Position Description

Watchmaker Genomics is inviting applications for an on-site, full-time position of a Power BI Report Developer in our Cape Town office. This position reports to the Director Operations and Global IT and will play a pivotal role in the design, development, implementation, and management of our organization's Power BI reporting solution. This role is responsible for understanding business data and reporting needs, aligning technology solutions, and ensuring the successful implementation, optimization, and utilization of the Power BI reporting solution with accompanying data related frameworks. The Power BI Report Developer will be a key advocate for leveraging data warehousing and reporting technology to enhance operational efficiency and support data driven business decision making processes.

The role extends to supporting system implementations and integration planning. By collaborating closely with IT software architects, technical teams, and external partners, the individual ensures that the enterprise software implementations are aligned with the organization's reporting requirements.

The successful candidate will thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced working environment and contribute directly to our company culture and success. This position will offer unique challenges, learning and growth including the opportunity to implement global solutions.

Responsibilities:

Collaborate with Stakeholders to Gather and Understand Data Requirements

• Engage with business stakeholders across departments to identify their data analytics needs and requirements.
• Conduct interviews, workshops, and requirements gathering sessions to elicit and document business requirements for reports and dashboards.
• Translate business requirements into technical specifications and data visualization designs.

Design, Develop, and Maintain Power BI Reports and Dashboards

• Utilize Power BI Desktop to design and develop interactive and visually appealing reports and dashboards.
• Create data models, establish relationships between data tables, and define calculated fields using DAX (Data Analysis Expressions).
• Implement data visualization best practices to effectively communicate insights and trends derived from the data.
• Iterate on report designs based on feedback from stakeholders and data consumers to ensure alignment with business objectives.

Optimize Report Performance and Ensure Data Accuracy

• Optimize the performance of Power BI reports and dashboards by applying best practices for data modeling, visualization design, and query optimization.
• Conduct performance tuning activities, such as optimizing DAX calculations, reducing data refresh times, and minimizing report rendering times.
• Implement data quality checks and validation rules to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of data used in reports and dashboards.

Provide Technical Support and Troubleshooting for Power BI Solutions

• Serve as a subject matter expert on Power BI functionality, features, and best practices.
• Provide technical support and troubleshooting assistance to users encountering issues with Power BI reports, data connections, or functionality.
• Diagnose and resolve technical issues related to data connectivity, data refresh failures, visualization errors, and performance bottlenecks.

Document Report Development Processes and Procedures

• Document report development processes, data sources, data lineage, and data transformations for future reference and knowledge sharing.
• Create user guides, documentation, and training materials to support stakeholders in using Power BI reports effectively.
• Maintain documentation repositories and version control systems to ensure the availability and accuracy of documentation assets.

Required Experience:

• Proven Experience Developing Reports and Dashboards with Power BI:
• Demonstrated track record of designing, developing, and implementing Power BI reports and dashboards in real-world business environments.
• Experience working on projects of varying complexity, from simple ad-hoc reports to comprehensive enterprise-level dashboards.
• Strong Understanding of Data Modeling and Data Visualization Principles:
• In-depth knowledge of data modeling concepts, including relationships, hierarchies, and calculations.
• Proficiency in implementing best practices for data modeling to optimize performance, scalability, and maintainability of Power BI solutions.
• Familiarity with data visualization principles such as effective chart selection, color theory, and information hierarchy to create visually compelling and intuitive dashboards.
• Proficiency in SQL for Data Manipulation and Querying:
• Extensive experience writing SQL queries to extract, transform, and load (ETL) data from various sources into Power BI.
• Strong understanding of SQL syntax, functions, and clauses for performing data manipulation, filtering, grouping, and aggregation.
• Experience Working with Various Data Sources and Formats:
• Hands-on experience integrating data from diverse sources such as relational databases (e.g., SQL Server, Oracle), cloud platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS), spreadsheets, flat files, and APIs into Power BI.
• Familiarity with data extraction methods and tools for accessing data from on-premises and cloud-based systems.
• Ability to work with different data formats, including structured data (e.g., CSV, Excel) and semi-structured data (e.g., JSON, XML).
• Ability to Work Independently and Collaborate Effectively in a Team Environment:
• Demonstrated ability to work independently to gather requirements, design solutions, and deliver high-quality Power BI reports and dashboards.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including business stakeholders, data engineers, and IT professionals.
• Excellent Communication and Problem-Solving Skills:
• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written, to effectively communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and team members.
• Strong problem-solving abilities to analyze complex business problems, identify data-driven solutions, and translate them into actionable insights.

