Data Scientist - Johannesburg Metropolitan Area

Job summary

Data Scientist | Insurance & Risk Analytics. Join a market-leading organization in insurance and risk solutions, known for innovation and tailor-made cover across life and non-life portfolios.

Responsibilities

• Proactively source, analyze, and interpret data from multiple internal and external providers
• Build predictive models and apply advanced statistical and machine learning methods
• Expand and optimize database structures to store, transform, and manage large datasets
• Deliver actionable insights to stakeholders and, where needed, directly to clients
• Use tools like Python, SQL, R, and BI platforms to drive decision-making and innovation
• Validate and wrangle messy data, ensuring integrity, structure, and auditability
• Translate insurance processes into clear business requirements for data solutions
• Create visualizations and presentations for both technical and non-technical audiences

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Actuarial Science, Statistics, Engineering, Mathematics, or Computer Science
• 3–5 years' experience in data science, data warehousing, actuarial analytics or modelling
• Strong fluency in Python and SQL (R beneficial)
• Solid understanding of cloud, web infrastructure, APIs, and version control
• Experience in insurance, reinsurance, or related financial services (advantageous)
• Exposure to machine learning, predictive modelling, and statistical techniques
• Experience with BI tools (e.g. Power BI) and geospatial data analysis
• Ability to independently manage projects while collaborating across business areas

Key Strengths

• Critical thinking with a high attention to detail
• Ability to navigate messy, multi-source data and make it usable
• Strong communication skills: able to engage stakeholders across functions
• Comfortable balancing technical depth with business context
• Self-motivated, organized, and able to operate in a fast-moving environment

Job description