Remote Senior Data Scientist - Clinical Trials Analysis

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

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Generous pension scheme

Performance-based bonuses

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Data Scientist to join a remote-first team focused on clinical trial analytics in South Africa. The role emphasizes transforming complex trial data into actionable insights, with collaboration across statisticians, clinicians, and researchers from a home office.

The ideal candidate holds a PhD or MSc in a quantitative field, has 6+ years in data science within pharma/healthcare, and is proficient in Python, R, SQL, and ML.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s in a quantitative field.
• ≥6 years of professional data science experience in pharma/healthcare with clinical trial data.
• Expertise in statistical modeling and ML techniques.
• Proficiency in Python and R; SQL and database management.
• Strong communication and ability to work remotely.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement statistical models and ML algorithms for clinical trial data analysis.
• Perform exploratory data analysis to identify trends, patterns, and biases in large datasets.
• Collaborate with clinical operations and biostatistics teams to define analytical objectives and data requirements.
• Develop data visualizations and dashboards to communicate findings to non-technical stakeholders.
• Ensure integrity, accuracy, and reproducibility of analyses.
• Contribute to data management plans and SAPs.
• Stay updated with advances in data science and pharma applications.
• Mentor junior data scientists and share knowledge.
• Present findings and recommendations to project teams and senior management.
• Contribute to data governance policies and best practices.

Skills

Python

R

Statistical Modeling

Machine Learning

Deep Learning

SQL

Clinical Trial Data

Communication

Education

PhD or Master’s in Data Science/Statistics/CS/Bioinformatics

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

pandas

scikit-learn

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a forward-thinking pharmaceutical innovator, is seeking a highly experienced Senior Data Scientist to join their expanding, remote-first team. This position is crucial for leveraging advanced analytics to derive meaningful insights from complex clinical trial data. You will play a key role in transforming raw data into actionable intelligence that informs critical decision-making in drug development. This role is entirely remote, offering unparalleled flexibility and the opportunity to work from anywhere within South Africa. You will collaborate with global teams of statisticians, clinicians, and researchers, contributing to the advancement of life-saving therapies. We are looking for individuals who are passionate about data, possess strong statistical and machine learning skills, and thrive in a virtual collaborative environment. This is a chance to shape the future of pharmaceutical research from the comfort of your home office.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement statistical models and machine learning algorithms for clinical trial data analysis.
• Perform exploratory data analysis to identify trends, patterns, and potential biases in large datasets.
• Collaborate with clinical operations and biostatistics teams to define analytical objectives and data requirements.
• Develop data visualizations and dashboards to communicate complex findings to non-technical stakeholders.
• Ensure the integrity, accuracy, and reproducibility of all data analyses.
• Contribute to the development of data management plans and statistical analysis plans (SAPs).
• Stay updated with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and their applications in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to knowledge sharing within the team.
• Present findings and recommendations to project teams and senior management.
• Contribute to the development of data governance policies and best practices.

Requirements

• PhD or Master`s degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Bioinformatics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 6 years of professional experience in data science, with a significant portion in the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry, specifically with clinical trial data.
• Expertise in statistical modeling, machine learning techniques (e.g., regression, classification, clustering, deep learning), and predictive analytics.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python (with libraries like pandas, scikit-learn, TensorFlow/PyTorch) and R.
• Experience with SQL and database management.
• Familiarity with clinical trial phases, endpoints, and regulatory considerations (e.g., FDA, EMA).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to work independently and manage multiple projects in a remote setting.

Benefits

Our client provides a highly competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including private medical insurance, a generous pension scheme, and performance-based bonuses.

• private medical insurance
• a generous pension scheme
• performance-based bonuses

Opportunities for continuous learning and professional development are actively supported through online courses, certifications, and virtual conferences.

Our client fosters a strong virtual team culture with regular online engagement and team-building activities.

Enjoy the freedom to work from any location in South Africa while contributing to groundbreaking pharmaceutical research.

We offer a supportive and inclusive environment where innovation is encouraged, and your contributions are highly valued.