tbi bank

Head of data science in banking

In short

Head of Data Science role at tbi bank, leading end-to-end development and production deployment of analytical and generative AI models across Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece. The role involves building MLOps maturity, integrating models into pricing, collections, churn and profitability decisions, and leading a team of Data Scientists and ML Engineers. Requires a Master's or PhD in a quantitative field, 5+ years of hands-on data science/ML/GenAI experience (3+ years leading teams), strong Python/SQL and MLOps skills, and fluent English. Hybrid work based in Tbilisi.

About
Do you want to join a well-established bank with a start-up culture? No, we're not joking! We, at tbi, have been one the most profitable banks for years and we are growing at a fast pace. We're a bank with a long history of success that operates as a start-up and we're always on the lookout for new opportunities to grow our business. How do we do that? It's all about our people. Our team is made up of brave, passionate and caring people who don't just want to follow the same path – we want to transform into mobile-first, state-of-the-art lifestyle ecosystem.
Responsibilities
•Lead the end-to-end development and deployment of analytical and generative AI models across Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece, from problem framing to production and measured business value.
•Deliver measurable value: launch models and data products that create profit for the bank, validated by Finance.
•Run all production models under one lifecycle standard: versioned, documented, peer-reviewed, monitored for drift, and recorded in a single model registry.
•Ensure every production model has a clear business owner, a value hypothesis, and a business process able to use it, and decline models the business cannot deploy.
•Integrate models into business decision-making, including the pricing decision engine, customer profitability, collections, churn, and reactivation.
•Establish science-grade practices: experiment design (A/B testing and quasi-experimental methods), reproducibility, peer review, and measurement.
•Increase MLOps maturity through automated deployment, monitoring, and retraining of models.
•Design and deploy generative AI solutions, such as AI-generated insight reports and conversational analytics, and be ready to lead a wider generative AI scope as the bank's Data & AI strategy evolves.
•Lead, develop, and retain high-performing Data Scientists and ML Engineers, building a culture where understanding the business and its data comes before modeling.
•Partner closely with business lines, Finance, Technology, and the other teams of the Data, Analytics & Monetization division across the three markets.
Requirements
•Master's degree or PhD in a quantitative field (statistics, mathematics, computer science, econometrics, physics, or similar).
•At least 5 years of hands-on experience in data science, machine learning, and generative AI, including at least 3 years leading teams, preferably in banking, fintech, or consumer lending.
•A proven end-to-end track record: models you personally took from idea to production with measured business impact, delivered independently.
•Strong hands-on generative AI expertise: large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, AI agents, and safe production deployment in a regulated environment.
•Strong technical depth: Python and SQL, machine learning frameworks, MLOps, and modern cloud data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, Azure).
•Strong command of experiment design, A/B testing, and causal inference.
•Understanding of lending economics (pricing, risk, unit economics, customer lifetime value) and the ability to connect analytical solutions with measurable business outcomes.
•Experience translating complex and ambiguous business problems into practical analytical solutions and presenting results to senior management.
•Ability to lead by doing, combining technical depth with people leadership.
•Fluent English, spoken and written.
Conditions
•Take your career to the next level with real growth opportunities
•Work on exciting, meaningful projects that make an impact
•Be seen and appreciated for who you are and what you do
•Join a vibrant, international team of 23 nationalities who've got your back
•Stay covered with additional private health insurance
•Receive monthly food vouchers as part of your benefits package
•Enjoy exclusive perks & discounts – from Multisport cards to top retailers
•Benefit from special rates on banking products
•Work in the heart of Sofia – steps away from National Palace of Culture and South Park
•Bring your furry friend to work – because every office is better with paws

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