Data Scientist

About Emirates NBD and the Advanced Analytics Centre of Excellence

Emirates NBD is a leading banking institution in the Middle East with over USD 6 billion in revenues and a global workforce of 14,000 employees. Recently, the bank established an Advanced Analytics Centre of Excellence (CoE) tasked with pushing forward its ambitious analytics initiatives across the organization.

The CoE focuses on generating substantial business impact—targeting AED 500-800 million—from advanced analytics projects developed collaboratively with various business units (BUs). It is also responsible for cultivating a data-driven culture by building analytics capabilities throughout the bank. Serving as an enabler, the CoE aids BUs in innovating, prioritizing, piloting, and deploying analytics models across diverse domains through cross-functional analytics teams.

The center comprises expert data scientists, data engineers, and digital professionals working closely within squads to execute analytics projects. This is a high-profile endeavor, with executive-level governance, dedicated budgets, and thorough performance tracking.

Role Purpose

The Data Scientist will lead the full lifecycle of machine learning model development to address business use cases and meet strategic targets. This role demands extensive collaboration with product owners, business translators, data warehousing, and engineering teams to build big data solutions utilizing both structured and unstructured data. Responsibilities include designing efficient data architectures and experimenting with innovative machine learning techniques.

The Data Scientist is expected to continuously validate, test, and optimize analytical models to enhance their effectiveness and ensure alignment with evolving business needs. Additionally, they will assist translators in conveying model designs and results clearly and mentor junior team members, supporting their skill development and growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop a robust project roadmap for advanced analytics initiatives in partnership with business units.
• Design, implement, and deploy machine learning models to support multiple business programs and objectives.
• Document reusable code and artefacts thoroughly for future reference and replication.
• Commit to continuous personal growth by achieving technical learning goals.
• Lead knowledge-sharing sessions both within the CoE and externally at conferences or meetups.
• Contribute to and help organize cultural activities within the Centre of Excellence.

Qualifications and Experience

• Possess a university degree; advanced degrees (Master's or PhD) in Computer Applications, Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, or related technical fields with strong analytical rigor are preferred.
• Demonstrated 6-8 years of relevant experience in data science roles.
• Proven track record in defining analytics roadmaps and leading analytics projects.
• Expertise in machine learning, statistics, optimization, or allied disciplines.
• Proficient programming skills, especially in R or Python.
• Experience with large-scale datasets and technologies like MapReduce, Hadoop, Hive, and Spark.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Familiarity with agile methodologies and working with multiple business stakeholders.

Behavioral Competencies

• Pragmatic and result-driven mindset.
• Effective and persuasive communication skills.
• Exemplary stakeholder management abilities.
• Encourages entrepreneurial thinking and curiosity within the team.
• Collaborative team player.
• Rapid learner adapting quickly to new challenges.

Additional Information

Joining Emirates NBD offers exposure to one of the region's most prestigious brands recognized for innovation and growth across the UAE and internationally. The bank provides extensive professional development opportunities and competitive compensation packages, including a flexible work-from-home policy that allows employees to accommodate work preferences where feasible.

Interested candidates are encouraged to align their skills and experience with the outlined responsibilities and qualifications before applying.