Lead Data Scientist - Remote Mineral Resource Analysis

Placements24; Siyancuma Local Municipality; Hybrid; ZAR 2,400,000 - 4,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Stock options

Home office allowance

Learning opportunities

Health insurance

Job summary

Placements24 in South Africa invites a Lead Data Scientist to head remote mineral resource analysis. You will lead a distributed data team, develop predictive models for resource estimation and mine planning, and collaborate with geologists, engineers, and geophysicists to translate data into actionable insights for exploration and operations.

Requirements include a PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field, 8+ years in data science with mining or geoscience experience, expertise in ML and

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field is required.
• 8+ years of data science experience, preferably in mining/geoscience.
• Fluent in ML, statistics and big data methods.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement ML models for mineral prospectivity, resource estimation, and operational performance predictions.
• Lead a remote team of data scientists and analysts with mentorship and project management.
• Collaborate with geologists, engineers and geophysicists to define data requirements and analytics objectives.
• Design and manage data pipelines ensuring data quality, integrity and accessibility for analysis.
• Communicate complex findings with clear visuals and reports to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Stay at the forefront of data science techniques and tools relevant to mining.

Skills

Advanced ML

Statistical modeling

Geoscience data

Python

R

Data visualization

Leadership

Remote collaboration

Education

PhD in Data Science

Masters in Geostatistics/Statistics

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for an innovative and experienced Lead Data Scientist to spearhead their remote mineral resource analysis efforts. In this critical role, you will leverage advanced machine learning, statistical modeling, and big data technologies to extract actionable insights from vast geological, geophysical, and operational datasets. You will lead a distributed team of data scientists and analysts, guiding the development of predictive models to enhance resource exploration, estimation, and mine planning. This is an exceptional opportunity to drive data-driven decision-making in the mining sector from a fully remote setting, shaping the future of resource discovery and optimization. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of data science principles and a passion for applying them to complex geological challenges.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement advanced statistical and machine learning models for mineral prospectivity mapping, resource estimation, and operational performance prediction.
• Lead a remote team of data scientists, providing technical guidance, mentorship, and project management.
• Collaborate with geologists, engineers, and geophysicists to define data requirements and analytical objectives.
• Design and manage data pipelines, ensuring data quality, integrity, and accessibility for analytical purposes.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders through compelling visualizations and reports.
• Stay at the forefront of data science techniques and technologies, evaluating and implementing new tools and methodologies relevant to the mining industry.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Geostatistics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 8 years of professional experience in data science, with a significant portion focused on applying these skills to geological or mining data.
• Proven expertise in machine learning algorithms, statistical modeling, and data mining techniques.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with big data platforms (e.g., "Spark, Hadoop").
• Strong experience with data visualization tools and techniques.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, with a demonstrated ability to work effectively in a remote, collaborative environment.

Benefits

• Highly competitive executive salary and substantial performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive global health insurance and wellness programs.
• Significant stock options and long-term incentive plans.
• Flexible and fully remote working environment with a generous home office setup allowance.
• Opportunities for continuous learning, attending leading industry conferences, and career advancement.