Data Science Unit Professional Lead

Description:

The incumbent is responsible for the professional leadership of research data management, biostatistics, big data, bioinformatics and health informatics activities at AHRI. The incumbent will work closely with the academic data science lead (an AHRI faculty member) to support AHRI’s strategic objectives and to provide data science expertise and leadership across the research cycle for scientific studies conducted at AHRI.

Overview of Duties:

• Professional leadership of research data management, biostatistics, AI & ML analytics, bioinformatics and health informatics activities at AHRI.
• Providing data science expertise and leadership to AHRI investigators across the research cycle - from hypothesis generation, study design, proposal development, to study implementation and conduct, data analysis, dissemination of findings and curation.
• Managing, supervision and mentoring the research data management, biostatistics, AI & ML analytics and health informatics teams.
• Overall responsibility to enhance research data analysis and data quality at AHRI and the incorporation of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and AI agent support across the research cycle.

Minimum qualifications:

• PhD in Statistics, Data Science or related field, or MSc with equivalent research experience in medical research.

Minimum experience:

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience as a lead statistician, bioinformatician or data scientist in medical research.
• At least five years’ experience in managing, supervising and mentoring of research staff.
• Experience leading analyses of large and complex longitudinal datasets.
• Proven ability to work effectively in multi-disciplinary research teams.
• Excellent knowledge of statistical software or high-level programming language (e.g. R, Stata, Python, Julia).

Skills required:

• Effective project and people management skills.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workload effectively.
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Excellent problem identification and solving skills.
• Accuracy and precision.
• Must be able to work under pressure.

Worker Type:

Employee

The application closing date:

1 Aug 2026

AHRI is a values-driven organisation. As an employer we are committed to staff engagement and development. Our culture is one of high performance and partnership.

Our values
The successful candidate will be expected to live by AHRI’s values, including collaboration, ubuntu, leadership, innovation, transformation, and excellence.
 
 
Employment equity
AHRI is fully compliant with South African labour law and is committed to employment equity. This position is primarily open to South African or other African applicants, with a valid work permit desirable. AHRI reserves the right in special circumstances to accept late applications or to extend the above date to facilitate further searches. Furthermore, AHRI reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted, kindly consider your application as unsuccessful if you do not hear from us within 14 days of the application closing date.