Lead Data Scientist - Predictive Analytics (Remote)

Placements24; Klerksdorp; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Home office stipend

Professional development budget

Bonuses

Healthcare coverage

retirement contributions

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Data Scientist to drive predictive analytics and mentor a distributed team. You will develop sophisticated models, handle large datasets, and communicate findings to stakeholders across business units.

This remote role emphasizes leadership, technical depth, and delivering measurable business value. You will guide projects from data exploration through deployment, leveraging Python or R, ML frameworks, and cloud platforms while fostering best practices and

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Statistics, Data Science, CS, Mathematics, Economics or related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience building and deploying predictive models.
• Proficiency in Python or R and data science libraries (Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Deep understanding of statistical modeling, ML algorithms and data mining techniques.
• Experience with SQL and large databases; familiarity with Spark/Hadoop and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP).

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development of predictive models from exploration to deployment.
• Apply advanced statistics and ML algorithms to solve business problems.
• Identify business challenges and translate into data science projects.
• Collaborate with marketing, sales and product to align needs with projects.
• Clean, transform, and prepare large datasets for analysis.
• Evaluate models, run A/B tests, and iterate for impact.
• Create visualizations and dashboards for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Mentor junior data scientists and promote best practices.
• Stay current with DS advances and document learnings.

Skills

Python

R

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Communication

Remote leadership

Education

Master's or PhD in a related field

Tools

Pandas

NumPy

Scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

SQL

Spark

Hadoop

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a forward-thinking data analytics company dedicated to empowering businesses with actionable insights through advanced statistical modeling and machine learning. We are seeking an experienced Lead Data Scientist to join our globally distributed team in a fully remote capacity. This role is central to driving our predictive analytics initiatives, developing sophisticated models, and leading projects that deliver significant business value. You will work with diverse datasets, tackle complex analytical challenges, and mentor a team of talented data scientists. As a remote-first organization, we offer the flexibility and autonomy necessary to excel in your role, regardless of your location. We are looking for a visionary leader passionate about leveraging data to solve critical business problems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end development of predictive models, from data exploration and feature engineering to model selection, training, validation, and deployment.
• Apply advanced statistical techniques and machine learning algorithms (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, time series analysis, deep learning) to solve business problems.
• Identify key business challenges and opportunities where data science can provide impactful solutions.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across different departments (e.g., marketing, sales, product) to understand their needs and translate them into data science projects.
• Clean, transform, and prepare large, complex datasets for analysis.
• Evaluate model performance, conduct A/B testing, and iterate on models to improve accuracy and business impact.
• Develop compelling visualizations and dashboards to communicate findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Mentor and guide junior data scientists, providing technical leadership and fostering best practices in data science.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and statistical modeling.
• Contribute to the team's knowledge base through documentation, presentations, and code reviews.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD in Statistics, Data Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, Economics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in data science, with a strong focus on building and deploying predictive models.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and extensive experience with data science libraries (e.g., Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Deep understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and data mining techniques.
• Experience with SQL and working with large databases.
• Familiarity with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) is a plus.
• Proven ability to translate complex business problems into data science solutions.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
• Demonstrated leadership experience and ability to mentor junior team members in a remote setting.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Fully remote work environment with flexible hours.
• Generous budget for professional development, including online courses and conferences.
• Opportunity to work on impactful projects with leading companies.
• Home office stipend and technology allowance.
• Paid time off and company holidays.
• Retirement savings plan with employer contributions.