Senior Data Scientist - Contract - 6-12 months at Hire Resolve

Job Description

• 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.