Snr Specialist: Big Data

Overview Operating Division: Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) Employee Group: Non Permanent Department: SP-ICT-Big Data Analytics-PKT Location: Parktown Reporting To: Functional Specialist Big Data Analytics Grade: E Reference: req3667 Closing Date The closing date is on 14/11/2025. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that HR has received the application before the closing date of the advertisement. Position Purpose The Specialist Big Data Science & provides guidance and support in the design, development, release, and maintenance of Data Warehouse and Data Mart systems, and related applications or services (e.g. reporting) for Transnet Freight Rail (TFR). The individual works closely with customers, vendors / service providers, colleagues, and other stakeholders to identify and maximise opportunities for using Data Warehouse systems to improve business processes, promote strategic use of Information Technology across TFR and enable the workforce to use technologies. The incumbent provides the leadership, vision, and direction for Data Warehousing/Data Mart systems and Big Data and Analytics, ensuring support of TFR’s business objectives and requirements. A key responsibility is ensuring organizational balance and system coherency between desktop/client and Data Warehouse back-end processing activities. Position Outputs Strategy & Planning – Assess and cultivate long-term strategic goals for BI development in conjunction with end users, managers, clients, and other stakeholders. Conduct research on emerging technologies, best practices, languages and standards, and make recommendations on Big Data & Analytics products, services, and standards in support of procurement and development efforts. Acquisition & Deployment – Evaluate and select database/data warehouse components, including hardware, relational database management systems, ETL software, metadata management tools, and database design solutions. Set business requirements for BI tools, translating them into technical ones and participating in data warehouse design. Lead BI software development, deployment, and maintenance. Operational Management – Direct, organize, and lead projects in the implementation and use of new Big Data & Analytics software tools, systems and solutions. Lead the integration efforts for merging Big Data & Analytics platforms with enterprise systems and applications. Analyse user requirements, design, code and test according to Agile, DevOps methodologies. Produce ETL design guidelines to ensure a manageable ETL infrastructure for the BI system. Ensure optimal end user performance by establishing and consistently executing overall system performance assessment processes and associated action plan. Provide technical support and ensure optimal end user performance by executing overall system performance assessment processes and associated action plan, troubleshooting BI tools, systems, and software and performance-tuning these applications as necessary Collaborate across departments – Collaborate across both business and IT and act as evangelist for Big Data Science & Analytics benefits across the organization; promote Big Data Science & Analytics usage to relevant departments. Follow and enhance Big Data Science & Analytics standards and best practices across the team. Collaborate and mentor team members on methodology, design and architecture. Provide consultation on complex projects and act as a top level contributor. Educate and train – Continuously educate business/IT stakeholders on basic BI principles and techniques. Train peers/staff on BI specialist topics. Network with internal and external partners. Upskill self and collaborate with other BI Specialist teams. Participate in the design and delivery of end-user training and training materials. Management – Play a managerial role where he/she oversees the activities of junior Specialists Big Data Science & Analytics, ensuring proper execution of their duties, and alignment of activities with business’s overall vision and objectives. Constantly building effective working relationships and building data-fuelled solutions that drive the business closer to its overall goals and objectives. Provides mentorship, leadership and guidance to Specialists Big Data Science & Analytics. Dev-Ops Culture – Facilitate the principle of Flow: make work visible, limit work in progress, reduce batch sizes, reduce handoffs, identify and elevate constraints, and eliminate hardships and waste in the value stream. Principle of Feedback: work safely within complex systems, see problems as they occur, swarm and resolve problems to build new knowledge, push quality closer to the source, and enable optimizing for downstream work centers. Principle of continual learning and experimentation: enable organizational learning and safety culture, institutionalize the improvement of daily work, transforming local discoveries into global improvements, inject resilience patterns into daily work, and reinforce a learning culture. Qualifications and Experience Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in IT or Computer Science. Certifications (advantageous if the incumbent has at least one of the following certifications): Business Intelligence/Analytics certification; Big Data/ Big Data Analytics certification; DMBoK; ITIL foundation or ITIL Service Management. Experience: 8+ Years’ working experience in at least one IT discipline (such as Data Warehouse development/Business Intelligence development/Business or Information Analytics/Application Development or Big Data Analytics) with at least 4 years’ experience at Management level. Competencies Strong customer focus and ability to manage client expectations Conduct research and identify opportunities for new and emerging technology to support the business Strong ability to weigh various suggested technical solutions against the original business needs and choose the most efficient solution Strong ability to conceptualize, document and present technical information to diverse types of audiences to establish rapport, persuade, gain understanding and sell solutions Exceptional analytical, conceptual and decision making ability in a complex environment Ability to effectively adapt to rapid changing technology and apply it to business needs, developing and delivering projects using leading-edge technology Expert business planning, analytical, problem solving, and conceptual skills Strong ability to motivate employees / teams to apply skills and techniques to solve dynamic problems Knowledge: Expert/Advanced SQL knowledge and experience working with relational databases, query authoring (SQL) as well as working familiarity with a variety of databases and experience with performance tuning Expert knowledge of data architecture and database design Expert ability to analyse user requirements and build front-end BI applications according to specifications Advanced usage of reporting and analytics platforms and tools such as SAP BW, SAP Business Objects and Microsoft Power BI; data design principles and strategies; database modelling techniques; data warehousing concepts and methodologies; best practice methodologies in data validation; key design elements and considerations of data Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) and Cube design and development processes In-depth knowledge and understanding of business principles and business processes In-depth knowledge of Big Data Science Analytics is an advantage Good knowledge of applicable data privacy practices and laws such as PoPIA etc.; Good understanding of Governance and Best Practice Processes relevant to environment i.e. COBIT/ITIL/ISO 20000) will be an advantage. Equity Statement Preference will be given to suitably qualified Applicants who are members of the designated groups in line with the Employment Equity Plan and Targets of the Organisation/Operating Division. #J-18808-Ljbffr