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Senior Specialist: Data Analytics (Data Scientist) at The South African Revenue Service (SARS)
The South African Revenue Service (SARS)
September 22, 2026
Full-time
On-site
Job Purpose
As a Senior Specialist (Data Scientist) at SARS, you will lead a team of Data Scientists to design, build, and deploy data science solutions in support of SARS' strategic objectives and Modernisation programme. Your leadership will be pivotal in identifying trends and best practices, developing actionable implementation plans, and providing strategic advice to drive business objectives and enhance organisational performance.
Education and Experience
Minimum Qualification & Experience Required
Honours / Postgraduate Diploma (NQF 8) in Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science AND 10-12 years' experience in Data Analytics environment, of which 3-4 years specialist level.
Alternative #
Bachelor's Degree /Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science AND 12 - 15 years' experience in Data Analytics environment, of which 3-4 years specialist level.
Minimum Functional Requirements
Advanced experience in Data Science/ Data Engineering / Business Data Intelligence.
Expert technical expertise regarding the end-to-end machine learning lifecycle.
Advanced applied knowledge of, and experience with Data tools and platforms (SQL or equivalent, etc.), programming (R, Python, Spark etc.).
Expert applied knowledge of statistics and experience using statistical packages for analysing datasets (SPSS, SAS, R etc.).
Expert Data warehouse knowledge.
Additional Minimum Functional Requirements
Advanced Statistical Analysis and Computational Modelling
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
Data Preparation and Feature Engineering
MLOps and Model Lifecycle Management
Model Validation, Explainability and Responsible AI
Enterprise Data Platforms and Scalable Processing
Advanced Data Visualisation and Analytical Communication
Business Problem Formulation and Value Measurement
Technical Leadership, Quality Assurance and Mentoring
Job Outputs:
Process
Analyse and make recommendations about improvements to specialist systems, procedures, policies and practices.
Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives; developing best practice solutions.
Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, practice areas and associated procedures and execute the implementation of change and innovation.
Influence and communicate across business areas impacted by practice area to minimise resistance and ensure onboarding of new thinking.
Integrate business information, compare, analyse and produce reports to identify trends, discrepancies and inconsistencies for decision making purposes.
Draw on own technical or professional expertise, knowledge and experience to identify and recommend strategic or tactical solutions to defined problems in practices.
Note potential problems and obstacles, accumulate supporting data and initiate actions to prevent or overcome predicted problems as may be identified.
Constantly monitor the integrity and quality of data and processes to identify deficiencies and facilitate improvement.
Review the effectiveness of related approaches and methodologies by conducting research, and best practice benchmarking initiatives.
Conduct assessments and use information to advise, make recommendations and facilitate improvement.
Communicate the results of their analysis and findings by using data visualisation techniques with both internal and external customers.
To research best practices and support the development of the solutions and recommendations for the current business operations.
Governance
Develop and/or align governance and compliance policies in own practice areas to identify and manage risk exposure liability.
People
Provide specialist know-how, support, advice and leadership in area of expertise.
Finance
Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of specialisation.
Client
Develop and ensure implementation of own practices to build delivery excellence, encouraging others to provide exceptional stakeholder service.
Participate in the specialist practice community and contribute positively to organisation knowledge management.
Provide authoritative, specialist expertise and advice to internal and external stakeholders.
Behavioural Competencies
Problem Solving and Analysis
Analytical Thinking
Attention to Detail
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Conceptual Ability
Accountability
Adaptability.
Diversity Awareness
Expertise in Context
Fairness and Transparency
Honesty and Integrity
Organisational Awareness
Respect
Trust
Technical Competencies
Business Knowledge
Creative and Innovative thinking
Data Analysis
Data Analytics and Computational Modelling
Data Analytics through the use of statistical and computational techniques and tools
Data Collection and Analysis
Database Design and Management
Data Visualization
Efficiency improvement
Functional Policies and Procedures
Information management
Policy Development
Reporting
Deadline:30th September,2026
As a Senior Specialist (Data Scientist) at SARS, you will lead a team of Data Scientists to design, build, and deploy data science solutions in support of SARS' strategic objectives and Modernisation programme. Your leadership will be pivotal in identifying trends and best practices, developing actionable implementation plans, and providing strategic advice to drive business objectives and enhance organisational performance.
