Job Summary
- Employer: Headhunters
- Job Type: Full-time
- Location: Harare, Zimbabwe
- Category: Data Science
- Closing Date: 2026-10-14
Key Responsibilities
- Leads IT and digital transformation projects throughout the full project lifecycle, ensuring effective delivery from initiation to closure and post implementation review.
- Develops and maintains project plans, schedules, budgets, resource plans, governance documents and delivery roadmaps in line with the Organisation’s project management framework.
- Applies appropriate predictive, Agile or hybrid project methodologies and serve as Scrum Master for assigned Agile initiatives.
- Monitors project scope, timelines, budgets, quality, risks, issues and benefits, implementing corrective actions and escalating material variances where necessary.
- Facilitates project governance through Project Boards, Steering Committees and stage-gate reviews, ensuring decisions, actions, risks and dependencies are properly tracked.
- Maintains RAID logs and coordinates cross-functional, vendor, technology and regulatory dependencies to support effective project delivery.
- Ensures project deliverables meet approved quality, acceptance, cybersecurity, data protection, business continuity, regulatory and architecture requirements.
- Manages project financials, procurement requirements, resource forecasts and vendor performance, including expenditure and cost variance monitoring.
- Coordinates benefits realisation, project transition, handover, closure and post-implementation reviews to assess outcomes and realised benefits.
Requirements
- Degree in a quantitative discipline (statistics, mathematics, computer science, data science, econometrics, engineering, actuarial science or related); a postgraduate qualification is an added advantage.
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in data science, analytics or machine learning, or quantitative modelling.
- At least one certification in Azure AI engineer, Databricks Certified ML professional, Google Professional ML engineer, AWS Certified ML Engineer, TensorFlow, PyTorch, Python, Big Data or any vendor specific ML/AI certification.
- Demonstrable track record of taking models from concept through validation to a used, monitored output.
- Demonstrated experience designing and deploying production-grade AI/ML models in a financial services, central banking or regulatory environment.
- Hands-on expertise with some of the following data technologies (Hadoop, Spark, Kafka, Airflow), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn).
- Experience in financial services (risk, fraud, AML, forecasting) is highly desirable.
How to Apply
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications or certifications do I need to become an AI/ML Analyst in Harare?
Most employers require a degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or Engineering from institutions like UZ or NUST. Certifications in Python, TensorFlow, or cloud platforms (AWS/Azure) strengthen your profile, though hands-on project experience often matters more than formal credentials.
What does a typical day look like for an AI/ML Analyst in Zimbabwe?
You will spend mornings cleaning datasets and building models, afternoons presenting insights to business teams, and occasional evenings troubleshooting production issues. Expect to collaborate closely with IT and finance departments, as many Zimbabwean companies are still building data infrastructure.
How is the work culture different for tech roles in Zimbabwe compared to international companies?
Local employers often value versatility over specialization, so you may handle data engineering and visualization tasks alongside core ML work. Hierarchies tend to be more pronounced, with formal reporting structures, though startups and fintechs are adopting flatter, agile approaches.
What career progression paths exist for AI/ML Analysts in Zimbabwe?
With 2-3 years experience, you can advance to Senior Analyst or Data Scientist roles, particularly in banking, telecom, and agritech sectors. Long-term paths include ML Engineering, AI Product Management, or consulting, though senior roles may require relocating to regional hubs like Johannesburg or Nairobi.
What benefits are typically included in full-time AI/ML roles in Harare?
Standard packages usually include medical aid through providers like CIMAS or PSMI, pension contributions to NSSA or private schemes, and annual leave of 20-25 days. Remote work flexibility varies significantly by employer size, with larger corporates offering more structured hybrid arrangements.
How should I apply for AI/ML roles in Zimbabwe, and what do employers prioritize?
Apply through LinkedIn, local job boards like VacancyMail, and directly on company websites, tailoring your CV to highlight project portfolios with measurable outcomes. Employers prioritize demonstrated problem-solving with local datasets, GitHub repositories, and communication skills for explaining technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
