Japan Head of Data Science, Visa Consulting & Analytics

Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive while driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

Make an impact with a purpose-driven industry leader. Join us today and experience Life at Visa.

What the Japan Head of Data Science does at Visa:

The Japan Head of Data Science is a key member of the Visa Analytics and Consulting (VCA) team. In this role, you will be responsible for leading a high performing team of data scientists and be accountable for the design, development and implementation of analytics driven strategies and solutions for key Visa clients. You will collaborate with VCA, Business, and Technology teams across the organization to implement solutions to drive business performance.

In this role, you are expected to perform below tasks:

People Leadership

• Lead a team of data scientists to support data science projects for the geo, including project oversight, coaching and professional development

Commercial Acumen/Business Development

• Work with internal, external clients to understand their strategic business questions and lead project scoping, design to answer those questions by leveraging Visa’s data
• Responsible to deliver revenue targets for the cluster across VCA growth catalyst such as strategic benchmarking, data collaboration and data science managed service vertical
• Develop and own relationships with key senior data science, data analytics leaders with clients

Data Science Proficiency and Solution Leadership

• Leverage big data and cutting-edge data mining techniques, provide thought leadership in analytic techniques and business applications to unlock the value of Visa unique data set
• Utilize Hadoop, and related query engines, such as Hive and Impala, to perform advanced data mining.
• Ability to inspire highest level of quality, rigor, thought leadership in reports & data analysis
• Research industry metrics and business context and bring this context to bear in analysis
• Enhancing existing analytic techniques by promoting new methodology and best practices in analytics field
• Oversee deployment and implementation of analytics solutions, and track business value impact
• Develop strategies and recommendations on testing and monitoring analytical model performance in the business context

Project Execution

• Direct the execution of medium to large analytic projects based on business requirements and desired business outcomes.
• Guide team in development of actionable solutions and creation of deliverables that effectively communicate the findings and recommendations
• Defining detailed scope and methodology, creating and executing on the framework with appropriate data science techniques
• Extract actionable business insights from the data and build deliverables that clearly communicate the findings and recommendations
• Actively seek out opportunities to innovate by using non-traditional data and new modeling techniques
• Ensuring all project documentation is up to date and maintain the highest levels of quality in deliverables

This role reports to the Head of Data Science Asia Pacific, matrixed to the Consulting Lead in the Japan cluster. This position is based in Visa Tokyo office.

This is a hybrid position. Hybrid employees can alternate time between both remote and office. Employees in hybrid roles are expected to work from the office 2-3 set days a week (determined by leadership/site), with a general guidepost of being in the office 50% or more of the time based on business needs.

What you will need:
We are looking to hire candidates that have already accumulated a variety of experience, you will be curious about the payments industry, results-driven and client-centric. As a candidate you should have both technical and business acumen:

• 15 years of analytical expertise in applying statistical solutions to business problems
• Proficiency in some of the following statistical techniques: Neural Networks, Gradient Boosting, Linear and Logistic Regression, Decision Trees, Random Forests, Markov Chains, Support Vector Machines, Clustering, Principal Component Analysis, Factor analysis, etc
• Hands on experience with one or more data analytics, programming tools such as SQL, Python, Hive, SAS, R, and a working knowledge of Hadoop ecosystem
• Deep knowledge of the Japan market, and experience in supporting major banking and financial institution clients across Issuing, Acquiring and Merchants businesses
• Experience in several key issuer business areas, such as portfolio management, marketing, product management, operations, risk management, for both credit and debit cards
• Demonstrated experience in planning, organizing, and managing multiple analytic projects with diverse cross-functional stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to innovate solutions to solve business problems
• Strong internal team and external client stakeholder management with a collaborative, diplomatic, and flexible style. Able to work effectively in a matrixed organization
• Excellent presentation skills, including strong oral and written capabilities
• Self-motivated, results-oriented individual with the ability to progress multiple priorities concurrently
• Solutions-focused mindset

What will also help:

• Post graduate degree (Masters or Ph.D.) in Quantitative field such as Statistics, Mathematics, Operational Research, Computer Science, Economics, or engineering or equivalent experience
• Experience in analytics for retail banking, card issuing or consulting to retail banks
• Understanding of Payments and Banking Industry including Consumer Credit, Consumer debit, Small Business, Commercial, Co-Brand and Merchant
• In-market experience and knowledge of local language and culture as well as regulation and industry trends
• Story-boarding and data story-telling including strong PowerPoint and Excel skills

Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.