Lead Data Scientist

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus potential

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Professional development

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Data Scientist in East London, Eastern Cape, to spearhead ML initiatives and analytics initiatives within a forward-thinking financial analytics environment.

You will mentor a team of data scientists, design scalable data pipelines, and collaborate with product, engineering, and marketing to drive data-driven decisions and strategic insights. A hybrid work arrangement balances in-office collaboration with remote flexibility.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of professional experience in data science or related analytics, with at least 2 years in leadership.
• Proficiency in Python or R and libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, pandas).
• Strong SQL skills and experience with large datasets.
• Solid knowledge of ML algorithms, statistical modeling, and experimental design.
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and deployment of ML models and analyses to solve complex business problems.
• Design and implement data pipelines for extraction, transformation, and feature engineering.
• Mentor junior data scientists and guide a cross-functional team.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate data needs into analytical solutions.
• Develop dashboards and visualizations to communicate insights and model performance.
• Identify new data sources and approaches to enhance business intelligence.
• Ensure scalability, reliability, and reproducibility of data science solutions.
• Keep up-to-date with advances in data science and AI.
• Contribute to strategic direction of analytics initiatives.

Skills

Python

R

Machine Learning

SQL

Data Visualization

Leadership

Education

Master's/PhD in quantitative field

Tools

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

pandas

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking financial analytics firm, is seeking a highly skilled Lead Data Scientist to join their innovative team in East London, Eastern Cape . This leadership role involves designing and implementing advanced data science solutions to extract actionable insights from complex datasets, driving strategic decision-making and product development. You will mentor a team of data scientists, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and contribute to cutting-edge analytical projects. This position offers a Hybrid work arrangement, balancing the benefits of in-office collaboration with the flexibility of remote work. We are looking for a visionary leader with a deep understanding of machine learning, statistical modeling, and data visualization in the context of financial services.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and deployment of machine learning models and statistical analyses to solve complex business problems.
• Design and implement data pipelines for data extraction, transformation, and feature engineering.
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists, fostering a collaborative and innovative team environment.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across departments (e.g., product, engineering, marketing) to understand data needs and translate them into analytical solutions.
• Develop and maintain dashboards and visualizations to communicate key insights and model performance.
• Identify new data sources and analytical methodologies to enhance business intelligence.
• Ensure the scalability, reliability, and reproducibility of data science solutions.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of data analytics and data science initiatives within the company.
• Communicate complex findings clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 6 years of professional experience in data science, machine learning, or a related analytical role, with at least 2 years in a leadership or mentorship capacity.
• Expert proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, pandas).
• Strong experience with SQL and working with large, complex datasets.
• Solid understanding of machine learning algorithms, statistical modeling, and experimental design.
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Matplotlib).
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Proven ability to lead projects and mentor junior team members.
• Experience in the financial services or fintech industry is highly desirable.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonus structure.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement savings plan with company matching.
• Exceptional opportunities for professional development, attending conferences, and further education.
• Opportunity to lead impactful data science projects and shape business strategy.
• Hybrid work model providing flexibility and work-life balance.
• Collaborative and innovative work environment in East London .
• Access to advanced analytics platforms and big data technologies.
• Annual performance reviews and clear career advancement pathways.
• Employee assistance program and wellness resources.