Data Scientist - Contract (Hybrid - Stellenbosch) Purpose StatementTo drive the AI strategy, ensuring the organization remains competitive in a dynamic landscape where data science is a key strategic differentiator. To design and implement predictive models and intelligent algorithms that enhance business performance and support improved decision-making.EducationMinimum:Honours Degree in Data SciencePreferred:Masters Degree in Data ScienceKnowledge and ExperienceMinimum Requirements:Master's degree or equivalent in a quantitative discipline or STEM field (e.g., Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, Computer Science) with a focus on Machine Learning, plus 6 years of relevant experience.OrHonours Degree or equivalent with relevant technical qualifications, plus 8 years of relevant experience.Experience in data science, machine learning, and deploying developed solutions.Proficiency in business analysis and requirements gathering.Experience in reproducible coding, working with relational and non-relational databases, and at least one machine learning language.Experience working in cloud environments.Ideal Requirements:Experience collaborating with multiple teams to deliver predictive models into a production environment.Proven ability in stakeholder management at Executive and senior management levels.KnowledgeMinimum:Deep understanding of state-of-the-art and emerging principles and techniques in at least one discipline of data science (e.g., NLP, Deep Learning) and the ability to teach these to a wide technical audience.Strong grasp of the theory and application of machine learning models, with the ability to educate others.Familiarity with modern deep learning frameworks (Tensorflow, PyTorch, MXNet, etc).Best practices for data science.Ethical AI design principles.Ideal:Understanding of the Data Science lifecycle and Data Product Life Cycle within an organization.