Data Science Specialist (Hybrid)
IT – Analyst, Data Management
Johannesburg – Gauteng
ENVIRONMENT:
A national coalition of NGOs and partners seeks a Data Science Specialist to drive success by enabling informed decision-making through effective communication of prioritized data-driven analyses. This includes generating insights such as child-by-venue-modality figures, disaggregated by socio-economic factors. The role requires leading complex data projects collaboratively, leveraging expertise in quantitative analytics, statistical analyses, modeling, machine learning algorithms, and data visualization. Minimum qualifications include a master’s degree or higher in data science, statistics, computer science, or related fields, with at least 5 years of experience in a data science role, including 2 years in a senior position.
DUTIES:
Designing and Managing Data Projects collaboratively in service of strategy and operations
- Co-conceptualise, prioritise, design, plan and adaptively manage data projects
- Proactively and collaboratively identifying opportunities and/or improvements involving data
- Co-developing and pursuing strategies and tactics to acquire, clean, analyse and interpret data (together with other functional teams)
- Translating and communicating, as well as enabling & participating in conversations about sophisticated data concepts into appropriately accessible language
Conducting & Sustaining High-Quality Data Analyses, Analytics, Modelling, and Algorithms
- Conducting exploratory data analyses to identify patterns, relationships, and anomalies etc.
- Developing, validating, and maintaining advanced data models (incl. predictive models) and algorithms
- Using analyses and models to Find and/or identify and/or generate and/or test assumptions and inferences
- Ask and answer questions
- Yield insights and enable learning
- Using machine learning for predictive modeling, classification, and clustering
Performing & Developing Professionally
- Delivering consistently high quality and proactive service .
- Delivering an affordable and sustainable set of solutions and/or projects on time Estimating work accurately.
- Ensuring code and delivery meet quality assurance standards for accuracy and performance.
- Staying up to date with industry and/or other relevant practices, developments, and trends .
- Identifying and completing relevant, valuable training and/or certifications as agreed.
REQUIREMENTS:
Qualifications and Experience
- Min. master’s degree or higher qualification in data science, statistics, computer science, or a related field
- Min. 5 years’ experience in a data science role, incl. min. 2 years in a senior position
- Track record of successfully managing and delivering data-driven projects
- Advantageous: fluency in an African language
Technical Knowledge & Understanding and/or Skills & Abilities
- Excellence in quantitative analytics, statistical analyses, modelling (incl. forecasting & predictive analytics), multivariate testing & analyses, and optimisation algorithms Strong experience building models collaboratively
- Excellence in relevant programming languages, frameworks, and tools: e.g., Python, R, SQL
- Experience using machine learning (frameworks and libraries) to create AI features
- Using data visualisation tools (e.g., Tableau, PowerBI)
General Knowledge & Understanding
- Clear curiosity and track record of learning, including openness to & appetite for feedback
- Sophisticated critical thinking, especially about data-related questions
- Ability to analyse / decompose complicated problems in developing solutions structure a solution, model the data, and design & build appropriate components scan & synthesize disparate sources of information
- Commitment to international social justice and education equity
ATTRIBUTES:
- Excellent attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines and work well under pressure
- Excellent professional communication skills, incl. communicating (incl. presenting) findings & insights, incl. experience
- Good interpersonal skills, incl. teamwork & collaboration
- Strong organisational and time management skills Ability to work on multiple tasks simultaneously and adhere to tight deadlines
- Attention to detail and quality of work
- Strong drive to succeed