Lead Data Engineer

Who we are:Mama Money is a growth stage fintech startup working to help migrant workers in South Africa send money home. Since 2015 we have been providing reliable remittances, at a socially fair price, to those that need it most. 
Mama HQ is in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa. We are 131 people strong (and counting) from 19 countries across Africa, Asia, the UK, and Europe. Our culture is built around the well-being of our team members and making a difference in our communities. “Just be lekker!” personifies our approach to work: we trust the wisdom of our talented and diverse team to do what is best for our customers and get the job done responsibly, without pedantic policies.  
We’ve been around since 2015 and have earned a few accolades along the way, made some new friends, and expanded our reach. We've had some great times and some tough times, but we continue to focus on helping people rather than maximizing profit. 
We are looking for a Lead Data Engineer to build and grow our Data function of our data intelligence, analytics and engineering at Mama Money. 

As our Lead Data Engineer you will:

• Act as the central point for all queries related to our data and as a key business thought partner for all departments (sales, marketing, customer experience etc.)
• Work alongside our Product and Development team to lead a cross-functional data team (data analysts / data engineers) and build and deliver on the data roadmap in collaboration with all stakeholders 
• Build an AI first data strategy and implement that strategy
• Understand the data and knowledge needs across the organisation and work towards fulfilling them. We want to be in a place where everyone has access to the data they need, when they need it
• Provide interesting data insights on our products performance, focusing on all aspects, from customer acquisition, conversion, retention, commercial performance, user experience, etc
• Develop, scope and define backlog items that guide both your data team as well as present requests / guidance to the product and the Agile development team. 
• Solve data-related problems, make decisions and complete trade-off analysis to stay on track towards business deliverable commitments. 
• Assess value, analysis and dashboard development requirements and oversee the completion of tasks in regard to data analysis, self-service dashboards and data integrations. 
• Create and enforce policies for effective data management
• Formulate techniques for quality data collection to ensure adequacy, accuracy and legitimacy of data
• Devise and implement efficient and secure procedures for data handling and analysis with attention to all technical aspects
• Support others in the daily use of data systems and ensure adherence to legal and company standards
• Assist with reports and data extraction when needed
• Monitor and analyse information and data systems and evaluate their performance to discover ways of enhancing them (new technologies, upgrades etc.)
• Ensure that the necessary elements are in place so that digital databases and archives are protected from security breaches and data losses
• Troubleshoot data-related problems and authorize maintenance or modifications
• Evaluate data trends to enable decision making
• Assist with creating a data driven culture

About you:

• Deep understanding and experience with AI, BI and Data Analysis methodologies.
• Excellent understanding of data administration and management functions (collection, analysis, distribution etc.)
• Familiarity with modern database and information system technologies
• Experience with one or more BI tools (Tableau, Power BI, Qlikview) 
• An analytical mindset with problem-solving skills
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams to deliver on a common goal.
• Stakeholder management.
• Interpersonal skills and developing relationships with team members.
• Outstanding communication, presentation and leadership skills.
• Organizational and time management skills.
• A love for customers and how they interact with our products and services

It would be a bonus if:

• You have a technical background / extensive technical exposure.
• Previously built and AI first data strategy and implemented it.

Why Mama: At Mama Money, the customers & communities we serve are at the heart of all that we do. 
We bring our authentic selves to work where we are free to express our diverse identities while staying true to what we believe in and how we feel. Part of that means being able to have difficult conversations when necessary but always remembering to do so with trust, respect, and a positive mindset. Being open to receiving feedback and understanding how this helps us evolve and grow is essential to succeeding in our environment. 
We are responsible for ourselves, our behaviour, our delivery, and our output. Although we always aim to move things forward and get $hit done, we start small - taking it step by step and always looking for ways in which we can improve. We know from experience that when we work together towards a common goal, we can achieve anything. 
Mama Money is a special place because we care. We care about our customers, we care about the people who work for us and we care about the impact our work has on the world. There are things that we don’t care about too. Things like bureaucracy, discrimination, ego, titles, and silos. We’re a friendly bunch who don’t take ourselves too seriously but we do take our work, and our customers’ hard-earned money, very seriously. 
Mama’s values: 1. Customer & Community 2. Brave & Authentic3. Positive Mindset 4. Responsible Mindset5. Togetherness 
NB: Applications only open to candidates in Cape Town, or candidates who are actively looking to relocate at their own expense.