Sports Analytics Specialist

Placements24; Upington; Hybrid; ZAR 500,000 - 800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Professional development

Dynamic work environment

Job summary

Placements24 in Upington, Northern Cape is seeking a Sports Analytics Specialist to translate data into actionable insights for coaches and management. You will analyze athlete performance, build models, and create dashboards to drive strategy and development.

The role requires strong statistical software skills (R/Python, SQL) and experience with Tableau or Power BI, plus excellent communication to explain complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in a quantitative field (Statistics/Data Science/Math/CS).
• 2+ years in sports analytics or data analysis.
• Strong skills in R/Python and SQL.
• Experience with data visualization tools (Tableau/Power BI).
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Collect, clean, and organize large athlete performance datasets.
• Build statistical models and analytical frameworks to identify trends.
• Create clear data visualizations to communicate findings to coaches and management.
• Provide data-driven insights on player performance, strategy, and development.
• Collaborate with coaches to define KPIs and tracking metrics.
• Stay updated on sports analytics methodologies and tools.
• Assist in scouting reports using analytical data.
• Ensure data integrity throughout analysis processes.
• Present findings clearly in reports and presentations.
• Contribute to a data-informed culture within the organization.

Skills

Statistics

Data Science

Python

SQL

Tableau

Power BI

Machine Learning

Communication

Sports knowledge

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Statistics/Data Science/Math/CS

Tools

R

Python

SQL

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly analytical and data-driven Sports Analytics Specialist to join their performance team in Upington, Northern Cape. This role is crucial for leveraging data to enhance athlete performance, inform strategic decisions, and gain a competitive edge. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in statistical analysis, data visualization, and a deep passion for sports. You will be responsible for collecting, processing, and interpreting complex datasets to provide actionable insights to coaches and management, contributing to the success of our sporting initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Collect, clean, and organize large datasets related to athlete performance, team statistics, and game events.
• Develop and implement statistical models and analytical frameworks to identify trends and patterns.
• Create clear and compelling data visualizations (charts, dashboards) to communicate findings to stakeholders.
• Provide data-driven insights and recommendations to coaching staff on player performance, strategy, and development.
• Collaborate with coaches and technical teams to define key performance indicators (KPIs) and tracking metrics.
• Stay current with advancements in sports analytics, statistical methodologies, and data science tools.
• Assist in the development of scouting reports and talent identification processes using analytical data.
• Ensure data integrity and accuracy throughout the analysis process.
• Present findings and insights in a clear and concise manner, both verbally and in written reports.
• Contribute to a data-informed culture within the organization.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree or Master's degree in Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related quantitative field.
• Proven experience (2+ years) in sports analytics, statistical modeling, or data analysis.
• Strong proficiency in statistical software packages (e.g., R, Python with libraries like Pandas, NumPy, SciPy) and database querying (SQL).
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Matplotlib).
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
• Strong understanding of various sports and their performance metrics is essential.
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Experience with machine learning techniques is a plus.
• Familiarity with the sports landscape in Northern Cape is advantageous.

Benefits

This role offers a competitive salary, opportunities to work at the forefront of sports performance analysis, and the chance to influence key strategic decisions. Our client provides a dynamic work environment and supports professional development in the field of data analytics. Join our team in Upington and help shape the future of sports performance through data.