Insurance Data Scientist

Placements24; LegKraal Gate; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus opportunities

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Professional development

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Placements24 partners with a leading insurance tech company in Mahikeng, North West, seeking an Insurance Data Scientist to leverage large datasets, build predictive models, and drive data-driven decisions across underwriting, pricing, claims and customer segmentation.

You will apply advanced statistics, machine learning, and data visualization, collaborating with stakeholders to deliver actionable insights while contributing to data infrastructure in a hybrid work setting.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in a quantitative field such as Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science or Mathematics.
• Minimum 4 years of experience as a Data Scientist, preferably in insurance or financial services.
• Proficiency in Python or R and data science libraries; strong SQL and comfort with large datasets.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement advanced statistical models and ML algorithms to predict insurance risks, behavior, and fraud.
• Analyze large, complex datasets to identify trends and actionable insights.
• Design and run experiments (A/B tests) to evaluate data-driven initiatives.
• Collaborate with underwriting, claims, marketing, and other stakeholders to deliver relevant solutions.
• Clean, transform, and prepare data for analysis; build visuals to communicate findings.

Skills

Python

R

SQL

Data Visualization

Machine Learning

Statistical Modeling

Cloud Platforms

Education

Master's or PhD in Data Science/Statistics/CS/Math

Tools

Tableau/Power BI

scikit-learn/TensorFlow/PyTorch

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leader in the insurance technology space, is seeking a highly analytical and innovative Insurance Data Scientist to join their growing team in Mahikeng, North West . This role is crucial for leveraging vast datasets to uncover insights, build predictive models, and drive data-driven decision-making across various functions, including underwriting, pricing, claims, and customer segmentation. The ideal candidate will possess advanced skills in statistical modeling, machine learning, data mining, and programming. This is an exceptional opportunity for a data enthusiast to apply cutting-edge techniques to solve complex challenges within the insurance industry and contribute to innovation in the North West region.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and implement advanced statistical models and machine learning algorithms to predict insurance risks, customer behavior, and fraud. Analyze large, complex datasets to identify trends, patterns, and actionable insights. Design and conduct A/B tests and other experiments to evaluate the impact of data-driven initiatives. Collaborate with business stakeholders (e.g., underwriting, claims, marketing) to understand their data needs and deliver relevant solutions. Clean, transform, and prepare data for analysis using various data manipulation techniques. Build data visualizations and dashboards to communicate findings effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences. Stay abreast of the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Contribute to the development of data infrastructure and best practices within the organization. Ensure data quality and integrity throughout the analytical process. Document methodologies, findings, and code for reproducibility and knowledge sharing.

Requirements

A Master's degree or Ph.D. in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field. A minimum of 4 years of experience as a Data Scientist, with a focus on insurance or financial services preferred. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and associated data science libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch). Strong experience with SQL and working with large databases. Expertise in statistical modeling, machine learning techniques (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, deep learning), and experimental design. Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI). Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to diverse audiences. Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) is a plus. Based in or willing to work from Mahikeng, North West .

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive salary, attractive bonus opportunities, a comprehensive benefits package including medical aid and retirement fund, and significant investment in professional development and training. This role utilizes a hybrid work model, offering flexibility. You will be working with a passionate