Johannesburg: Technical Lead (Pharmaceutical Data Analytics) (Data Factory) (JHB) posted by Datafin

March 23, 2026 Jobs in Central Johannesburg

Job Description

Technical Lead (Pharmaceutical Data & Analytics) (Data Factory) (JHB)Engineering/Technical ~ IT – Software Development
Johannesburg – Gauteng – South Africa

ENVIRONMENT:

DRIVE strategic business outcomes while translating complex business requirements into scalable technical solutions as the next Technical Lead sought by a dynamic Healthcare Platform. You will serve as the primary technical expert and customer liaison for data management, business intelligence, and analytics solutions within Pharmaceutical organizations. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in Pharmaceutical data ecosystems, strong technical capabilities across Microsoft Azure, Azure Data Factory, and Databricks & SQL Server BI stack, and modern data platforms, with the proven ability to translate complex business requirements into scalable technical solutions that drive strategic business outcomes.

DUTIES:

Client Engagement & Project Leadership –

Serve as primary technical point of contact for pharmaceutical clients on all data management and analytics deliverables.
Lead direct negotiations with customers on timelines, technical requirements, resources, and project scope.
Provide strategic guidance to Sales teams, Market Access teams, and Marketing Departments on leveraging data assets.
Lead ad-hoc business deep dive analysis and present findings to senior leadership.
Collect, analyse, and share data to help make strategic product decisions.
Manage service performance metrics and implement continuous process improvements.
Serve as escalation point for complex technical and data-related issues.

Data Warehousing & BI Solutions –

Specify, design, build, and support data warehousing and business intelligence solutions.
Design and maintain data models used for reporting and analytics.
Create dashboards and KPIs to show business performance to management.
Build various data visualizations to tell the story of trends, patterns, and outliers.
Monitor and tune BI tools to ensure optimum level of performance.
Ensure data accuracy by validating data for new and existing tools.
Support upgrades, configuration and troubleshooting for business intelligence tools.
Modify existing reports, extracts, and dashboards as necessary.

Technical Solution Design & Development –

Design and implement end-to-end data solutions using Azure SQL, Azure Data Factory, and Databricks.
Develop complex SQL queries, stored procedures, and data transformation logic for pharmaceutical datasets.
Build ETL/ELT pipelines using SSIS and Azure Data Factory to integrate data from multiple pharmaceutical sources.
Create analytical reports and dashboards using SSRS, Power BI, and other visualization tools.
Develop Python and R-based data processing and analytics solutions.
Design and implement cloud infrastructure solutions with focus on Azure networking and security.
Optimize Databricks workflows for large-scale pharmaceutical data processing.
Responsible for program design, coding, testing, debugging and documentation.
Own the design and development of automated solutions for recurring reporting and in-depth analysis.
Develop and execute ad hoc queries upon request for data.

Analytics & Strategic Insights

Help the broader team identify new features and business opportunities through your analysis.
Identify development needs to improve and streamline operations.
Conduct comprehensive Data Analysis to support strategic decision-making.
Translate complex analytical findings into actionable business recommendations.

Pharmaceutical Domain Expertise –

Demonstrate deep understanding of pharmaceutical commercial operations and data workflows.
Navigate complex pharmaceutical datasets including claims data, prescriptions, sales data, and market research.
Understand regulatory requirements and compliance considerations in pharmaceutical data management.
Support market access initiatives with data-driven insights and analytics.
Enable sales force effectiveness through advanced analytics and reporting solutions.

Team Leadership & Collaboration –

Provide technical mentorship and guidance to Data Engineering and BI team members.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Data Scientists, Analysts, and business stakeholders.
Create and maintain technical documentation, data management plans, and solution architectures.
Conduct knowledge transfer sessions and training for both technical and business users.
Lead decision-making processes and provide guidance to stakeholders.

REQUIREMENTS:

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Experience/Skills –

5-7 Years of experience in Data Engineering, Business Intelligence, Data Management, or Analytics roles.
5+ Years of experience

Working in IT operations preferably within the Pharmaceutical industry.
Working with pharmaceutical or life sciences data.

3+ Years of experience with Azure cloud platforms and services.
Demonstrated experience supporting commercial Pharmaceutical teams (Sales, Marketing, Market Access).
Strong experience with SQL Server BI stack (SSIS, SSRS).

Required Technical Skills:

Database & Data Warehousing –

Expert-level proficiency in SQL, T-SQL, stored procedures, and database optimization.
Strong experience with MS SQL Server and data warehousing concepts.
Experience with Data Modelling, Dimensional Modelling, and Schema Design.
Knowledge of databases and data storage systems.

ETL & Integration –

Advanced experience with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) for ETL package design and implementation.
Strong experience with Azure Data Factory for cloud-based data orchestration.
ETL best practices and data integration patterns.

Business Intelligence & Reporting –

Proven ability to create complex analytical reports using SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).
Strong experience with SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) for OLAP cubes and tabular models.
Proficiency in Power BI for dashboard creation and data visualization.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including Power Pivot add-in for Data Analysis.

Programming & Scripting –

Proficiency in Python for data processing, analysis, and automation.
Experience with R language for statistical analysis.
Working knowledge of C# and Visual Basic for application development.
Strong T-SQL scripting capabilities.

Cloud & Infrastructure –

Strong experience with Azure SQL and cloud-based data platforms.
Experience with Databricks for large-scale data processing and analytics.
Solid understanding of Azure networking, security, and infrastructure design.
Knowledge of computer systems, security, network and systems administratin.
Firm grasp on IT infrastructure and operations best practices.

Preferred to have

Bachelors Degree in related field.
Azure Certifications (Azure Data Engineer Associate, Azure Solutions Architect).
Microsoft Certifications in SQL Server, Power BI, or related technologies.
Databricks Certification.
Experience with IQVIA data sources or similar commercial pharmaceutical data platforms.
Knowledge of Machine Learning and advanced analytics techniques.
Deep experience working with pharmaceutical commercial data and supporting commercial operations teams.

ATTRIBUTES:

Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with ability to translate technical concepts for business audiences.
Excellent project management skills and strong ability to prioritize.
Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills.
Excellent problem-solving and analytical thinking abilities.
Customer Service excellence with proven ability to build and maintain strong client relationships.
Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Strong organizational skills with attention to detail.
Leadership mindset with ability to mentor junior team members and make decisive decisions.
Comfortable making decisions and leading technical initiatives.
A problem solver and critical thinker who can navigate complex challenges.

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