Building a data analytics team: Who to hire and why

Businesses can’t afford to overlook the importance of a strong and effective data and analytics team. It’s the key to unlocking the full potential of your valuable data resources and making informed decisions that drive success.

But how do you build such a team?

Whether you’re starting from scratch or expanding an existing team, finding the right professionals with the right skills and expertise is essential.

In this article, we’ll dive into the roles and responsibilities of different data team members to help you build effective data analytics teams.

1. Data scientists: Experts in extracting insights from complex data

With a background in statistics, mathematics, and computer science, data scientists have the skills to derive valuable insights from intricate datasets.

They leverage their expertise in machine learning algorithms and statistical modeling to develop predictive models that power data-driven decision-making.

Effective communication skills allow data scientists to translate their findings into actionable recommendations for the business.

Here are some data scientist titles and a brief description of when you would hire them:

Data scientist: Generally hired for overall data analysis and modeling.

Machine learning engineer: Hired when there is a specific need to develop and implement machine learning models.

AI research scientist: Hired for advanced research and development of artificial intelligence algorithms and techniques.

Data science consultant: Hired for providing expert guidance and advice on data science strategies and implementation.

Quantitative analyst: Hired to perform quantitative analysis and develop mathematical models for financial or statistical purposes.

Statistician: Hired for in-depth statistical analysis and interpretation of data.

Predictive modeler: Hired to develop models that can forecast future outcomes based on historical data patterns.

NLP scientist: Hired to work on natural language processing projects, such as developing language models or text mining.

Deep learning engineer: Hired when there is a need to build and implement deep learning models and neural networks.

Business intelligence analyst: Hired to analyze business data, generate reports, and provide insights for business decision-making.

2. Analysts: Uncovering patterns and insights in data

Analysts play a crucial role in a data and analytics team by diving deep into data to uncover meaningful patterns and insights.

These professionals have a keen eye for detail and possess strong analytical skills. They use various tools and techniques to collect, clean, and analyze data, helping organizations make data-driven decisions.

Here are some common analyst roles and their responsibilities:

Data analyst: Conducts in-depth analysis of data, identifies trends, and presents findings to support decision-making processes.

Business analyst: Focuses on understanding business requirements and aligning them with data analysis to provide insights and recommendations.

Financial analyst: Analyzes financial data, prepares financial models, and provides insights for financial planning and forecasting.

Market analyst: Conducts market research, analyzes customer behavior, and identifies market trends to support marketing strategies.

Operations analyst: Examines operational data, identifies bottlenecks, and suggests improvements for enhanced efficiency.

Risk analyst: Assesses potential risks and performs risk modeling and analysis to aid in risk management strategies.

3. Data engineers: Building the data infrastructure

Data engineers are crucial members of the data and analytics team, responsible for building and maintaining the infrastructure that supports data analysis. They ensure the data infrastructure is efficient, reliable, and scalable.

These professionals specialize in designing and constructing systems that handle large volumes of data effectively. They work with programming languages such as Python, R, or SQL, and have expertise in data integration, data pipeline development, and data warehousing technologies.

Key roles within data engineering include:

Database administrator (DBA): Manages and maintains databases, ensuring data integrity, security, and availability.

ETL developer: Designs and develops extract, transform, load (ETL) processes to extract data from various sources, transform it into a usable format, and load it into the data warehouse or data lake.

Data architect: Designs the overall data architecture, including data models, data flows, and data storage solutions.

Data pipeline engineer: Builds and maintains data pipelines, enabling the smooth and efficient flow of data between systems and databases.

Data integration specialist: Integrates data from various sources, ensuring consistency and compatibility between different data sets.

Data warehouse engineer: Builds and manages data warehouses, ensuring optimal performance and efficient storage of data.

Cloud data engineer: Specializes in deploying and managing data infrastructure in cloud environments, leveraging the benefits of cloud computing for data processing and storage.

