Remote Sports Data Scientist

Placements24; Randburg; Remote; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Performance bonuses

Remote work

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly skilled Sports Data Scientist for a fully remote role. You will collect, analyze, and interpret complex sports data to provide actionable insights, driving performance and fan engagement.

The role emphasizes statistical modeling, ML, and collaboration with coaches and product teams. The ideal candidate has 5+ years in data science, a strong background in Python or R with ML libraries, expert SQL skills, and a passion for sports analytics.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in a quantitative field required.
• At least 5 years professional experience in data science with a focus on sports analytics.
• Proficiency in Python or R with relevant libraries.
• Strong SQL/database management experience.
• Experience with data visualization tools.
• Excellent communication and remote collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement advanced statistical models and machine learning algorithms to analyze sports data.
• Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics relevant to athlete and team performance.
• Clean, preprocess, and validate complex datasets from various sources.
• Design and conduct experiments to test hypotheses and evaluate the effectiveness of strategies.
• Create compelling data visualizations and dashboards to communicate findings to stakeholders.
• Collaborate with domain experts (coaches, scouts) to understand data needs and translate them into analytical solutions.
• Stay abreast of the latest research and advancements in data science and sports analytics.
• Contribute to the development of data-driven products and tools.
• Ensure data integrity, accuracy, and security throughout the analytical process.
• Present findings and recommendations to technical and non-technical audiences in a clear and concise manner.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication skills

Remote collaboration

Project management

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or related quantitative field

Tools

Python

R

SQL

Tableau

Power BI

Pandas

Scikit-learn

TensorFlow/PyTorch

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Sports Data Scientist to join their innovative team. This is a fully remote position, offering the chance to work from anywhere while contributing to cutting-edge sports analytics. You will be responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting complex sports data to provide actionable insights that drive performance improvements, strategic decision-making, and fan engagement. The ideal candidate possesses a strong background in statistical modeling, machine learning, and a deep passion for sports. You will collaborate with coaches, analysts, and product teams to translate data into measurable results. Our client is committed to leveraging data to revolutionize sports, and this role is critical in achieving that vision for teams and athletes across the Randburg, Gauteng region and beyond, operating in a completely remote capacity.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement advanced statistical models and machine learning algorithms to analyze sports data.
• Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics relevant to athlete and team performance.
• Clean, preprocess, and validate complex datasets from various sources.
• Design and conduct experiments to test hypotheses and evaluate the effectiveness of strategies.
• Create compelling data visualizations and dashboards to communicate findings to stakeholders.
• Collaborate with domain experts (coaches, scouts) to understand data needs and translate them into analytical solutions.
• Stay abreast of the latest research and advancements in data science and sports analytics.
• Contribute to the development of data-driven products and tools.
• Ensure data integrity, accuracy, and security throughout the analytical process.
• Present findings and recommendations to technical and non-technical audiences in a clear and concise manner.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience as a Data Scientist, with a focus on sports analytics or a similar domain.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, including relevant libraries (e.g., Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow/PyTorch).
• Strong experience with SQL and database management.
• Expertise in statistical modeling, machine learning techniques, and predictive analytics.
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Matplotlib).
• Familiarity with sports data sources and common performance metrics.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex findings clearly in a remote setting.
• Ability to work independently, manage projects, and collaborate effectively with remote teams.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, and performance-based bonuses.
• As a fully remote role, you will benefit from significant flexibility, work-life balance, and the opportunity to work from any location.
• Professional development opportunities, access to cutting-edge tools and technologies, and the chance to make a tangible impact on sports performance are provided.
• Join our client and be a pioneer in sports data science from the convenience of your home office, contributing to the future of sports analytics.