Remote Insurance Data Scientist

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-friendly culture

Home office stipend

Flexible hours

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Insurance Data Scientist for a fully remote role in South Africa. You will leverage large datasets, build predictive models, and contribute to pricing, risk assessment, and fraud detection across underwriting, claims, and marketing teams.

The ideal candidate has a master's or PhD in a quantitative field, 5+ years in data science within insurance or financial services, strong Python or R skills, SQL, and experience with scikit-learn, TensorFlow or PyTorch.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years hands-on data science experience in insurance or financial services.
• Proficiency in Python or R with relevant libraries (scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, pandas).
• Strong SQL skills and experience with large databases.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement advanced statistical models and ML algorithms for predicting customer behavior, fraud, pricing, and risk.
• Analyze large datasets to extract actionable insights and trends.
• Design and execute A/B tests and experiments to evaluate strategies and products.
• Collaborate with underwriting, claims, and marketing to translate business challenges into data science projects.
• Communicate findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences with visualizations.

Skills

Python

R

SQL

Statistical modeling

Machine learning

Communication

Education

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

Tools

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Pandas

Spark

Hadoop

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking global insurance firm, is looking for an exceptional **Remote** Insurance Data Scientist to join their growing data analytics division. This role is fully remote, offering the flexibility to work from anywhere within South Africa. You will be instrumental in leveraging vast datasets to uncover insights, build predictive models, and drive data-informed decision-making across the organization. This position demands a strong quantitative background, expertise in statistical modeling, machine learning, and a deep understanding of the insurance industry's complexities. You will collaborate with various teams, including underwriting, claims, and marketing, to solve challenging business problems and identify new opportunities for growth and efficiency. This is a unique opportunity for a skilled Data Scientist to apply their expertise in a cutting-edge, remote-first environment. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver with a passion for data and a proven ability to deliver tangible business value through advanced analytics. We are committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive remote work culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement advanced statistical models and machine learning algorithms to predict customer behavior, identify fraud, optimize pricing, and assess risk.
• Analyze large, complex datasets from various sources to extract actionable insights and identify trends.
• Design and execute A/B tests and other experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of new strategies and products.
• Collaborate closely with business stakeholders to understand their challenges and translate them into data science projects.
• Communicate complex findings and recommendations clearly and effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences through visualizations and presentations.
• Build and maintain robust data pipelines and models for production deployment.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and AI, particularly within the insurance domain.
• Contribute to the development of the company's data strategy and best practices.
• Mentor junior data scientists and share knowledge within the team.

Requirements

• A Master's or Ph.D. degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• A minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience as a Data Scientist, with a strong focus on the insurance or financial services industry.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and experience with relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, pandas).
• Strong experience with SQL and working with large databases.
• Solid understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, deep learning), and data mining techniques.
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage multiple projects in a remote setting.
• Must have reliable internet connectivity and a dedicated home office setup.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and annual bonus potential.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• Generous retirement savings plan with company contributions.
• Flexible working hours and a fully remote work environment.
• Significant opportunities for professional growth, training, and attending conferences.
• Home office setup stipend and ongoing tech support.
• Collaborative and supportive online team community.
• Paid time off and national holidays.
• Opportunities to work on challenging and impactful data science projects.