Lead Data Scientist - Machine Learning

Placements24; Centurion; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive health benefits

Stock options or equity package

Leading-edge technology access

Leadership opportunities

Executive bonus structure

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a visionary Lead Data Scientist to drive advanced analytics and ML initiatives in Centurion. You will lead a talented team, guiding development and deployment of predictive models that solve complex business challenges and create data-driven value across the organization.

The role requires an established leader with deep ML knowledge, hands-on experience, and a passion for translating data insights into strategic business decisions.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, or related field.
• 8+ years of data science and ML experience with leadership track record.
• Expertise in ML algorithms (regression, classification, clustering, DL) and statistical modeling.
• Proficient in Python or R and ML libraries (TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn).
• Strong experience with big data technologies such as Spark and Hadoop.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of data scientists, analysts, and engineers in ML development.
• Define and execute the data science strategy across the business.
• Design, build, and validate ML models for prediction, classification, optimization tasks.
• Oversee end-to-end ML project lifecycle from data prep to deployment and monitoring.
• Communicate findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Stay updated on AI/ML/big data advances and drive adoption where appropriate.

Skills

Team leadership

Mentoring

Stakeholder communication

Data storytelling

Education

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

Tools

Python

R

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

Spark

Hadoop

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a visionary Lead Data Scientist to spearhead their advanced analytics and machine learning initiatives in Centurion . You will lead a talented team, guiding the development and deployment of sophisticated predictive models and data-driven strategies that solve complex business challenges. This is a pivotal role for an experienced data scientist who possesses strong leadership qualities, a deep understanding of ML algorithms, and a passion for translating data insights into tangible business value, fostering innovation within a data-centric culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of data scientists, analysts, and engineers in developing and deploying ML models.
• Define and execute the data science strategy , identifying opportunities for ML application across the business.
• Design, build, and validate complex machine learning models for prediction, classification, and optimization tasks.
• Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of ML projects, from data collection and preprocessing to model deployment and monitoring.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in AI, ML, and big data technologies, and drive their adoption where appropriate.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
• 8+ years of experience in data science and machine learning, with a proven track record of leading projects and teams.
• Expertise in various ML algorithms (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, deep learning) and statistical modeling techniques.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R , and experience with ML libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn).
• Strong experience with big data technologies and platforms (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence decision-making.

Benefits

• Highly competitive executive-level salary and bonus structure.
• Executive health, dental, and vision benefits.
• Significant stock options or equity package.
• Access to cutting-edge technology and research resources.
• Leadership opportunities and the chance to shape the future of data science within the company in Centurion .