About the Organisation
SmartStart is a successful national network of NGOs & partners realising quality, affordable early learning for all 3-5 year olds — through scaling a network of providers, and achieving specific ecosystem transformations with governments and partners.
About the Job
The Data Science Specialist at SmartStart will spearhead the network's success by driving data-driven sense-making and decision-making. This role encompasses managing complex data projects with expertise in quantitative analytics, statistical analyses, modeling, and machine learning algorithms. The specialist will also be instrumental in translating complex data concepts into accessible language for strategic decision-making and operational improvements.
Key Responsibilities
Designing and Managing Data Projects collaboratively in service of strategy and operations
Co-conceptualise, prioritise, design, plan and adaptively manage data projects
Proactively and collaboratively identifying opportunities and/or improvements involving data
Co-developing and pursuing strategies and tactics to acquire, clean, analyse and interpret data (together with other functional teams)
Translating and communicating, as well as enabling & participating in conversations about sophisticated data concepts into appropriately accessible language
Conducting & Sustaining High-Quality Data Analyses, Analytics, Modelling, and Algorithms
Conducting exploratory data analyses to identify patterns, relationships, and anomalies etc.
Developing, validating, and maintaining advanced data models (incl. predictive models) and algorithms
Using analyses and models to:
Find and/or identify and/or generate and/or test assumptions and inferences
Ask and answer questions
Yield insights and enable learning
Using machine learning for predictive modeling, classification, and clustering
Performing & Developing Professionally
Delivering consistently high quality and proactive service
Delivering an affordable and sustainable set of solutions and/or projects on time
Estimating work accurately
Ensuring code and delivery meet quality assurance standards for accuracy and performance
Staying up-to-date with industry and/or other relevant practices, developments, and trends
Identifying and completing relevant, valuable training and/or certifications as agreed
Requirements
Qualifications and Experience
Min. master’s degree or higher qualification in data science, statistics, computer science, or a related field
Min. 5 years’ experience in a data science role, incl. min. 2 years in a senior position
Track record of successfully managing and delivering data-driven projects
Advantageous: fluency in an African language
Technical Knowledge & Understanding and/or Skills & Abilities
Excellence in quantitative analytics, statistical analyses, modelling (incl. forecasting & predictive analytics), multivariate testing & analyses, and optimisation algorithms: strong experience building models collaboratively
Excellence in relevant programming languages, frameworks, and tools: e.g., Python, R, SQL
Experience using machine learning (frameworks and libraries) to create AI features
Using data visualisation tools (e.g., Tableau, PowerBI)
General Knowledge & Understanding and/or Skills & Abilities
Clear curiosity and track record of learning, including openness to & appetite for feedback
Strong drive to succeed
Sophisticated critical thinking, especially about data-related questions
Ability to:
Analyse / decompose complicated problems in developing solutions
Structure a solution, model the data, and design & build appropriate components
Scan & synthesize disparate sources of information
Excellent attention to detail
Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines and work well under pressure
Excellent professional communication skills, incl. communicating (incl. presenting) findings & insights, incl. experience
Good interpersonal skills, incl. teamwork & collaboration
Strong organisational and time management skills:
Ability to work on multiple tasks simultaneously and adhere to tight deadlines
Attention to detail and quality of work
Commitment to international social justice and education equity
To apply
To apply, email your application by Wednesday 10thApril 2024 to callum@actionappointments.co.za
About the Organisation
SmartStart is a successful national network of NGOs & partners realising quality, affordable early learning for all 3-5 year olds — through scaling a network of providers, and achieving specific ecosystem transformations with governments and partners.
About the Job
The Data Science Specialist at SmartStart will spearhead the network's success by driving data-driven sense-making and decision-making. This role encompasses managing complex data projects with expertise in quantitative analytics, statistical analyses, modeling, and machine learning algorithms. The specialist will also be instrumental in translating complex data concepts into accessible language for strategic decision-making and operational improvements.
Key Responsibilities
Designing and Managing Data Projects collaboratively in service of strategy and operations
Co-conceptualise, prioritise, design, plan and adaptively manage data projects
Proactively and collaboratively identifying opportunities and/or improvements involving data
Co-developing and pursuing strategies and tactics to acquire, clean, analyse and interpret data (together with other functional teams)
Translating and communicating, as well as enabling & participating in conversations about sophisticated data concepts into appropriately accessible language
Conducting & Sustaining High-Quality Data Analyses, Analytics, Modelling, and Algorithms
Conducting exploratory data analyses to identify patterns, relationships, and anomalies etc.
Developing, validating, and maintaining advanced data models (incl. predictive models) and algorithms
Using analyses and models to:
Find and/or identify and/or generate and/or test assumptions and inferences
Ask and answer questions
Yield insights and enable learning
Using machine learning for predictive modeling, classification, and clustering
Performing & Developing Professionally
Delivering consistently high quality and proactive service
Delivering an affordable and sustainable set of solutions and/or projects on time
Estimating work accurately
Ensuring code and delivery meet quality assurance standards for accuracy and performance
Staying up-to-date with industry and/or other relevant practices, developments, and trends
Identifying and completing relevant, valuable training and/or certifications as agreed
Requirements
Qualifications and Experience
Min. master’s degree or higher qualification in data science, statistics, computer science, or a related field
Min. 5 years’ experience in a data science role, incl. min. 2 years in a senior position
Track record of successfully managing and delivering data-driven projects
Advantageous: fluency in an African language
Technical Knowledge & Understanding and/or Skills & Abilities
Excellence in quantitative analytics, statistical analyses, modelling (incl. forecasting & predictive analytics), multivariate testing & analyses, and optimisation algorithms: strong experience building models collaboratively
Excellence in relevant programming languages, frameworks, and tools: e.g., Python, R, SQL
Experience using machine learning (frameworks and libraries) to create AI features
Using data visualisation tools (e.g., Tableau, PowerBI)
General Knowledge & Understanding and/or Skills & Abilities
Clear curiosity and track record of learning, including openness to & appetite for feedback
Strong drive to succeed
Sophisticated critical thinking, especially about data-related questions
Ability to:
Analyse / decompose complicated problems in developing solutions
Structure a solution, model the data, and design & build appropriate components
Scan & synthesize disparate sources of information
Excellent attention to detail
Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines and work well under pressure
Excellent professional communication skills, incl. communicating (incl. presenting) findings & insights, incl. experience
Good interpersonal skills, incl. teamwork & collaboration
Strong organisational and time management skills:
Ability to work on multiple tasks simultaneously and adhere to tight deadlines
Attention to detail and quality of work
Commitment to international social justice and education equity
To apply
To apply, email your application by Wednesday 10thApril 2024 to callum@actionappointments.co.za
