Lead Data Scientist

Placements24; Mbombela (Nelspruit); Hybrid; ZAR 1,500,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and bonuses

Lead data science function

Hybrid work model

Health and retirement benefits

Advanced tools access

Job summary

Placements24 in Mbombela (Nelspruit) is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to guide data analytics initiatives, develop ML models, and mentor a team. You will drive data-driven decisions to improve business performance and customer experience in a hybrid work environment.

The role requires an advanced degree in a quantitative field, 7+ years of data science leadership, and strong Python/R with expertise in ML libraries, SQL, and big data tools such as Spark/Hadoop.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a quantitative field (Master's or PhD).
• 7+ years of data science experience with leadership.
• Proficient in Python or R and ML libraries.
• Strong SQL and big data tech experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and deployment of ML models and data-driven solutions.
• Analyze complex datasets to identify patterns, trends, and opportunities for business growth.
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists, fostering their technical and analytical development.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to translate needs into data science projects.
• Develop and implement strategies for data collection, cleaning, and feature engineering.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Skills

Leadership

Data science

Machine learning

Python

R

SQL

Big data

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Master's or PhD in quantitative field

Tools

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Spark

Hadoop

Job description

About the Role Our client is seeking a highly skilled and innovative Lead Data Scientist to guide their data analytics initiatives in Nelspruit . This leadership role involves developing and implementing advanced machine learning models, driving data-driven decision-making, and mentoring a team of data scientists. You will work on challenging projects involving large datasets, focusing on extracting actionable insights to improve business performance, customer experience, and operational efficiency. This position offers a fantastic opportunity to influence the data strategy of a forward-thinking organization and foster a culture of data excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of machine learning models and data-driven solutions.
• Analyze complex datasets to identify patterns, trends, and opportunities for business growth.
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists, fostering their technical and analytical development.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand their needs and translate them into data science projects.
• Develop and implement strategies for data collection, cleaning, and feature engineering.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in data science, with a proven track record of leading projects.
• Expertise in machine learning algorithms, statistical modeling, and data mining techniques.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Strong experience with SQL and big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Opportunity to lead and shape the data science function within a growing company.
• Hybrid work model providing flexibility and balance.
• Comprehensive health and retirement benefits.
• Access to advanced tools and technologies for data analysis and model development.