Data and AI Lead Consultant
Strategy 356 is a strategy and advisory company with experience in strategy facilitation, design and implementation, Project and Programme Management, Data and Artificial Intelligence, Monitoring and Evaluation.
We turn the most diverse, largest and complex datasets into actionable business insights. We use cutting edge tools to define new metrics, design simulations and build algorithms and models that unlock a deeper understanding of our client’s data, delivers enhanced functionality and scaling capabilities, resulting in impactful outcomes.
Our approach is based on applied research, engineering systems that support data fusion, data analysis and sense making to support decision making in dynamic and complex environments across various industries.
The Role
We are seeking a Data Science Lead Consultant to execute Data strategy across complex business areas. If you are a dynamic and seasoned individual driven by the passion to use data for meaningful impact, producing innovative ideas and solutions based on data, we invite you to join our team.
Key Responsibilities
- Collaborate closely with executives, clients and the data science team to establish and execute the team’s technical vision, strategy, and goals.
- Provide effective leadership to the data science team, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment that encourages creativity and growth.
- Responsible for the delivery of AI and Data Science solutions. Ensure delivery of solutions on time, in budget, with the desired functionality, at the defined quality level in a sustainable way.
- Lead and contribute to the end-to-end development of AI solutions using data science and machine learning, ensuring they address real-world challenges.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to gather requirements, design solutions, and integrate insights into operational processes.
- Oversee rigorous testing methodologies to validate the accuracy, reliability, and effectiveness of developed models, ensuring they meet business requirements.
- Facilitate the documentation of project details, methodologies, and best practices, ensuring seamless knowledge transfer among team members.
- Drive the integration of AI solutions into the overall organization environment, leveraging tools and processes that align with industry best practices.
- Collaborate with data scientists, engineers, data engineers, researchers and IT specialists to ensure the scalability, reliability, and security of AI solutions.
Desired Qualification & Experience:
- BSc (Comp Sci) (completed) or BEng (completed) or higher qualification of relevance.
- Other STEM degrees from established Universities (Computers, Math, Stats, IT) might be considered given relevant minimum experience.
- An honours or master’s degree will be an added advantage
- Additional leadership development an advantage.
Experience:
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in AI, data science, and machine learning.
- At least 1 year in a team lead or managerial role, and 2 years in senior data scientist role.
- Established hands-on experience with Python, DataBricks, PySpark, Azure, SQL, PowerBI
- Success in leading AI / Data Science solutions using data science and machine learning
- Familiarity with Linux and proficiency in additional programming languages like Java or C#.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to translate business needs into data-driven solutions.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and guide a team toward achieving common goals.
- Detail-oriented mindset with a commitment to delivering high-quality, actionable insights.
Technologies Experience:
- Programming: Python (essential), Java or C# (optional).
- AI: AIOps, Generative models such as LLMs (highly desirable), GANs, VAEs, LangChain, etc.
- Big Data: MS Azure (essential), Apache Hadoop, Delta Lake format, Parquet, and Spark.
- Visualization: PowerBI, Matplotlib, Seaborn, Plotly.
- Version Control: Git (essential), GitHub, GitLab, or related.
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