Talent Pool Data Scientist

Guardrisk is the undisputed market leader in cell captive insurance and risk solutions. We are renowned for our innovative approach to cell captive structures and other alternative risk transfer solutions for our clients. Guardrisk offers clients custom designed cover and is registered in South Africa as an insurer for all statutory classes of non-life and life insurance business.

The primary purpose of this role is to develop advanced analytics solutions machine learning models and scalable data tools that support Guardrisk Lifes strategic and client-facing analytics initiatives.

The role forms part of the Data Analytics Life team within the Guardrisk Life Structuring & Solutions division and focuses on unlocking business value through intelligent use of data. This includes building analytical frameworks developing predictive models and creating automated reporting and data solutions that enable better decision-making across the business.

The successful candidate will work closely with internal stakeholders and Guardrisk Life clients to identify analytics opportunities solve complex business problems and translate large datasets into clear actionable insights.

The role requires strong technical capability in SQL Python and business intelligence tools such as Power BI along with an analytical mindset and the ability to operate independently in a dynamic and evolving environment.

• Advanced Analytics & Machine Learning
  • Develop predictive and statistical models to support business and client analytics use cases
  • Apply machine learning techniques to improve forecasting segmentation and risk analysis
  • Evaluate model performance and translate analytical outputs into practical business insights
• Data Analytics & Insights
  • Analyse large datasets to identify trends patterns and opportunities within Guardrisk Lifes portfolios and client businesses
  • Translate complex analytical findings into clear insights that support business decision-making
  • Collaborate with business stakeholders to identify new analytics opportunities
• Client & Portfolio Analytics
  • Support analytics initiatives for Guardrisk Life clients by delivering insights on portfolio performance trends and opportunities
  • Develop analytical frameworks and benchmarking approaches to evaluate product and portfolio performance
  • Present analytical findings to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Automation & Data Solutions
  • Design and build automated reporting and analytics solutions that improve operational efficiency
  • Identify opportunities to automate manual reporting or analytical processes across the business
  • Develop reusable analytics tools and data solutions that can scale across portfolios or clients
• Data Engineering & Technical Development
  • Extract transform and analyse data from multiple systems using advanced SQL and Python
  • Work with modern data platforms such as Databricks Synapse or similar cloud analytics environments
  • Contribute to the development and improvement of internal analytics platforms and dashboards

Qualifications

Bachelors Degree in Data Science Computer Science Statistics Mathematics Actuarial Science or a related quantitative field.
Postgraduate qualification in a relevant field advantageous.

Experience

3-6 years of experience in data science data analytics or data engineering within a commercial or financial services environment.
Working with large datasets in SQL and Python.
Business intelligence tools such as Power BI.
Delivering analytical insights to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Applying machine learning techniques advantageous.

Advanced SQL proficiency (essential)
Strong Python capability for data analysis automation and machine learning
Experience with Power BI and DAX for dashboard development and reporting
Experience working with modern data platforms such as Databricks Synapse or similar cloud analytics environments advantageous
Familiarity with version control tools such as Git beneficial