Senior Data Scientist

Who are we?
Sanlam Life and Savings (SLS) is focused on serving our retail and corporate clients in South Africa and further developing our strategic advantages in the South African market. Sanlam Life and Savings consists of three clusters - Sanlam Corporate, Sanlam Retail Mass and Sanlam Retail Affluent. The Sanlam Life and Savings Office provides strategic direction, coordination and support to the three clusters, as well as performing governance oversight that includes assurance provided by second line of defense functions in SLS, to enable us to meet our business objectives. Role Description

As a key member of our team, you will have the opportunity to revolutionize the way businesses leverage data to unlock their true potential. Your expertise will be instrumental in crafting and implementing cutting-edge advanced analytics solutions that not only uncover valuable insights but also have a tangible and transformative impact on the entire organization.
This role goes beyond technical brilliance. We believe in the power of leadership and collaboration. As a Senior Data Scientist, you will take charge of managerial responsibilities, guiding and inspiring a team of talented individuals. Your exceptional communication skills will empower you to engage with stakeholders across the organization, advocating the extraordinary value that our Advanced Analytics team brings to the table.

This is your chance to shape the future of data-driven decision-making and play a pivotal role in driving our organization to new heights. If you are driven by a deep desire to create lasting change, if you yearn to push the boundaries of what is possible in financial services, then seize this opportunity and join us in revolutionizing the world of advanced analytics. What will you do?
Data Preparation
Assess the effectiveness and accuracy of new data sources and data gathering techniques
Extend the company’s data with third party sources of information when required
Process, cleanse and verify the integrity of data used for analysis
Identify valuable data sources and automate collection processes
Undertake pre-processing of structured and unstructured data

Analysis and Model Building
Mine and analyze data to drive optimization and improvement of pricing, product development, marketing techniques, and business strategies.
Analyze large amounts of information to discover trends and patterns.
Select features, build, and optimize classifiers using advanced machine learning techniques.
Utilize predictive modeling to influence value drivers such as sales, client retention, expense management, and optimization of client experience.
Blend models through ensemble modeling.

Stakeholder Engagement
Present information using data visualization techniques
Propose solutions and strategies to business challenges

Implement and Monitor
Coordinate with different functional teams to implement models, allowing for different systems integration patterns, and monitor outcomes
Develop processes and tools to monitor and analyse model performance and data accuracy

Leadership and Team Management
Provide leadership and guidance to team members in Advanced Analytics, the data engineering and product development teams.
Collaborate with data and analytics experts to enhance workflow processes, documentation, technical model builds and model deployment
Support and mentor team members to drive value for Sanlam. What will make you successful in this role?
Qualification & experience
Degree in Statistics, Actuarial Science, Mathematics, Computer Science or another quantitative field. An advanced degree in a quantitative field would be advantageous.
A proven track record of successfully implementing data-driven solutions and delivering measurable business impact.

**Demonstrated leadership and management abilities**: Experience in leading and managing teams, providing guidance and mentorship to junior members, and effectively coordinating with cross-functional teams.

**Strategic thinking**: the Senior Data Scientist is expected to have a strategic mindset and the ability to align data science initiatives with broader business objectives. They should be able to identify opportunities for leveraging data and analytics to drive innovation and improve business outcomes.

Role specific competencies

**Communicates Effectively**: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.

**Nimble Learning**: Actively learning through experimentation when tackling new problems, using both successes and failures as learning fodder.

**Manages complexity**: Making sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems

**Strategic mindset**: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies. Personal Attributes Interpersonal savvy - Contributing through others Decision quality - Contributing through others Plans