SENIOR BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE (BI) SPECIALIST

The Senior Business Intelligence Specialist role at Postbank’s Head Office in Pretoria is a leadership position within the organisation’s analytics environment, responsible for driving the design, development and implementation of approved BI solutions and data-driven insights. The incumbent operates in line with company standards and guidelines, working closely with business units and the broader Analytics team to translate complex data needs into actionable project goals. This is a senior, specialist-level post that combines deep technical expertise with managerial responsibility, requiring the ability to bridge advanced data science and engineering with executive-level business decisions.

Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning or a related field at NQF Level 7, with an Honours or Master’s degree at NQF Level 8 or 9 considered ideal. The role demands at least five years of relevant business intelligence experience at a specialist level, along with three or more years of managerial or team-leading experience. Prior experience in the banking industry is advantageous, as is a strong working knowledge of the regulatory and governance landscape that governs financial sector data. The ideal candidate will also demonstrate uncompromising integrity, professional ethics, personal accountability, resilience, self-motivation, and a commitment to continuous learning and organisational success.

The technical scope of the position is broad and multi-phased. In core data and BI engineering, the specialist is expected to master database optimisation, automated ETL pipelines, stored procedures, SQL Server tools, Power Query, Power BI with DAX, Tableau, advanced data modelling, row-level security and cloud deployment. In the predictive AI space, proficiency is required in statistical profiling, legacy SAS validation, binary classification, feature engineering for propensity modelling, regression trees, ensemble learning, automated lead scoring, survival analysis, lifetime value estimation and natural language processing for service ticket intent, using tools such as Python, R and relevant libraries. Advanced optimisation and geospatial capabilities include location allocation algorithms, spatial clustering and regression, ArcGIS, constrained optimisation, attribution modelling and marketing mix modelling. Ultimately, the specialist is expected to set architectural patterns and help transform the full analytics ecosystem.

Key duties include providing strategic input into BI and analytics strategies, policies and procedures, and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives. The role involves identifying and recommending new BI tools and visualisation frameworks, as well as inputting into resource and budgetary planning. The specialist manages the full lifecycle of approved BI projects, allocates resources, delegates responsibilities and guides data analysts to ensure delivery within budget and timelines. They lead the development and integration of BI data models, semantic layers and reporting structures, monitor solution performance post-implementation, and ensure operational stability.

Governance and compliance are central to the role. The specialist contributes to data management and governance practices, ensures adherence to the Protection of Personal Information Act, FSCA requirements and Postbank’s internal policies, and safeguards data dictionaries and secure repositories. They review BI models for compliance and optimisation, and address data quality issues for auditable reporting. People management responsibilities include setting role expectations, leading performance cycles, coaching and mentoring direct reports, managing team capacity, partnering with HR on workforce planning, and fostering a positive, inclusive and compliant team environment in line with South African labour legislation.