Specialist: Data Analytics (Data Engineer) Fixed Term Contract at The South African Revenue Service (SARS)

Job Purpose

• To analyse and provide expert advice with regards to data analytics in order to achieve business objectives.

Education and Experience

Minimum Qualification & Experience Required 

• Relevant Bachelor's Degree/Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) preferably in Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science or related qualification AND 8 - 10 years' experience within a Data Analytics environment, of which 3 - 4 years at a junior specialist level.

Alternative #

• Senior Certificate (NQF 4) with 15 years related experience within a Data Analytics environment, of which 3 - 4 years at a junior specialist level.

Minimum Functional Requirements

• Advanced experience in Data Engineering / Business Data Intelligence
• Expert technical expertise regarding the end-to-end machine learning lifecycle, with the ability to create Data pipelines or Datasets as inputs to ML models. 
• Advanced applied knowledge of, and experience with, Data tools and platforms (SQL with SSIS and SSAS experience or equivalent, etc.)
• Expert applied knowledge of Data Engineering, Data Lineage
• Advanced applied knowledge and experience with Mathematics and/or Statistics

Job Outputs:

Process

• Analyse and make recommendations about improvements to specialist systems, procedures and associated areas practice.
• Conduct assessments and use information to advise, make recommendations and facilitate improvement.
• Constantly monitor the integrity and quality of data and processes to identify deficiencies and facilitate improvement.
• Contribute to the optimum utilisation of org. resources, advising on effective planning and development of area of specialisation resource plans.
• Develop a single practice area in alignment with operational activity and procedural frameworks and ensure tactical implementation.
• Draw on own technical or professional expertise, knowledge and experience to identify and recommend tactical solutions to defined problems in practices.
• Integrate business information, compare, analyse and produce reports to identify trends, discrepancies and inconsistencies for decision making purposes.
• Note potential problems and obstacles, accumulate supporting data and initiate actions to prevent or overcome predicted problems as may be identified.
• Optimise goal achievement through tactical strategy implementation and optimisation of practises, processes and systems across an internal value chain.
• Plan for value-added, continuous practice and system improvements to deliver on objectives to enhance tactical implementation and excellence.
• Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives, best practice implementation solutions.
• Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, practice areas and associated procedures and execute the implementation of change and innovation.
• Research and support workable recommendations/solutions that meet business needs through information analysis.
• Review the effectiveness of related approaches and methodologies by conducting research, and best practice benchmarking initiatives.
• Translate top-down policy in relation to own practice area and communicate impact to relevant stakeholders.
• Undertake information gathering, research and analyse data within broad guidelines to produce accurate plans and / or recommendations for business issues.
• Acquire data from primary or secondary data sources and maintaining databases, applying the knowledge of data extraction, transformation and business modelling.
• Perform complex / advanced business analysis using various techniques, e.g. statistical analysis, explanatory and predictive modelling, data mining.
• Design, develop and test complex / advance data analytics solutions like Reports, Dashboards, Analysis, Extracts, Models, etc.
• Identify, analyse and interpret trends and patterns in complex / advance data sets, based on data findings.
• Ensure the availability of existing data analytics solutions (like reports, etc.) by maintaining them as well as improving them where shortcomings exist.
• Analyses data, creates summary reporting, and performs analysis to support the decision making of research, senior management, member companies and internal departments.
• Assist in the filtering and 'cleaning' of imported data by reviewing computer reports, printouts, and performance indicators to locate and correct code problems.
• Acquiring data from primary or secondary data sources and maintaining databases, applying the knowledge of data extraction, transformation and business modelling.
• Builds and manage/maintain database to house data collected from various sources.
• Conducts analysis, summarizes key findings and trends, and produces data sheets, graphics and presentations.
• Communicate the results of their analysis and findings by using basic complex /advance visualisation techniques with both internal and external customers.
• Gathers data from multiple sources and assimilates into meaningful inputs for databases.

Governance

• Develop and/or align governance and compliance policies for own practice area to identify and manage risk exposure liability.

People

• Integrate new knowledge and transfer skills attained through formal and informal learning opportunities in the execution of your job.
• Provide specialist know-how, support, advice and practice thought leadership in area of expertise.

Finance

• Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of specialisation.

Client

• Develop and ensure implementation of a practice that builds service delivery excellence and encourages others to provide exceptional stakeholder service.
• Participate in the specialist practice community and contribute positively to organisation knowledge management.
• Provide authoritative, specialist expertise and advice to internal and external stakeholders.

Behavioural competencies

• Accountability
• Analytical Thinking
• Attention to Detail
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Conceptual Ability
• Expertise I Context
• Organisational Awareness
• Problem Solving and Analysis
• Respect
• Trust
• Fairness and Transparency
• Honesty and Integrity

Technical Competencies

• Business Knowledge
• Data Analytics
• Creative and Innovative thinking
• Efficiency improvement
• Functional Policies and Procedures
• Knowledge Management
• Statistical and Mathematical Analysis
• System Thinking
• Policy Development
• Reporting
• Computer Literacy