Data Scientist at Sydani Group

Role Description

• As part of the Sydani team, the data scientist will work with the research and monitoring and evaluation team to design and operationalize strategies for data management and the use of data for decision-making.
• This involves the optimization of processes for big data collection, collation, analyses, and interpretation to find patterns that will drive solutions and organizational growth.
• The responsibilities of the data scientist will include but are not limited to, solutions and data strategy design, process development for data modelling, data analysis, and prediction model development.
• This role requires analytical, statistical, and programming skills.

Responsibilities

Note: The responsibilities described are not exhaustive. Additional tasks may be assigned as necessitated by business demands.

Data System Design and Operationalization

• Design and operationalize data strategy
• Mine or extract usable data from valuable data sources
• Use machine learning tools to select features, create, and optimize classifiers
• Carry out pre-processing of structured and unstructured data
• Enhance data collection procedures to include all relevant information for developing analytic systems
• Analyze complex datasets using advanced statistical methods and present information using data visualization techniques, adopting professional and statistically acceptable standards
• Propose solutions and strategies to tackle business and research challenges
• Collaborate with Business, Research, Programs, and IT teams in the organization in the design and implementation of data solution
• Build statistical models to address health, education, climate change and other research problems that are of interest to the organization
• Work with program staff to develop program performance dashboards for reporting to the Sydani management, board and clients
• Conduct semi-independent periodic reviews and data analysis for programs, and specific corporate functions to identify lessons and improvement opportunities
• Establish strategic relationships with other knowledge-based institutions to facilitate access to, and publication of emerging knowledge and innovations relevant to Sydani’s operations
• Develop the Sydani staff capacity in data analysis

Required Competencies and Experience

• Minimum four years of experience as a Biostatistician, Statistician, or Data Scientist
• Experience in analyzing survey datasets such as NDHS, MICS, IPUMS, etc.
• Understanding of machine learning and operations research
• Knowledge of SPSS, STATA, R, SQL, Power BI and Python. Most preferably STATA and R software. Familiarity with Scala, Java or C++ is an asset
• Experience using business intelligence tools (e.g. Tableau) and data frameworks (e.g. Hadoop)
• Skilful in report writing with at least two publications in peer-reviewed journals as evidence 
• Strong Mathematics, Econometrics, and Modelling skills
• Experience working in a consulting firm is an added advantage. Consulting experience can be from strategy, research, business, or international development in a reputable consulting firm
• Problem-solving skills
• BSc/BA in Biostatistics, Statistics, Computer Science, Engineering or relevant field and MSc in Biostatistics, Statistics, Data Science, or any other relevant field