Education and Experience
Minimum Qualification & Experience Required
Honours / Postgraduate Diploma (NQF 8) in Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science AND 10-12 years' experience in Data Analytics environment, of which 3-4 years specialist level.
Alternative #
Bachelor's Degree /Advanced Diploma (NQF 7) in Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science AND 12 - 15 years' experience in Data Analytics environment, of which 3-4 years specialist level.
Minimum Functional Requirements
Advanced experience in Data Science/ Data Engineering / Business Data Intelligence.
Expert technical expertise regarding the end-to-end machine learning lifecycle.
Advanced applied knowledge of, and experience with Data tools and platforms (SQL or equivalent, etc.), programming (R, Python, Spark etc.).
Expert applied knowledge of statistics and experience using statistical packages for analysing datasets (SPSS, SAS, R etc.).
Expert Data warehouse knowledge.
Additional Minimum Functional Requirements
Advanced Statistical Analysis and Computational Modelling
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
Data Preparation and Feature Engineering
MLOps and Model Lifecycle Management
Model Validation, Explainability and Responsible AI
Enterprise Data Platforms and Scalable Processing
Advanced Data Visualisation and Analytical Communication
Business Problem Formulation and Value Measurement
Technical Leadership, Quality Assurance and Mentoring
Job Outputs:
Process
Analyse and make recommendations about improvements to specialist systems, procedures, policies and practices.
Proactively identify interconnected problems, determine its impact and use to develop best fit alternatives; developing best practice solutions.
Recommend changes to optimise processes, systems, practice areas and associated procedures and execute the implementation of change and innovation.
Influence and communicate across business areas impacted by practice area to minimise resistance and ensure onboarding of new thinking.
Integrate business information, compare, analyse and produce reports to identify trends, discrepancies and inconsistencies for decision making purposes.
Draw on own technical or professional expertise, knowledge and experience to identify and recommend strategic or tactical solutions to defined problems in practices.
Note potential problems and obstacles, accumulate supporting data and initiate actions to prevent or overcome predicted problems as may be identified.
Constantly monitor the integrity and quality of data and processes to identify deficiencies and facilitate improvement.
Review the effectiveness of related approaches and methodologies by conducting research, and best practice benchmarking initiatives.
Conduct assessments and use information to advise, make recommendations and facilitate improvement.
Communicate the results of their analysis and findings by using data visualisation techniques with both internal and external customers.
To research best practices and support the development of the solutions and recommendations for the current business operations.
Governance
Develop and/or align governance and compliance policies in own practice areas to identify and manage risk exposure liability.
People
Provide specialist know-how, support, advice and leadership in area of expertise.
Finance
Implement and monitor financial control, management of costs and corporate governance in area of specialisation.
Client
Develop and ensure implementation of own practices to build delivery excellence, encouraging others to provide exceptional stakeholder service.
Participate in the specialist practice community and contribute positively to organisation knowledge management.
Provide authoritative, specialist expertise and advice to internal and external stakeholders.
Behavioural Competencies
Problem Solving and Analysis
Analytical Thinking
Attention to Detail
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Conceptual Ability
Accountability
Adaptability.
Diversity Awareness
Expertise in Context
Fairness and Transparency
Honesty and Integrity
Organisational Awareness
Respect
Trust
Technical Competencies
Business Knowledge
Creative and Innovative thinking
Data Analysis
Data Analytics and Computational Modelling
Data Analytics through the use of statistical and computational techniques and tools
Data Collection and Analysis
Database Design and Management
Data Visualization
Efficiency improvement
Functional Policies and Procedures
Information management
Policy Development
Reporting
Deadline:30th September,2026