Lead Data Scientist (Financial Analytics)

Placements24; Upington; Presencial; ZAR 1 200 000 - 1 800 000; Tempo integral

Vantagens oferecidas por esta oferta de emprego

Health insurance

Pension plan

Training opportunities

Paid time off

Leadership projects

Collaborative environment

Resumo da oferta

Placements24 seeks a Lead Data Scientist to drive financial analytics in Upington, Northern Cape. You will lead a team of data scientists, develop advanced ML models for Banking & Finance, and collaborate with product and engineering to turn insights into business value.

You will mentor, design scalable data pipelines, ensure data quality and ethical use, and stay ahead of AI trends while delivering measurable impact.

Qualificações

• PhD or MSc in a quantitative field (Data Science, CS, Stats, Math).
• 6+ years in data science with 2+ years in leadership or lead role.
• Proven ML algorithms, statistical modeling, predictive analytics.
• Strong Python/R programming and libraries (scikit-learn, TF, Torch).
• Experience with Spark/Hadoop and SQL databases.
• Excellent data visualization skills (Tableau/Power BI).
• Analytical, problem-solving and leadership abilities.
• Experience in the financial services industry is an advantage.

Responsabilidades

• Lead the design, development and deployment of ML models for financial apps.
• Mentor a data science team and foster innovation.
• Collaborate with product, engineers, and analysts on business challenges.
• Develop predictive models for customer behavior, risk, fraud, and trends.
• Perform EDA, feature engineering and model evaluation.
• Translate analytics into clear, actionable business insights.
• Develop data-driven strategies to improve product performance and operations.
• Stay updated on ML/AI advances and ensure data quality and ethics.

Conhecimentos

PhD or MSc DS

Leadership experience

ML algorithms

Python/R

Big data (Spark/Hadoop)

Data viz tools

Strong communication

Financial services domain

Formação académica

PhD in DS

MSc in quantitative field

Ferramentas

Python

R

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Spark

SQL

Tableau

Power BI

Descrição da oferta de emprego

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking financial technology company, is seeking an accomplished Lead Data Scientist to spearhead their financial analytics initiatives in Upington, Northern Cape . This critical role involves leveraging advanced data science techniques to derive actionable insights from complex datasets, drive innovation in financial products, and enhance decision-making processes. You will lead a team of data scientists, mentor junior members, and collaborate closely with business stakeholders to translate data insights into tangible business value within the Banking & Finance domain. The position requires deep expertise in machine learning, statistical modeling, and data visualization, coupled with strong leadership and communication skills. This is a key on-site role in Upington, Northern Cape , offering a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge financial analytics in a region known for its growing potential.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of advanced data science models and machine learning algorithms for financial applications.
• Mentor and guide a team of data scientists, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning.
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and business analysts to identify key business challenges and opportunities addressable through data science.
• Develop predictive models for customer behavior, risk assessment, fraud detection, and market trends.
• Perform exploratory data analysis, feature engineering, and model evaluation.
• Translate complex analytical findings into clear, concise, and actionable insights for business stakeholders.
• Develop data-driven strategies to improve product performance, customer experience, and operational efficiency.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
• Ensure data quality, integrity, and ethical use of data.
• Present findings and recommendations to senior management and cross-functional teams.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in data science, with at least 2 years in a leadership or lead role.
• Proven expertise in machine learning algorithms, statistical modeling, and predictive analytics.
• Strong programming skills in Python or R, and proficiency with relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and SQL databases.
• Excellent data visualization skills (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Matplotlib).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking abilities.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to effectively manage projects and mentor team members.
• Experience in the financial services industry is a significant advantage.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health insurance package.
• Generous pension and provident fund contributions.
• Significant professional development and training opportunities.
• Annual leave and other paid time off benefits.
• Opportunity to lead innovative projects in financial technology.
• Work in a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment.
• Contribute to shaping the future of financial analytics from Upington, Northern Cape .