Lead Data Scientist - Insurance Analytics

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health benefits

Pension plan

Remote-first

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Lead Data Scientist in Cape Town to spearhead advanced analytics and guide a team of data scientists. You will transform raw data into strategic insights for product development, underwriting, and customer engagement in a vibrant insurance market.

The role emphasizes leading ML initiatives, building robust data pipelines, and driving data-driven decisions with stakeholders across the business.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
• 7+ years of professional experience in data science, with at least 2 years in a leadership or senior role.
• Proven track record of deploying machine learning models in production, preferably in financial services or insurance.
• Expertise in Python or R and libraries such as scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas.
• Strong understanding of SQL/NoSQL and big data platforms (Spark, Hadoop).
• Cloud platform experience (AWS, Azure, GCP) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of data scientists and analysts from concept to deployment.
• Develop and implement advanced ML models for predictive analytics, fraud detection, segmentation, and risk assessment in insurance.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify data-driven opportunities improving efficiency and profitability.
• Design data pipelines and analytical frameworks to support R&D.
• Communicate complex findings to non-technical audiences with visualizations and presentations.
• Stay updated with data science, ML, and AI advances and assess applicability to insurance.

Skills

Leadership

Data science

ML engineering

Communication

Stakeholder mgmt

Education

Master's or PhD in CS/Stats/Data Science

Tools

Python

R

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Pandas

SQL

NoSQL

Spark

Hadoop

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent player in the Cape Town insurance market, is actively seeking an experienced Lead Data Scientist to spearhead their advanced analytics initiatives. This role is crucial for leveraging complex datasets to derive actionable insights, driving innovation in product development, underwriting, and customer engagement strategies. As the Lead Data Scientist, you will guide a team of talented analysts and scientists, fostering a data-driven culture and shaping the future of our client's technological landscape. The position offers a unique opportunity to work with cutting‑edge technologies and tackle challenging problems in a vibrant city like Cape Town. You will play a key role in transforming raw data into strategic business intelligence, impacting key decisions and long‑term growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of data scientists and analysts, overseeing project execution from conception to deployment.
• Develop and implement advanced machine learning models and statistical techniques for predictive analytics, fraud detection, customer segmentation, and risk assessment within the insurance domain.
• Collaborate closely with business stakeholders to identify key opportunities for data-driven solutions that enhance operational efficiency and profitability.
• Design and build robust data pipelines and analytical frameworks to support ongoing research and development.
• Communicate complex findings and insights to non-technical audiences through compelling visualizations and presentations.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and AI, and evaluate their applicability to the insurance industry.
• Contribute to the strategic roadmap for data and analytics within the organization.
• Ensure the ethical and responsible use of data in all analytical endeavors.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
• A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in data science, with at least 2 years in a leadership or senior role.
• Proven track record of successfully deploying machine learning models in a production environment, preferably within the financial services or insurance sector.
• Expertise in programming languages such as Python or R, and proficiency with relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas).
• Strong understanding of database technologies (SQL, NoSQL) and big data platforms (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).
• Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically and creatively.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) is a plus.

Benefits

• This role offers a highly competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, a generous pension fund, and opportunities for professional growth and development.
• As a remote-first position, you will enjoy the flexibility of working from anywhere, with support for home office setup.
• Our client values work-life balance and encourages continuous learning, providing access to conferences and training programs.

Join a forward-thinking company that is at the forefront of innovation in Cape Town's thriving tech and finance ecosystem.