Data Science Manager at Kuda Bank

About Kuda Bank

Kuda is a full service, app-based digital bank. Our mission is to be the go-to bank not just for those living on the African continent, but also for the African diaspora wherever they might live, anywhere in the world. Kuda is free of ridiculous banking charges and great at helping customers budget, spend smartly and save more. We raised the largest seed round ever seen in Africa, and completed a Series A funding round in February 2021, led by some of the world’s smartest venture capital investors. With offices in London (our HQ), Lagos and Cape Town, and further offices opening across Africa during 2021, Kuda is fast becoming recognised as the leading ‘Neobank’ for Africans.

To help us grow into the company that can bring meaningful change to the way people across Africa get access to great financial products and services in order to take control of their personal finances, we are actively looking for bright, talented, driven people who are excited by our mission. If this sounds like a great way to spend your valuable time, then please get in touch with us.

Role Overview

• As the Data Science Manager at Kuda, you will be responsible for leading a dynamic team of data scientists to develop and deploy machine learning models that drive critical business outcomes across the entire credit lifecycle.
• Your team will focus on building solutions for credit scoring, fraud detection, and collections, while also supporting various other business functions by providing data-driven insights and predictive capabilities.
• You will work with cutting-edge technologies in data science and machine learning, with an emphasis on building scalable, real-time decisioning systems that are integrated into our product offerings.
• This means that your models will not only be developed but also put into production in a way that supports live, real-time decisions, enhancing Kuda’s ability to serve customers with speed and precision.
• Your role will require collaboration across multiple cross-functional teams, including product, business, technology, and data teams, ensuring that all teams are aligned to deliver value through innovative, data-driven solutions.
• As a manager, you’ll foster an environment of continuous learning and improvement, ensuring that your team stays ahead of the curve in terms of industry trends, emerging technologies, and the most effective methodologies in the field of data science.
• Key to your success will be your ability to translate business challenges into data-driven solutions while balancing technical execution with strategic vision.
• Your leadership will help scale Kuda’s impact, bringing high-quality, machine learning-based credit solutions to millions of customers across Nigeria and beyond.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership: Manage and mentor a team of data scientists, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.
• Model Development: Lead the design, development, and deployment of machine learning models for credit scoring, fraud detection, and collections.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with product, engineering, and compliance teams to integrate models into production systems.
• Data Analysis: Analyze large, complex datasets to extract actionable insights and inform business strategies.
• Model Monitoring: Oversee the performance of deployed models, ensuring they meet business objectives and regulatory standards.
• Stakeholder Communication: Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership and other stakeholders.
• Continuous Improvement: Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies to continuously enhance model performance and team capabilitie

Requirements

•  Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 6 years in data science, with at least 2 years in a leadership role managing teams and projects.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Python, SQL, and machine learning libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch). Strong knowledge of cloud environments and services (AWS, Google Cloud).
• Domain Knowledge: Experience in credit risk modeling, fraud detection, or financial services is highly desirable.
• Leadership: Strong ability to lead teams, manage projects, and communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Regulatory Awareness: Understanding of financial regulations and compliance standards, particularly in the Nigerian context.

How to Apply

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