Senior Manager Data Engineer

Deka Minas (Pty) Ltd; Midrand; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading data-driven company in Midrand is seeking a Data Engineering Expert to develop a comprehensive data management strategy. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in data engineering or analytics, with strong leadership capabilities. The role involves leveraging data as a competitive differentiator and managing major projects within the financial services sector. A robust understanding of data technologies like Python, Pyspark, and SQL is essential, along with a degree in a relevant field.

Qualifications

• 10+ years working professional experience required.
• 7+ years in data engineering, analytical, or data science environments needed.
• Experience in Financial Services and Short-Term Insurance is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Create and execute a data analytics strategy as a business enabler.
• Develop and deliver a data management system within the organization.
• Lead cross-portfolio teams to evolve the data system.

Skills

Project Management

Data Engineering

IT Systems Integration

Data Protection and Processing

Data Pattern Extraction

Education

Grade 12 / SAQA Accredited Equivalent

3 year degree in IT/Sciences/Informatics/Applied Mathematics/Statistics/Data Mining

Master’s Degree in IT/Sciences/Informatics/Applied Mathematics/Statistics/Data Mining

Tools

Python

Pyspark

Spark

Databricks

SQL

SAS

Job description

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Create and execute a long-term strategy for leveraging data and analytics as a key business enabler and competitive differentiator across the business.
• Take responsibility for developing and delivering a key element of the organisation's data management system.
• Translate data and analytics strategy and vision into data architecture, defining and implementing models, rules, and standards for design and governance.
• Lead a collaborative digital product / service design process by gathering input across all product / service portfolios to define a design system that is viable and scalable, and which strengthens the brand.
• Lead a cross-portfolio, multidisciplinary team that contributes to the evolution of the system.
• Lead the review of existing operations and the implementation of innovation processes across the division or function to ensure the required continuous improvement outcomes are delivered.
• Communicate the function's strategy and its relationship to the organisation's mission, vision and values; clarify the actions needed to implement it within the area of responsibility; motivate people to commit to these and to doing extraordinary things to achieve the organisation's business goals.
• Manage and report on the performance of the function / business area; set appropriate performance objectives for direct reports and hold them accountable for achieving these; take appropriate corrective action where necessary to ensure the achievement of annual business objectives.
• Manage a portfolio of major projects in line with overall project management strategy.
• Identify and manage stakeholders up to top management level, finding out their needs / issues / concerns and reacting to these by leading and coordinating the development of stakeholder engagement plans to support the communication of business information and decisions.

SKILLS

• Operates as a recognised expert to manage projects and monitor applications using enterprise systems and tools. Typically known as a subject matter authority.
• Acts as the organisation's authority and established expert on understanding and using tools in the domain of data engineering.
• Applies expertise to act as the organisational authority on implementing, configuring and optimising IT systems and services, while ensuring smooth integration with existing IT infrastructure.
• Acts as the organisational authority and established expert on acquiring, organising, protecting and processing data to fulfil business objectives.
• Uses comprehensive knowledge and skills to work independently while providing guidance and training to others on developing, monitoring, interpreting and understanding policies and procedures, while making sure they match organisational strategies and objectives.
• Works at an advanced level to extract patterns from large amounts of data.

TECHNOLOGIES

Python., Pyspark, Spark, Databricks, SQL, SAS

EDUCATION

• Grade 12 / SAQA Accredited Equivalent (Essential);
• 3 year degree in Information Technology / Sciences / Informatics / Applied Mathematics / Statistics / Data Mining (Essential);
• Master’s Degree in Information Technology / Sciences / Informatics / Applied Mathematics / Statistics / Data Mining (Advantageous)

EXPERIENCE

• 10 or more years' working professional experience (Essential);
• 7 or more years' experience within a data engineering, analytical, data science or computer science environment (Essential);
• Experience in the Financial Services Industry and in Short-Term Insurance (Advantageous)
• 5 or more years' experience of leading teams (Essential)