Head of Department Big Data & Analytics

Reporting to the Chief Finance Officer the position holder will be responsible for defining and owning the vision, strategy, policies and guidelines for Big Data and Analytics and driving excellence in execution. The role holder is responsible to evolve and lead our Big Data and Analytics as a Center of excellence to world class status. This will be through thought leadership on the utilization of our proprietary data as a competitive advantage internally and externally in the market. 

They will leverage our data assets as a strategic differentiator through the enablement of better decision making and maximize value generation driving towards an insights-driven, data-led culture across the organization.

 Key accountabilities and decision ownership: 

• Define and implement the strategy for companywide Big Data and analytics to ensure the user functions needs are implemented and deliver their use case requirements
• Provide thought leadership across the business to drive the adoption of world class practices in the fields of Big Data and analytics to deliver measurable business benefit
• Liaise with EXCO to define specific big data requirements that will aide decision making in line with strategy and mission delivery in their domains and for the wider business
• Use advanced analytics and statistical methods to analyse the company’s data to unlock new opportunities as well as answer complex business questions to understand customer behaviour and business trends
• Contribute to the technology strategy for analytics platforms in liaison with Technology Lead and other key stakeholders to ensure overall Data requirements are met through the use of advanced technologies in the most cost effective and efficient way
• Lead in Building of advanced analytics skills and proficiency across the business to increase the output for decentralized decision making at the lowest level
• Drive an insight driven, data-led culture within the organization
• Implement a Data-first capability for scaled AI impact across Safaricom 
• Embed AI and IA in processes, systems for increased Adoption across the organization 
• Implement AI Digital framework for Safaricom, foundation and associates 
• Deliver an Enterprise CVM AI powered capability (process, system)
• Delivers timely and accurate reports to satisfy statutory and business requirements 
• World class AI capability built, acquired to enhance internally build, commercial value generated through AI (including customer service, revenue, cost and efficiency gains) 
• Identifies key performance and variances, and provides recommendations 

Must have technical / professional qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university in a business-related field and/or information Technology
• Advanced qualifications in Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Computer Science or a related field preferred
• At least 15 years working experience in Analytics or Business Intelligence function
• Strong understanding of data to insight value chain (IoT, Data Integration, Data Management, Big Data, BI, AI/ML) and driving data literacy and insight-to-action capabilities across the company.
• Strong stakeholder engagement ability to relate with internal and external customers and working teams, forging good personal relationships both within and outside the company.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to attract, retain and develop teams of various technical backgrounds
• Deep analytical skills and keen attention to details
• Strong Project planning & delivery capability
• Expert ability to remodel static operational reports into Analytical reports
• Expert ability to work under tight deadlines and without supervision