Data Scientist

We are seeking intermediate & Senior Data Scientist's to develop and improve analytical models that support retail pricing, forecasting and operational decisions. The role will focus on four areas: anomaly detection, price elasticity, forecasting caps and forecast accuracy. You will work with business and technology teams to turn model outputs into decisions they can use and measure. This is a contract role, oniste in Cape Town. Key responsibilities - Anomaly detection: Develop methods to identify unusual patterns in sales, pricing, demand and forecast data. Investigate whether flagged results reflect data issues or genuine business events. - Price elasticity: Build and refine models that estimate how changes in price affect demand. Account for factors such as promotions, seasonality and differences between products or stores. - Capping in forecasting: Assess and improve the rules used to cap forecasts, so extreme predictions are controlled without suppressing genuine demand. - Forecast accuracy: Measure model performance using appropriate metrics, investigate sources of error and improve forecasts across products, stores and time periods. - Prepare and analyse large datasets using Python and SQL, with appropriate data-quality checks. - Explain assumptions, results and limitations to commercial and operational stakeholders. - Work with data engineering and technology teams to implement, monitor and maintain analytical solutions. Requirements - A degree in Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science or a related field. - Practical experience developing statistical or machine-learning models, particularly demand forecasting or pricing analytics. - Strong Python and SQL skills. - Sound understanding of time-series modelling, model evaluation and data quality. - Ability to investigate model behaviour and explain findings to non-technical stakeholders. Advantageous - Retail, FMCG or grocery experience. - Experience with price elasticity modelling, anomaly detection or forecast controls. - Experience applying models across large product and store ranges.