Senior Data Scientist

Role Overview

Senior Data Scientist at Emirates Islamic Bank, part of Emirates NBD, located in the United Arab Emirates. Emirates NBD is one of the largest banks in the Middle East, with over USD 6 billion in revenues and 14,000 employees globally.

Company Overview

Emirates NBD has recently established an Advanced Analytics Centre of Excellence to drive the organization's ambitious advanced analytics agenda. The centre aims to deliver 500–800 million AED in business impact through advanced analytics use cases and projects executed in collaboration with business units, and to instill a data-driven culture across the organization by building organization-wide capabilities in advanced analytics. The centre houses highly skilled data scientists, data engineers, and other digital talent who work as integral members of cross-functional squads executing analytics projects. The Advanced Analytics agenda is a high-visibility, high-priority initiative governed at executive committee level, including impact tracking, a ringfenced budget, and performance management.

Role Purpose

The Senior Data Scientist scopes, designs, and implements machine-learning models to support use case execution and achieve overall objectives and targets. The role is highly collaborative, working with product owners, business translators, data warehousing, and data engineering teams to create big data applications using structured and unstructured data, designing optimal data architecture, and experimenting with new machine-learning techniques. The senior data scientist takes charge of end-to-end delivery of machine-learning models, regularly testing and maintaining analytical models to improve efficiency and keep up with changing business needs. The role also includes mentoring junior colleagues in execution of their duties and guiding their professional growth.

Key Responsibilities

Project Delivery

• Deliver a strong roadmap of advanced analytics projects in collaboration with business units.
• Design and implement machine-learning models to support the business's numerous initiatives and programs with a view of achieving overall objectives and targets.
• Lead end-to-end delivery of machine-learning models, including regularly testing and maintaining analytical models to improve efficiency and keep up with changing business needs.

Documentation & Knowledge Management

• Document reusable code successfully.
• Support translators in communicating the design, functioning, and output of analytical models and solutions developed.
• Conduct knowledge-sharing sessions internally within the centre as well as externally in meetups and conferences.

Team & Culture

• Mentor junior colleagues in execution of their duties and guide them in their professional growth.
• Participate in and help plan cultural initiatives for the centre.

Professional Development

• Achieve personal technical development and learning goals.

Qualifications & Experience

• University degree required.
• Advanced degree (MS/Ph.D) in Computer Applications, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related technical discipline with high analytical rigor is desirable.
• Six to eight years of experience in a data science role is essential.
• Validated experience of defining analytics roadmaps and leading analytics engagements.
• Experience in machine learning, statistics, optimization, or related fields.

Skills & Competencies

• Programming experience is a must; specifically in R or Python.
• Experience working with large data sets, simulation, optimization, and distributed computing tools such as Map/Reduce, Hadoop, Hive, and Spark is essential.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working in agile environments with multiple stakeholders from the business.
• Practical and action-oriented mindset.
• Compelling communicator.
• Excellent stakeholder management.
• Foster and promote entrepreneurial spirit and curiosity amongst team members.
• Team player.
• Quick learner.

Additional Information

• Emirates NBD offers extremely competitive rewards, benefits, and perks.
• Flexible work policy enabling remote work as needed.
• Significant professional development opportunities to accelerate career growth.