4. Data lake specialists: Experts in managing centralized data repositories.

Data lake specialists are skilled professionals who design, implement, and manage data lakes—centralized repositories for storing and analyzing large volumes of structured and unstructured data. They ensure efficient data storage, exploration, and analysis, maximizing the potential of your data resources.

When to consider hiring a data lake specialist:

If you have large volumes of data from multiple sources.

When you need to handle structured and unstructured data effectively.

If you want to centralize data storage for easy access and analysis.

When advanced data exploration and analysis are required.

Hiring a data lake specialist ensures the proper design, implementation, and optimization of your data lake. They collaborate with other team members to integrate data pipelines and facilitate smooth data operations.

5. Database administrators: Ensuring data integrity and availability

Database administrators (DBAs) play a crucial role in managing and maintaining an organization’s databases. They ensure data integrity, security, and availability.

DBAs optimize database performance, implement security measures, and handle tasks such as monitoring, troubleshooting, and backup and recovery.

Working closely with data engineers and scientists, DBAs provide reliable data for analysis and decision making. They are essential for organizations dealing with large volumes of data and aiming to ensure data quality and optimize database operations.

6. Chief data officer (CDO): Driving data excellence and strategy

Hiring a chief data officer (CDO) is recommended when your organization recognizes the strategic importance of data and wants to establish a dedicated leadership position to drive data excellence and strategy. Here are some scenarios where hiring a CDO can be beneficial:

1. Data-driven transformation: If your organization is undergoing a digital transformation journey and aims to leverage data as a strategic asset, hiring a CDO can provide the necessary expertise and leadership to navigate this transformation successfully.

2. Regulatory compliance: When your organization operates in industries with strict data regulations, such as healthcare or finance, a CDO can ensure compliance, establish data governance frameworks, and protect sensitive information.

3. Data management challenges: If your organization is struggling with data silos, poor data quality, or fragmented data processes, a CDO can bring a holistic approach to data management, ensuring data integration, quality, and accessibility.

4. Maximizing data value: When you want to extract maximum value from your data resources, a CDO can lead the development and implementation of data analytics strategies, driving insights and innovation to support informed decision-making.

5. Cultivating a data-driven culture: If you seek to foster a data-driven culture across the organization, a CDO can promote data literacy, collaboration, and the use of data-driven insights in day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives.

6. Strategic partnerships: When you want to explore strategic partnerships with external data providers, vendors, or industry experts, a CDO can facilitate these collaborations and ensure the organization’s data needs are met.

Hiring a CDO is recommended when your organization wants to prioritize data-driven decision-making, enhance data governance and quality, drive digital transformation, and establish a data-centric culture. The decision to hire a CDO should align with your organization’s goals, maturity in data management, and commitment to leveraging data as a strategic asset.

Choosing roles and structuring your data analyst team

When building your data analyst team, it’s essential to carefully consider the roles you need and how to structure the team to support your business functions. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

Identify core roles: Identify essential roles for your data science team, including data scientists, data analysts, and data engineers. They work together to extract insights, analyze data, and build infrastructure.

Specialized roles: Consider specialized roles like machine learning engineers, business intelligence analysts, or data visualization experts to enhance your team’s capabilities for specific needs.

Flexible team structure: Structure your team based on your goals and resources, either centralized or decentralized, depending on the size, complexity, and culture of your organization.

Support for business functions: Ensure your team understands the business unit and business function they support, allowing them to provide tailored insights and solutions for each function’s specific challenges. This alignment drives data-driven decision-making within different units.

Conclusion

Building a successful analytics and data teams requires careful consideration of the roles and expertise needed to support data-driven decision making. Hiring data scientists, data analysts, data engineers, data lake specialists, database administrators, and a chief data officer can provide a solid foundation for a robust data team. By fostering collaboration, establishing clear roles, and promoting a culture of data-driven innovation, organizations can harness the power of data to drive business strategy, optimize operations, and achieve their business objectives.