The candidate must demonstrate the following skills:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Power BI:
• Mastery of Power BI's features, including data modeling, DAX (Data Analysis Expressions), Power Query Editor, and visualization tools.
• Ability to create interactive and visually appealing reports and dashboards that effectively communicate insights to stakeholders.
• Strong SQL Skills:
• Proficiency in SQL (Structured Query Language) for data manipulation, querying, and aggregation.
• Ability to write complex SQL queries to extract, transform, and load (ETL) data from various sources into Power BI.
• Experience with Data Modeling and Visualization Best Practices:
• Understanding of data modeling concepts such as star schemas, snowflake schemas, and normalization.
• Knowledge of best practices for designing data models that optimize performance and facilitate accurate reporting.
• Ability to select appropriate visualization types and design visually compelling dashboards that enhance data comprehension.
• Knowledge of ETL Processes and Data Warehousing Concepts:
• Understanding of data warehousing concepts, including dimensional modeling, data mart, and data warehouse architecture.
• Experience with tools and technologies for ETL, such as Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) or similar.
• Ability to Translate Business Requirements into Technical Solutions:
• Proficiency in understanding and analyzing business requirements related to data analytics and reporting.
• Ability to translate business needs into technical specifications for designing and developing Power BI reports and dashboards.
• Proficient in Documentation and Reporting:
• Ability to document report development processes, data sources, and data lineage for future reference and knowledge sharing.
• Proficiency in generating detailed documentation, user guides, and training materials to support stakeholders in using Power BI reports effectively.

The candidate must demonstrate the following personal attributes:

• Resilience: The ability to bounce back from challenges and setbacks is important in a role where complex issues may arise;
• Business Acumen: Understanding the business context and how reports supports the organization's decision making ability is important for aligning reporting solutions with the business user’s requirements;
• Attention to Detail: Being meticulous and paying attention to details is crucial for ensuring data accuracy and maintaining data quality;
• Clear Communication: The developer should be able to convey complex technical information in a clear and understandable manner to individuals who may not have a technical background.
• Empathy: Understanding the needs and concerns of various business users is critical for tailoring various reports to meet their requirements.

Qualifications and Education:

• 5+ years post graduation work experience with a proven track record of developing and maintaining reports and dashboards using Power BI, with a Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Analytics, or a related field.
• Advanced degrees or certifications in data analytics or business intelligence may be preferred but not always required.

Additional information:

Through training, knowledge sharing, and user support, the Power BI Report Developer will promote a data-driven culture within the organization. They will empower users to leverage data effectively in their decision-making processes, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Application Procedure

To apply for the position, please submit the following in PDF format

• Letter of motivation
• Curriculum vitae, highlighting relevant qualifications and experience

Applications without a Letter of Motivation will not be considered. Local candidates preferred.

If selected to participate in the interview process, the names and contact information of 3 references who are able to assess your suitability for the position in terms of the specified requirements will be requested.

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WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

Watchmaker Genomics is committed to being an equal opportunity employer and creating a culturally diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability status, age, or veteran status or any other characteristics as protected by applicable law.

All applicants will be asked if currently eligible to work in South Africa; and if now or in the future will require visa sponsorship to continue working in South Africa.

This position may be subject to pre-employment checks, including driving history check, drug screening and a background check for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities. All pre-employment checks will comply with all applicable laws.