SENIOR DATA SCIENTIST

Bestmed Medical Scheme; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

23 days annual leave

8 hours workday with 30-minute lunch

Life cover

Disability benefits

Funeral cover

Pension fund

Medical aid

Training opportunities

On-site gym

Wellness programme

Job summary

Bestmed Gauteng is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to lead the design, development, validation and ongoing performance of complex analytical solutions that strengthen member value and Scheme sustainability.

The role requires translating business problems into analytical approaches, providing technical leadership, governance and coaching while coordinating with IT and executives to drive measurable improvements.

Qualifications

• Grade 12.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex analytical requests, assessing feasibility, data readiness, materiality and value; agree methods and success measures, coordinate delivery and advise executives on priorities and capacity.
• Lead Benefit Intelligence, risk adjustment, provider and population analytics, and intervention evaluations, ensuring robust baselines, confounding assessment and clear communication of uncertainty.
• Deliver operational, FWA, retention and executive analytics, including scenario modelling, opportunity assessments, decision triggers and evaluation of recommendation outcomes.
• Define analytical data requirements, shared measures and reusable datasets; establish data quality, lineage, monitoring, release and incident management standards aligned with IT architecture and security.
• Establish model and AI governance, validation and review standards; assess stability, bias, explainability and risks, ensuring appropriate approvals and human oversight.
• Mentor data scientists and interns, support succession planning, lead research initiatives and knowledge transfer, and develop reusable analytical assets while respecting intellectual property and licensing.
• Lead complex analytical workstreams through the Helpdesk operating model, manage dependencies and risks, drive adoption and automation, and measure realised value and improvements in member and provider experience.

Education

Grade 12

A relevant degree in Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Actuarial Science or a related quantitative field

Minimum 4 years' relevant experience in a data science role or a closely related environment

Job description

Bestmed Gauteng has an opportunity available for a Senior Data Scientist position in the Actuarial and Data Science Department.

Job purpose:

The Senior Data Scientist leads the design, development, validation and ongoing performance of complex analytical solutions that strengthen member value, healthcare intelligence and Scheme sustainability. The role translates ambiguous business problems into proportionate analytical approaches and provides hands-on technical leadership across priority data-science work. The role provides technical assurance, reusable methods and coaching that improve the quality and reliability of the Department's analytical capability. It coordinates complex delivery with business owners, the Actuarial Specialist and IT, and helps Bestmed adopt data science and AI through controlled, measurable implementation.

The successful candidate should have:

• Grade 12
• A relevant degree in Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Actuarial Science or a related quantitative field
• Minimum 4 years' relevant experience in a data science role or a closely related environment

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead complex analytical requests, assessing feasibility, data readiness, materiality and value; agree methods and success measures, coordinate delivery and advise executives on priorities and capacity.
• Lead Benefit Intelligence, risk adjustment, provider and population analytics, and intervention evaluations, ensuring robust baselines, confounding assessment and clear communication of uncertainty.
• Deliver operational, FWA, retention and executive analytics, including scenario modelling, opportunity assessments, decision triggers and evaluation of recommendation outcomes.
• Define analytical data requirements, shared measures and reusable datasets; establish data quality, lineage, monitoring, release and incident management standards aligned with IT architecture and security.
• Establish model and AI governance, validation and review standards; assess stability, bias, explainability and risks, ensuring appropriate approvals and human oversight.
• Mentor data scientists and interns, support succession planning, lead research initiatives and knowledge transfer, and develop reusable analytical assets while respecting intellectual property and licensing.
• Lead complex analytical workstreams through the Helpdesk operating model, manage dependencies and risks, drive adoption and automation, and measure realised value and improvements in member and provider experience.

Bestmed is a non-profit, mutual, self-administered medical scheme registered with the Council for Medical Schemes. We have been providing healthcare to the lives of South Africans for over 60 years. We are the largest self-administered scheme and the fourth largest open medical scheme in South Africa.

Bestmed offers an exceptional benefit programme and competitive packages, including:

• 23 days annual leave
• a workday of only 8 hours, including a 30 minute lunch break.
• Permanent employees have the options under our corporate umbrella fund, which includes life cover, disability benefits, funeral cover and pension fund.
• Permanent employees also have access to medical aid.
• Access to training and development opportunities are plentiful.
• Office benefits include, free Wi-Fi, an on-site gym, and a wellness programme.

We are committed to ensuring that all employees have opportunities for professional development, as well as fair compensation and employee benefits. We are also committed to ensuring a pleasant and mutual work environment, where innovation is welcomed and encouraged. As such, we reinforce a culture of zero tolerance towards any forms of inappropriate behaviour, abuse (including abuse of power, privilege or trust), harassment, or exploitation of any kind to safeguard our members, employees and partners. All employees are required to share in this commitment through our Code of Conduct.

Bestmed is an equal opportunity, disability-confident employer and we are committed to achieving the highest standards of diversity, fairness and equality. We conduct the most appropriate pre-employment assessments and verification checks to ensure that high standards are maintained.

Bestmed reserves the right to schedule and cancel assessments and interviews. Bestmed also reserves the right not to make a placement.

If you are willing to lead the way, go the extra mile, do the right thing, be upbeat and play for the team...you may be the perfect candidate to join a journey that is Personally Yours with Bestmed!