Senior Data Scientist - Contract - 6-12 months

A client operating in InsurTech, insurance, automative and fleet management is looking for a Senior Data Scientist to join their team on a contract basis based in Johannesburg, GP.

The Data Scientist is responsible for transforming complex datasets into actionable insights that drive intelligent automation, operational efficiency, cost reduction, and predictive decision-making across the organization. This role supports both optimization and innovation-driven transformation by applying statistical modelling, machine learning, data analytics, and data visualization to key business areas, with a focus on identifying new products and enhancing business value.

Responsibilities

Accountabilities (Business Outcomes)

Finance

• Data Engineering & Preparation
  • Source, cleanse, and prepare both structured and unstructured data.
  • Develop reusable data models and maintain version-controlled datasets for ongoing analysis.
• Analytics & Machine Learning
  • Design, build, and deploy predictive and prescriptive models for forecasting, anomaly detection, and process optimization.
  • Conduct profiling of stakeholders and transactional volatility.
  • Apply statistical techniques, cluster analysis, and AI algorithms (classification, regression, clustering, NLP, etc.).
  • Conduct exploratory data analysis (EDA) to identify trends, risks, and performance insights.
  • Support AI solution engineers by providing training datasets and defining model evaluation metrics.
• Visualization & Reporting
  • Build interactive dashboards and reports using visualization tools to present insights to business stakeholders.
  • Translate complex data findings into actionable business recommendations.

Innovation Enablement

• Participate in the Innovation Track, supporting proof-of-concept projects that leverage AI and analytics.
• Conduct extensive literature reviews to determine the most effective multi-modal classification algorithms.
• Document methodologies and contribute to an internal data science playbook for repeatable value creation.

Risk and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with data governance and privacy frameworks.
• Build models for predicting risk to enable proactive mitigation.
• Provide insights into predicting future sales and reducing claims costs.

Customer

• Collaborate with software developers and data engineers to establish reliable data pipelines, ensuring data integrity, lineage, and governance.
• Foster strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders by providing data-driven solutions to their challenges.
• Participate in cross-functional projects to implement end-to-end solutions.

People

• Organize training sessions and workshops to share knowledge and best practices with the broader organization.
• Create a culture of ownership and accountability in support of the company's values.

Requirements

• Education:
  • Master's degree in Data Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, or a closely related field (equivalent to NQF Level 9).
• Preferred:
  • Professional certification in Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or Information Management.
  • Doctoral (PhD) degree in Data Science, Applied Mathematics, Statistics, or a related discipline (equivalent to NQF Level 10).
• Essential:
  • Minimum of 7+ years of experience in data science, analytics, or AI engineering.
  • Proven track record of developing, validating, and deploying predictive models into production environments.
  • Strong proficiency with SQL, APIs, and data libraries.
  • Excellent analytical and logical problem-solving ability.
  • Strong business acumen with the ability to clearly communicate complex insights to non-technical stakeholders.
  • A curiosity-driven and innovation-focused mindset.
  • Proven ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams of developers and engineers.
• Preferred:
  • Exposure to Responsible AI frameworks and data governance standards.
  • Awareness of data privacy, fairness, and responsible AI principles.
  • A passion for continuous learning and the application of emerging technologies.

#J-18808-Ljbffr