Senior Specialist - Data Scientist.Commercial Operations SA

MTN; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading telecommunications company is seeking a Senior Specialist - Data Scientist to leverage data for commercial operations in Johannesburg. Candidates should have a postgraduate degree and at least 5 years of experience in data science, strong programming skills, and abilities in machine learning and data visualization. The role involves driving innovation and providing insights across various business units.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a data science environment with supervisory experience.
• Experience working in a medium to large organization.
• Familiarity with modern Big Data platforms and Open Source Solutions.

Responsibilities

• Drive best practice, iterative improvement, and innovation.
• Lead multiple analytic project teams and translate project goals into data analytic models.
• Utilize Big Data analytics and advanced data mining techniques.

Skills

Data science

Analytical skills

Programming skills

Machine learning

Data visualization

Team management

Education

Postgraduate degree/Master's in Engineering, Computer Science, Advanced Analytics

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

UiPath

Blue Prism

Job description

Job title: Senior Specialist - Data Scientist.Commercial Operations SA

Job Location: Gauteng, Johannesburg

Deadline: November 17, 2025

Quick Recommended Links

• Jobs by Location
• Job by industries

Key Performance Areas

• Measures (KPIs for job)

Key Job Responsibilities

• Tactical Implementation
• Align all operational activities undertaken in the department to the BRIGHT strategy objectives
• Drive best practice, iterative improvement and innovation
• Provide recommendations to various business units and influences future plans based on insights
• As per business plan
• Data Modelling
• Research and develop custom data models and algorithms to apply to data sets
• Lead multiple analytic project teams by serving as the senior technical thought leader for project teams; working with various business units to translate project goals into data analytic model
• Build predictive and ML / AI models with high dimensional and dynamic data and conduct analysis through the project life cycle
• As per business plan

Data Analysis

• Utilise Big Data analytics and advanced data mining techniques to analyse data specific to AI Proposition - Personalisation
• Code, test and maintain analytical software tools to analyse AI Proposition - Personalisation data
• Identify trends, patterns and discrepancies in data and determines additional data needed to support insight specific to AI Proposition - Personalisation
• Perform analytical tasks such as text mining and sentiment analysis from mined AI Proposition - Personalisation analysisAnalyse data from company databases to drive optimisation and improvement of MTN SA’s data quality and compliance
• Provide on-going tracking and monitoring of performance of decision systems and statistical models
• Analyse data to develop data-driven insights, applying analytical results to division goals, identifying trends across MTN SA and translating results into actionable recommendations
• As per business plan

Continuous Improvement

• Develop usage and access control policies and systems in collaboration with the SM : Data Governance (Stewardship)
• Partner with the other data scientists in continuous improvement processes impacting data quality in the context of the specific use case
• Recommend ongoing improvements to methods and algorithms that lead to findings, including new information
• As per business plan

Collaboration / Coordination

• Collaborate with various stakeholders throughout the organisation to identify opportunities for leveraging company data to drive business solutions
• Collaborate with other functions across the business to ensure effectiveness of analysis conducted
• Collaborate with other functions to drive and where applicable enhance the utilisation of models, algorithms and software that help solve business problems
• As per business plan

Reporting

• Review and submit reports addressing periodic activity, budget compliance, feedback and key departmental results to facilitate decision making
• Prepare reports on operational performance and detailed reports on specific projects when required
• Communicate to business units the various predictions and findings through effective data visualisations and reports
• As per business plan

Qualifications for Internal Candidates

Job Specifications / Minimum & Preferred Requirements

• Education / Business Degree - Minimum postgraduate degree / Masters : tertiary degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Advanced Analytics, Biological Sciences or related quantitative field
• Fluent in English

Work Experience

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a data science environment coupled with supervising / managing others
• Experience working in a medium to large organisation
• Worked across diverse cultures and geographies advantages
• Training
• Data science and advanced analytics
• Programming skills
• Computer software training
• Robotic process automation solutions (UiPath, Blue Prism, NICE etc.)
• Data Visualisation (tools such as Power BI, Tableau etc.)
• Public GIT and Kaggle profiles a major plus
• Industry / Certifications
• Relevant certification / accreditation
• Any other specifications
• Attitude of Innovation, inventiveness and thought leadership
• MS Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook)
• Understanding of the MTN framework
• Worked across diverse cultures and geographies
• Knowledge of modern Big Data platforms and Open Source Solutions

Apply Before 11 / 17 / 2025

• Research / Data Analysis jobs