Snr Specialist: Lead Data Scientist

**Core Description**:
Responsible to execute the strategic roadmap and create value through delivery of internal and external artificial intelligence solutions and products. Oversight of a portfolio of data science projects, providing strategic and technical guidance on solving a variety of use cases across the Telkom Group and for its customers. Develop machine learning and deep learning competencies and manage and develop a 'full-stack' team of data science specialists. The role's focus will be on NLP, both text and speech, but projects can span Computer Vision and other domains.

**Competencies**:**
FUNCTIONAL KNOWLEDGE**

Statistical and mathematical foundations; Data science and analytics frameworks (NLP and Computer Vision); Programming (Python, R, Git,

Linux); Cloud computing (GCP preferable); Big Data (Cloudera, Hadoop, Spark)

**FUNCTIONAL SKILLS**

Strategic thinking; Innovative thinking; Communication (written and verbal); Stakeholder management; Planning & organizing (Miro, Confluence & Jira); Research & development

**ATTITUDES/ LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES**

Business Leadership; Market Leadership; Personal Leadership; Problem solver; Takes initiative; Hard working; Can do attitude; Innovative

thinker; Works well in teams; Works well under pressure; Relishes dynamic/ changing environment; Time management

**Responsibilities**:

- Define and implement the AI strategy and product roadmap in relation to the TKG strategy, and provide input into the broader strategic direction of Telkom Strategic Insights
- Cultivate and manage working relationships with a variety of stakeholders to support the design and delivery of data science projects and solutions
- Develop business cases for new solutions or products, and establish the value for existing projects
- Determine the most appropriate data science tools/ approaches for specific projects
- Execute end to end data science projects and product development processes
- Engage with our data engineering team to ensure any AI products or solutions are managed
- Identify and manage resource requirements including people and systems
- Lead and develop a team of data scientists and provide hands on guidance
- Establish, document and champion data science best practices in the team
- Help Strategic Insights become thought leaders in the areas of data science and artificial intelligence
- Stay abreast of new developments and solutions in the market to ensure we don't fall behind
- Contribute to our agile way of work and our innovation culture
- Consistent documentation of all implemented systems and processes
**Required Certification**:
Data science and cloud certifications will be advantageous (GCP, Azure, AWS).

**Qualifications**:
Post graduate degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, or a related field (NQF level 7); OR a qualified Actuary with data science experience. A Master's degree (NQF level 9) will be an advantage

**Experience**:
7 years of work experience in the field of data science with at least 2 years having been on management/ specialist level. Experience in ICT/

Telecommunications will be an advantage.

**Special Requirements**:
Experience in Natural Language Processing. Strong statistical & mathematical foundations. Experience with Google Cloud Platform. Expected to stay abreast of new data science developments and to put them into practice.

**Comments**:
The Company adopted a hybrid operating model whereby employees will have two registered workplace locations. This job is identified to be performed from home therefor the home-base office location is the primary workplace and the official office-based location is the secondary workplace.