead a team of Data Scientists to develop impactful machine learning models. This role requires a strong background in actuarial science, with 7+ years in the insurance sector. You'll bridge technical expertise and business insights to ensure operational teams effectively adopt models. Engage with stakeholders, manage team dynamics, and contribute to innovative analytics solutions.

Qualifications

• 7+ years’ experience in insurance or financial services, especially short‑term insurance.
• Proven track record in building statistical/machine learning models.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage, mentor, and grow a team of Data Scientists.
• Oversee creation, testing, and deployment of machine learning models.
• Be the liaison between data science and decision makers.

Skills

Statistical/machine learning model building

Stakeholder engagement

Team leadership in Data Science

Communication of analytics

Education

Degree or Honours in Actuarial Science

Tools

Power BI

Qlik Sense

Tableau

Python

R

SQL

Snowflake

Job description

Remuneration: market-related

Location: Western Cape

Job level: Senior

Type: Permanent

Reference: #BH-391

Company: Badger Holdings

Actuarial Business Analyst – Data Science and Machine Learning Lead

George, Western Cape | Badger Holdings SA

At Badger Holdings, we don’t just crunch numbers, we turn them into business game‑changers. We’re on the hunt for an Actuarial Business Analyst who can lead a team of Data Scientists to build machine learning models that move the needle. You’ll be the translator, the strategist, and the impact‑driver, making sure every model delivers measurable value and is understood from boardroom to operations floor. If you can bridge deep technical expertise with commercial impact and lead a high‑performance analytics team, this is your seat at the table.

What You’ll Do

• Manage, mentor, and grow a team of Data Scientists into a powerhouse of delivery.

Design and deliver

• Oversee the creation, testing, and deployment of machine learning models that solve real business problems.
• Measure, quantify, and communicate the commercial impact of analytics solutions.
• Keep models relevant, accurate, and laser‑focused on business goals.

Bridge Tech and business

• Be the go‑to liaison between data science and decision‑makers.
• Translate complex analytics into plain, actionable English.
• Ensure operational teams adopt and use model outputs effectively.

Drive excellence

• Gather, refine, and document requirements for analytics projects.
• Push for best practices, smarter modelling approaches, and continuous process improvement.

Essential – What You’ll Need to Bring

• Degree or Honours in Actuarial Science.
• 7+ years’ experience in insurance or financial services (short‑term insurance? Even better).
• Proven track record in building statistical/machine learning models.
• Skill in turning model outputs into business gold.
• Leadership experience in Data Science, Analytics, or Actuarial teams.
• Experience with claims modelling & survival analysis in insurance.
• BI tool mastery (Power BI, Qlik Sense, Tableau, etc.).
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication skills.

Preferred

• Hands‑on skills in Python, R, SQL, and cloud platforms like Snowflake.
• Experience shaping both technical and business requirements.
• Strong grasp of data‑driven decision frameworks.

Why Badger?

We’re bold. We’re fast. We’re building the future of insurance analytics and you’ll be at the centre of it. Here, your models won’t gather dust in a slide deck. They’ll shape strategy, impact the bottom line, and change how we work.

Ready to lead the charge? Apply now and turn data into decisive action.

The position will be filled in line with Badger Holdings’ culture, values, and Employment Equity policy. Preference will be given to candidates from under‑represented designated groups.

Posted on 20 Jan 11:24 – Closing date 18 Feb