Senior Director, Data Science - job 13 of 43

As a Senior Director, Data Science at Visa, you will be responsible for leading a data science team focused on supporting our key bank and merchant partners. Your role includes managing multiple project teams, overseeing project workflows from conception to completion, and developing predictive models that address critical business challenges. Additionally, you’ll engage in strategic discussions with clients, manage relationships with offshore teams, and collaborate cross-functionally to enhance project delivery.

To be considered for the Senior Director, Data Science role at Visa, candidates should have significant experience in data science, including building and managing teams. Strong analytical skills and a demonstrated ability to work with large datasets are crucial, alongside excellent communication and collaboration capabilities. A proven track record of leading multiple projects simultaneously and the ability to engage with clients effectively are also essential prerequisites for this position.

The Senior Director, Data Science at Visa plays a vital role in ensuring our clients succeed by leveraging our extensive data to develop creative solutions for their business challenges. By engaging with clients regularly and understanding their unique needs, the Senior Director provides strategic insights and builds predictive models that help our partners drive business impact, ultimately contributing to their growth and the overall success of Visa.

The work environment for a Senior Director, Data Science at Visa is dynamic and collaborative. It’s a hybrid role, which means you can expect a mix of office and remote work. You will work alongside talented professionals, both within your team and across other functions, enhancing your ability to harness Visa's resources to create impactful solutions. The culture promotes innovation, continuous learning, and development, providing a supportive setting for professional growth.

Essential skills for a Senior Director, Data Science role at Visa include strong analytical abilities to synthesize large datasets, exceptional leadership and managerial capabilities to guide a team effectively, and excellent communication skills for presenting insights to various stakeholders. Additionally, a strategic mindset to identify and prioritize impactful opportunities sets the ideal candidate apart, alongside a collaborative spirit to work seamlessly across departments.

In your answer, focus on past leadership experiences that demonstrate your ability to manage and inspire a team of data scientists. Highlight specific projects you've led and the impact those had on business outcomes, showcasing your strong analytical and managerial skills.

Discuss your methodology for understanding client needs and translating them into actionable predictive models. You can elaborate on data sourcing, feature selection, model selection, validation, and deployment, demonstrating a full-cycle understanding of predictive modeling.

Share a specific project that posed significant challenges. Focus on the obstacles you faced, your problem-solving approach, and the results achieved, emphasizing your leadership and resilience in driving project success.

Emphasize the importance of communication and relationship-building across departments. Share strategies you implement to foster collaboration, such as regular meetings, joint projects, and open feedback channels, ensuring everyone is aligned on goals.

Talk about your previous experiences in vendor management, ensuring to highlight how you tracked performance, facilitated onboarding, and conducted periodic reviews to maintain alignment with project goals and deliverables.

Discuss approaches such as fostering a supportive environment, recognizing team achievements, and maintaining open lines of communication to encourage collaboration. Share specific examples of how you've kept morale high during tough projects.

Address the importance of aligning metrics with business goals. Discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) you might use, such as model accuracy, business impact, and client satisfaction, showcasing your analytical mindset.

Provide an example from your career where your data science solutions directly influenced business outcomes. Describe the problem, the analytical approach taken, and the results obtained to illustrate your understanding of data's impact on business.

Share your experience with various data analysis tools and technologies, highlighting your preferences based on factors such as ease of use, scalability, and community support. Mention any specific technologies relevant to Visa’s work.

Express your commitment to continuous learning through online courses, professional networks, attending workshops, or staying updated with industry publications. Showcase your proactive approach to staying current in the evolving field of data science.