Lead Advisor, Data & Technology

Lead Advisor, Data & Technology 

Contract: Full time; 2 years fixed term, renewable

Remuneration: Competitive, based on experience and competence

Location: Nairobi, Lagos, Abuja, Johannesburg, Cape Town

Reports to: Director, Solutions & Innovation  

About us

Africa Practice is a mission-led strategic consulting firm advising investors and development partners across the continent. Our mission is to shape a prosperous Africa that inspires the world. For over 20 years, we have been partnering with global investors, policy-makers, development partners and other changemakers to drive transformation on the continent. 

Our insights and advocacy solutions are rooted in detailed systems and stakeholder understanding. We identify, generate, and analyse human-centred systems data to design impactful advocacy interventions. We deliver our world-class insights and advocacy solutions through our local presence.

We operate as one company, with a diverse team working on a hybrid basis in Abuja, Cape Town, Dakar, Dar es Salaam, Gaborone, Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi, and London. We are risk analysts, development economists, advocates, storytellers, data scientists, policy experts,  systems thinkers and creative minds. Over 80% of our staff are African and over 50% are women. We have been a signatory to the UN Global Compact since 2021 and achieved BCorp certification in 2024. 

About the role  

As Lead Advisor, Data & Technology, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing our data strategy, ensuring we leverage the full potential of our extensive knowledge base and cutting-edge data infrastructure. You will lead a small but dedicated and growing team in building, maintaining, and expanding our data lakehouse, a critical asset for delivering superior insights to our clients and driving impactful advocacy. This is a high-impact leadership position requiring a unique blend of strategic vision, technical expertise, a deep understanding of the African context and a passion for using data to drive positive social impact. 

Responsibilities:

• Data strategy & vision:
  • Define and champion Africa Practice’s overall data strategy, aligning it with our broader business objectives and client needs.
  • Continuously evaluate and refine our data lakehouse architecture and roadmap, ensuring it remains at the forefront of technological advancements.
  • Inform strategic investment decisions related to data infrastructure, tools, and talent.
  • Champion the use of data and AI across the firm, fostering a data-driven culture.
• Data lakehouse management & development:
  • Oversee the ongoing development, maintenance, and optimisation of our GCP-based data lakehouse.
  • Lead the design and implementation of data pipelines, ETL processes, and data quality controls.
  • Work with the team to ensure the scalability, performance, and security of the data lakehouse.
  • Develop and deploy advanced analytics models and machine learning algorithms to extract actionable insights from the data.
• Data governance & security:
  • Constantly refine and enforce robust data governance policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations (e.g. GDPR, POPIA, etc.) and ethical best practices.
  • Oversee the maintenance and enhancement of the company’s infrastructure, ensuring robust cybersecurity measures are in place and ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations.
  • Develop and deliver training programs to promote data literacy and responsible data handling across the firm.
• Operational management:
  • Oversee daily operations of all digital services, ensuring seamless integration and functionality.
  • Manage relationships with outsourced development partners, suppliers and vendors and ensure alignment with internal teams.
  • Monitor and optimise the cost-efficient use of the Google Cloud Platform and other apps and SaaS tools
• Delivery:
  • Lead and mentor a small technical support and data science team.
  • Promote the use of agile methodologies and design thinking across the full lifecycle of product development.
  • Drive continuous improvement in engineering practices, including technical design, development processes, and tools.
• Team leadership & management:
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team consisting of in-house and partner team members
  • Coach data owners and data stewards in other teams at Africa Practice, supporting them with training and technical guidance
  • Foster a collaborative and innovative team environment.
  • Provide technical guidance and support to the team, ensuring they have the resources and skills needed to succeed.
  • Manage team performance, conduct performance reviews, and identify opportunities for professional development.
• Stakeholder engagement:
  Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders (consultants, analysts, leadership) to understand their data needs and translate them into technical requirements.
  • Communicate technical concepts and insights to non-technical audiences in a clear and compelling manner.
  • Present data-driven findings and recommendations to senior management and clients.
  • Act as a subject matter expert on any matters related to data.

What we are looking for:

• An individual with strategic vision, a deep understanding of the African context, a passion for using data to drive positive social impact and the leadership skills required to provide strategic direction and expert counsel across the business effectively
• Proven experience as a data architect, technology director or similar leadership role in a professional services environment or tech startup.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and driving a complex data strategy.
• Extensive experience with cloud technologies, particularly Google Workspace and Google Cloud Platform.
• Deep understanding of data modeling, ETL processes, data lakehouse concepts, and data governance principles.
• Experience working with both structured and unstructured data, and experience with integration of HUMINT networks a strong plus.
• Experience in a consulting environment developing data products or working with external clients is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of agile methodologies, design thinking, and product development lifecycles.
• Deep knowledge of IT systems, infrastructure, cybersecurity principles, data ops and devops.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field; strong background in data science is highly desirable.
• Proficiency with full-stack development and delivery using (some combination of) the following technologies:
  • Expertise in GCP services relevant to data lakehouses (e.g. BigQuery, Dataflow, Dataproc, Cloud Storage, Cloud Composer, Pub/Sub).
  • Proficiency in SQL and at least one programming language (e.g., Python, R).
  • Experience with data visualisation and dashboarding tools (e.g. Tableau, Looker, Data Studio).
  • Familiarity with machine learning techniques and frameworks (e.g. TensorFlow, PyTorch).
  • DevOps/CICD Tools: Github/ Github actions, Docker, Jenkins, Kubernetes, Terraform

What we offer

We offer the successful candidate an opportunity to develop a rewarding career within a dynamic pan-African consultancy advising a prestigious portfolio of clients. This position offers:

• Competitive remuneration

• Immediate opportunities for growth

• Collaboration with a diverse and experienced team of colleagues

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are much less likely to apply for a position unless they meet every single qualification. So this notwithstanding, if you are excited about this role, we would love to hear from you. At Africa Practice, we are dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse and authentic workplace. You might just be the new team member we are looking for - for this or other roles. 

Do you want to contribute to an influential and prosperous Africa, inspiring the world? We’re looking for Africa’s changemakers – smart people with strong analytical, advocacy, digital and problem-solving skills who can reconcile diverse perspectives to deliver sustainable change. 

Please send in your application by clicking on the “apply” button. 

Do include a cover letter explaining why you think you are suited to this position and indicating your availability. Your documents must be entitled with “your name Lead Advisor, Data & Technology”. 

The vacancy is immediately open for suitable applications and will be closed as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. Early applications are advised.