Data Science Analyst

Company Description

Common Purpose, Uncommon Opportunity.  Everyone at Visa works with one objective in mind – ensuring that Visa is the premier option for payments and receipts, accessible to all across the world. This is our international vision and the shared purpose that brings the entire Visa team together. We are a global payments technology firm where technology is pivotal: our VisaNet network can handle over 65,000 transactions per second for individuals and businesses worldwide, empowering them to use digital currency rather than cash and checks. We are also worldwide champions for financial inclusion, cooperating with partners around the globe to assist those who lack access to financial services in entering the global economy. Visa’s sponsorships, including the Olympics and FIFA™ World Cup, recognize teamwork, diversity, and excellence around the globe. If you are passionate about making a positive change in the lives of people worldwide, Visa provides an extraordinary opportunity to develop a solid, successful career. Visa is powered by our team of gifted employees who consistently surpass expectations in providing people all over the world the convenience and security of digital currency. Join our team and see how Visa is exactly where you want to be.

Job Description

Position Summary

The Data Scientist is an Analyst level role within the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) team, based in the Visa Consulting & Analytics (VCA) department. VCA mainly delivers data driven consulting services to Visa clients globally. We are looking for an inventive and analytical thinker to implement our data-driven strategies in the SSA region. As a Data Scientist, you are expected to generate data and business insights, construct predictive and prescriptive models, context-based prototypes, and high impact storyboards to promote a data-oriented strategy and solutions approach for Visa and its clients. This role operates from our Nairobi, Kenya office and is mixed in nature, requiring at least 50% physical presence in the office.

Main Responsibilities

• Serve as an analytics specialist in designing, developing, and implementing top-tier analytic solutions.
• Create and convey powerful insights from data with improved visualization and storytelling.
• Collaborate with internal and external colleagues to fully comprehend business requirements and desired outcomes.
• Show execution proficiency in managing several medium-to-large analytics projects within a team that includes the rest of the Data Science team.
• Draft detailed scope for assigned projects, dealing with proposed methodology and analytics plan.
• Execute on the analytics plan using suitable data mining and analytical techniques.
• Conduct quality assurance of data and deliverables for work performed by other Data Scientists and oneself.
• Ensure all project documentation is current and all projects are reviewed as per the analytics plan.
• Ensure project delivery is within time and budget constraints.
• Build on team’s analytical abilities and business understanding.
• Improve existing analytic methods by promoting new methodologies and best practices in the Data Science domain.
• Provide subject matter expertise and quality assurance of complex data-driven analytic projects.

Qualifications

• A post-graduate degree (Masters or PhD would be beneficial) in a Quantitative discipline such as Statistics, Mathematics, Operational Research, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, or equivalent.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 3-4 years of analytics expertise in applying statistical solutions to business issues
• Experience in one or more Card Payments markets worldwide would be a distinct advantage.
• Good knowledge of the Payments and Banking Industry including aspects such as consumer credit, consumer debit, prepaid, small business, commercial, co-branded and merchant payment solutions.
• Good understanding of data, market intelligence, business intelligence, and AI-driven tools and technologies.
• Experience in planning, organizing, and managing several large projects with diverse cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to incorporate new techniques to solve business problems.
• Demonstrated resource planning and delivery skills.

Technical Expertise

• Expertise in distributed computing environments / big data platforms (such as Hadoop, Elasticsearch) as well as common database systems and value stores (such as SQL, Hive, HBase).
• Ability to write from-scratch MapReduce jobs and familiar with Spark frameworks
• Familiar with both common computing environments (such as Linux, Shell Scripting) and popular IDEs (such as Jupyter Notebooks); proficiency in SAS technologies and methods
• Strong coding skills in various programming languages such as Python, R, Scala, Java, Matlab, C++, and SQL
• Familiar with solution architecture frameworks that depend on APIs and microservices
• Familiar with common data modeling techniques, and the ability to work with various data types including JSON, XML, etc.
• Ability to construct data pipelines (for example, ETL, data preparation, data aggregation and analysis) using tools such as NiFi, Sqoop, Ab Initio; familiar with data lineage processes and schema management tools like Avro
• Proficient in one or more of the following techniques: Linear & Logistic Regression, Decision Trees, Random Forests, K-Nearest Neighbors, Markov Chain Monte Carlo, Gibbs Sampling, Evolutionary Algorithms (such as Genetic Algorithms, Genetic Programming), Support Vector Machines, Neural Networks, etc.
• Expert knowledge of advanced data mining and statistical modeling techniques, including Predictive modeling (for instance, binomial and multinomial regression, ANOVA); Classification techniques (such as Clustering, Principal Component Analysis, factor analysis); Decision Tree methods (such as CART, CHAID)
• Deliver results within agreed scope, timeline and budget
• Strong project management skills and experience
• Capability to travel within the SSA and CEMEA Region.

Business Experience

• Results-driven with a strong knack for solving problems and shown intellectual and analytical rigor
• Good business insight with a record in solving business problems through data-driven quantitative methods. Experience in payment, retail banking, or retail merchant industries is preferred
• A collaborative, diplomatic, and flexible team player
• Extremely detail-oriented, expected to ensure maximum levels of quality/rigor in reports and data analysis
• Proven skills in converting analytics output to actionable suggestions and delivery
• Experience in presenting ideas and analysis to stakeholders while customizing data-driven outcomes to various audience levels

Leadership Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity, maturity and positivity in handling business challenges
• Role model for the organization in showcasing core Visa values
• Respect for all individuals at all levels in the workplace
• Strive for excellence and remarkable results
• Use sound insights and judgments to make decisions in line with business strategy and needs
• Leadership skills include the ability to delegate tasks and resources across multiple business lines and areas. Leadership also includes influencing senior management within and beyond Analytics teams.
• Skill to persuade/influence internal stakeholders in building top-tier solutions.
• Collaborative, diplomatic, and flexible team player
• Displays intellectual curiosity and a desire for continuous learning.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential in accordance with EEO guidelines.