Team Leader: Decision Science

Team Leader: Decision Science

Turn data into decisions that shape how South Africa banksWe don't just collect data — we act on it. Every credit decision we make affects real people's lives. That's why we need someone who can lead a team of analytical thinkers, cut through complexity and turn large volumes of data into clear, strategic direction. This role exists to make sure our Decision Science team delivers insight that is accurate, timely and meaningful to the business.

What you'll do

• Lead and develop a team of analysts, setting priorities, reviewing their work and holding a high standard for quality and delivery
• Turn complex data into clear credit and risk indicators that business leaders can act on
• Build and validate predictive models that directly inform our lending decisions
• Extract, aggregate and interrogate data from large relational databases to uncover what the numbers are really saying
• Work across teams to translate what stakeholders need into practical, well-scoped analytical solutions
• Ensure your team's output consistently meets the objectives and standards of the Decision Science function

About the team

Our Decision Science team sits at the intersection of mathematics, technology and business strategy. The work we do here shapes credit decisions across millions of client interactions every year. We work fast, we work precisely and we hold ourselves to a standard that keeps our clients — and the business — in a better position.This is not a team that produces reports for a filing cabinet. Our output moves the needle on real decisions, at real scale.

Why this role is different

You won't be managing upward and waiting for direction. You'll be the person in the room who knows the data well enough to challenge assumptions and the leader experienced enough to get the best out of the people around you.

• Influence – your team's work informs credit strategy at the highest level
• Exposure – you'll engage with senior stakeholders across the business and translate complex technical work into language that drives decisions
• Ownership – you set the pace, the standards and the priorities for your team
• Growth – we invest in people who think critically, lead honestly and bring their full capability to work every day

What we're looking for

• More than 6 years of experience in an analytical science role, with at least 3 years in a leadership or management capacity
• Proven experience extracting and aggregating data from large relational databases
• Strong hands-on skills in data mining and predictive modelling
• Proficiency in SAS, SQL, R or Python
• A solid understanding of machine learning and advanced analytics
• Knowledge of the retail credit environment and the full credit cycle
• Experience managing stakeholders and owning delivery in a fast-moving environment
• The ability to read a complex technical problem and understand its business impact
• An Honours degree in Mathematics or Statistics (a Master's degree is a strong advantage)
• Strong analytical, communication and decision-making skills

Conditions of employment

• Clear criminal and credit record required
• We are committed to diversity. Applications for this role will be considered in support of our employment equity goals.

Ready to lead where it counts?

If you want your work to matter — and your leadership to leave a mark on one of South Africa's most data-driven financial institutions — this is the role for you.

Apply now and tell us why you're the right person to lead this team.