Lead Data Scientist - Energy Analytics

Placements24; Gqeberha; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private healthcare

Retirement annuity

Remote-friendly

International conferences

Advanced computing resources

Global impact

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead Data Scientist to lead an analytics team and drive advanced modeling initiatives from a remote base. You will mentor juniors, shape data strategy, and develop predictive models for energy datasets, market trends, and customer engagement.

The role requires 7+ years in data science, a PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field, and strong leadership and communication skills. Flexible remote work with international conference opportunities.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s in Data Science, CS, Statistics, Mathematics or related field.
• 7+ years of professional data science experience with leadership of complex projects.
• Proficiency in Python or R and ML libraries (scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• SQL and handling large databases with data pipelines.
• Energy sector data experience is highly advantageous.
• Excellent communication and leadership capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of data scientists on analytics projects.
• Develop predictive models, optimization algorithms, and data strategies.
• Oversee data collection, cleaning, and preprocessing pipelines.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate problems into data science projects.
• Present insights and recommendations with clear visualizations.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Problem solving

Data storytelling

Statistical thinking

Team collaboration

Education

PhD or Master’s in Data Science/Quantitative field

Tools

Python

R

SQL

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent force in the energy sector, is seeking an exceptional Lead Data Scientist to join their innovative analytics team based in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape . This role offers a unique opportunity to leverage advanced data science techniques to extract valuable insights from complex energy datasets. You will lead a team of data scientists, mentor junior members, and drive the development of predictive models, optimization algorithms, and data-driven strategies to enhance operational efficiency, predict market trends, and improve customer engagement. While the team is based in Port Elizabeth , this role is structured as a fully remote position, offering significant flexibility. Your expertise will be pivotal in shaping the company's data strategy and driving informed decision-making across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of data scientists in developing and deploying sophisticated analytical models and machine learning solutions for the energy industry.
• Identify opportunities to apply data science and AI to solve complex business problems related to energy generation, distribution, consumption, and market dynamics.
• Develop and implement advanced statistical models, machine learning algorithms, and deep learning techniques.
• Oversee the data collection, cleaning, and preprocessing pipelines for large, diverse datasets.
• Design and conduct experiments to test hypotheses and validate model performance.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand their needs and translate them into data science projects.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences through clear visualizations and reports.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
• Contribute to the development of the company's data strategy and foster a data-driven culture.

Requirements

• PhD or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in data science, with a proven track record of leading complex analytical projects.
• Extensive experience with programming languages such as Python or R, and relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Proficiency in SQL and experience working with large databases.
• Strong understanding of machine learning algorithms, statistical modeling, and data mining techniques.
• Experience in the energy sector, particularly with energy consumption data, grid data, or market data, is highly advantageous.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Proven leadership and team management experience.

Benefits

• A leading annual salary, up to ZAR, based on experience and expertise.
• Generous performance-based bonus structure.
• Comprehensive private healthcare coverage.
• Significant contributions to a retirement annuity fund.
• Flexible remote working arrangements, allowing you to work from anywhere.
• Opportunities for attending international conferences and professional development.
• Access to state-of-the-art computing resources and data platforms.
• Be at the forefront of data innovation in the energy sector.
• Collaborative and intellectually stimulating work environment with a global reach.