Senior Data Scientist - Insurance Analytics

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 1,482,000 - 2,470,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote

Competitive salary

Medical and dental coverage

Retirement plan

Professional development budget

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to lead advanced analytics for insurance applications in a fully remote role. You will design, implement, and deploy predictive models, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and mentor junior data scientists in a global, remote-first environment.

The role emphasizes statistics, ML, and data-driven decision making, with opportunities for professional development and impact on pricing, segmentation, and fraud detection.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in a quantitative field with 5+ years of data science experience in insurance/finance.
• Proficient in Python or R with scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Pandas.
• Strong SQL skills and experience with large-scale databases and data warehousing.

Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and deploy predictive models for insurance applications.
• Analyze large datasets to extract actionable insights and trends.
• Design and run A/B tests to evaluate model performance.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define analytical problems and deliver data-driven solutions.
• Present findings to senior leadership and mentor junior data scientists.

Skills

Python

R programming

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Pandas

SQL

Big data

Experiment design

Education

Master's or PhD in CS/Stats/Math/Data Science

Tools

Spark

Hadoop

Data warehousing

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading global insurance provider, is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Data Scientist to join their innovative analytics team. This position is entirely remote and focuses on leveraging advanced data analytics, machine learning, and statistical modeling to drive strategic insights and solutions within the insurance domain. The Senior Data Scientist will be responsible for designing and implementing sophisticated analytical models to address complex business challenges, optimize pricing, enhance customer segmentation, and improve fraud detection. This role is perfect for an individual passionate about data and eager to work in a remote-first, collaborative international environment, contributing significantly to the company's data-driven strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and deploy advanced predictive models and machine learning algorithms for insurance applications (e.g., risk assessment, customer churn, fraud detection).
• Analyze large, complex datasets to extract actionable insights and identify key business trends.
• Design and execute A/B tests and other experiments to evaluate model performance and business impact.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders, product managers, and engineers to define analytical problems and implement data-driven solutions.
• Translate complex analytical findings into clear, concise, and actionable recommendations for non-technical audiences.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
• Mentor junior data scientists and contribute to building a strong data science community within the organization.
• Develop and maintain robust data pipelines and analytical infrastructure.
• Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of data analytics and data science initiatives.

Requirements

• A Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience as a Data Scientist, with a strong focus on insurance or financial services.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python or R, and extensive experience with relevant libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Pandas).
• Expertise in SQL and experience working with large-scale databases and data warehousing solutions.
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, machine learning algorithms, and experimental design.
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to approach complex challenges systematically.
• Superb communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fully remote setting.
• Demonstrated experience in delivering impactful data science projects.

Benefits

• This is a fully remote position offering exceptional flexibility and the ability to work from anywhere.
• Our client provides a highly competitive salary, significant bonus opportunities.
• A comprehensive benefits package, including top-tier medical and dental coverage, and a robust retirement savings plan.
• Professional development is a priority, with budgets for training, conferences, and certifications.
• Join a cutting-edge analytics team within a leading insurance company, contributing to impactful projects in a supportive, remote-first culture.