Data Science Manager

About the Role

As a Manager – Data Science, you’ll drive the strategy, execution, and impact of data science across Navi’s high-growth businesses. You will lead a team of top-tier data scientists, shaping models and solutions that power critical business functions—from lending and collections to UPI and ads. This role goes beyond technical depth—you're expected to combine sharp analytical thinking with business-first decision-making, drive cross-functional collaboration, and establish scalable systems that deliver measurable value. If you're excited about using data science to solve real-world problems at scale, this is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

What You’ll Own

1. Lead and Develop a High-Impact Team

• Manage, mentor, and grow a team of data scientists

• Foster a culture of learning and professional development

• Guide project execution and support career progression

• Own performance reviews, compensation, and leave management

2. Strategic Vision & Team Performance

• Set clear goals and expectations

• Regularly assess team performance and alignment

• Provide technical leadership and direction

3. Cross-Functional Leadership

• Build strong relationships with business, product, and engineering

• Act as a strategic partner in initiatives

• Drive implementation of data science solutions

4. Model Quality & Monitoring Excellence

• Define metrics and quality standards

• Oversee monitoring and alerting systems

• Ensure reliability, scalability, and impact

5. Drive Cross-Functional Data Science Initiatives

• Lead initiatives on monitoring, cost reduction, and best practices

• Promote strong code management and documentation

6. Planning & Strategic Initiatives

• Lead planning processes (quarterly, annual, long-term)

• Ensure project prioritization aligns with strategy

7. Opportunity Identification & Value Creation

• Identify high-value opportunities with business and product

• Develop innovative solutions that drive outcomes

What Makes You a Great Fit

• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Economics, or another quantitative discipline

• Strong research-oriented mindset and at least 9+ years of experience in data science, advanced analytics, or related fields

• Strong business acumen and ability to partner with business, product, and engineering teams

• Deep expertise in statistics, machine learning, deep learning, and optimisation algorithms

• Proven ability to design, execute, and scale A/B experiments to validate and optimize data science solutions across varied business contexts

• Advanced programming skills in Python and PySpark

• Strong track record in data pipelines, feature engineering, and scalable workflows

• Familiarity with tools and libraries like pandas, scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, SQL, Scala, plus production-grade deployment using Docker, Databricks, and Kubernetes

• Experience in developing, implementing, and monitoring large-scale ML systems

• Demonstrated leadership in managing projects and cross-functional teams

• Experience in People management, team development, and enforcing technical best practices