Director, Data Science

Mastercard Inc.; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 154,000 - 247,000; Full time

Job summary

Mastercard Inc. is seeking a Director of Data Science in Vancouver to lead a team focused on merchant risk during onboarding and monitoring.

You will guide the development of a merchant registry and profiling capability, and partner with Product, Engineering, and data science peers to deliver scalable AI-driven risk solutions. Ideal candidates hold an advanced degree, have a track record of deploying ML models at scale, and excel in leadership, collaboration, and communication across diverse

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in data science or related field.
• Experience leading a Data Science team and driving innovation.
• Proven track record deploying high-performance ML models at scale in production.
• Strong Python and SQL skills; experience with scalable ML and cloud frameworks.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication with technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the strategy for solving merchant risk during onboarding and monitoring; develop a merchant registry and profiling capability.
• Lead, coach, and develop high-performing Data Scientists; hiring, mentorship, and performance management.
• Build a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Design scalable machine learning and analytical systems on Databricks and Spark and cloud platforms.
• Establish best practices for problem framing, experimentation, and validation across the team.
• Translate strategic needs into data science roadmaps and deliverables with Product and Engineering partners.
• Drive Agile delivery to support iterative development and measurable outcomes.
• Promote reusable data assets and scalable workflows; communicate strategy and outcomes to senior leadership.

Skills

Data Science leadership

Python

SQL

Agile methodologies

Stakeholder management

Communication

Strategic thinking

Education

Master's or PhD in Data Science/ML

Tools

Databricks

Spark

Cloud platforms

ML frameworks

Job description

Our Purpose Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Director, Data Science Overview The Security Solutions Data Science team is responsible for delivering Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) models that support Mastercard’s Identity and risk products across the payment networks. These models are designed to be production-ready and to power high-value capabilities that protect digital transactions and enable trusted decisioning at scale. Beyond model development, the organization is responsible for building scalable, repeatable, and resilient data science capabilities that cover the end-to-end lifecycle of machine learning solutions, from data acquisition and feature engineering through experimentation, validation, deployment, and monitoring. These systems must not only perform effectively in production, but also be built in a way that is industrialized, maintainable, and aligned with broader business and platform needs. Services within Mastercard is responsible for acquiring, engaging, and retaining customers by managing fraud and risk, enhancing cybersecurity, and improving the digital payments experience. Within this mission, the Identity Data Science portfolio plays a significant role in developing intelligence-driven solutions that improve how risk is understood and managed across the merchant lifecycle. We are looking for a highly skilled and strategic Director to lead a Data Science team that focuses on solving merchant risk during onboarding and monitoring. This role is critical in driving the research and development of a merchant registry and profiling capability within the Identity Data Science portfolio. This includes setting the strategy for how merchant intelligence is built and scaled, guiding the development of reusable data science assets and profiling frameworks, and ensuring strong execution across product, engineering, and data science partners. You will help shape both the technical direction and operational model needed to turn this capability into a durable and scalable advantage.

Role Key responsibilities

• Define and execute the strategy for solving merchant risk during onboarding and monitoring through the research and development of a merchant registry and profiling capability
• Lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams of Data Scientists, including hiring, mentorship, and performance management
• Build a strong team culture focused on collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning
• Guide the design of scalable machine learning and analytical systems using modern data and cloud platforms such as Databricks and Sparks.
• Establish best practices for problem framing, technique selection, experimentation, and validation across the team
• Ensure teams identify appropriate approaches for business problems and rigorously validate solutions against both technical and business outcomes
• Partner closely with Product, Engineering, and other stakeholders to translate strategic needs into data science roadmaps and deliverables
• Drive Agile delivery practices that support iterative development, measurable outcomes, and continuous improvement
• Promote reusable data assets, standardization, and scalable workflows that strengthen long-term execution
• Communicate strategy, progress, trade-offs, and business value clearly to senior leadership
• Balance long-term vision with near-term delivery to maximize impact and time-to-value

All About You Essential Skills to be successful

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD preferred) in Data Science, ML, or related field
• Extensive experience leading a Data Science team and drive innovation with inspiration.
• Experienced being a great people leader but able to dig into the work where necessary
• A proven track record of deploying high performance machine learning models at scale in a production environment
• Strong proficiency with Python, SQL, along with experience using scalable Machine Learning and Cloud frameworks
• Strong ability to guide teams in identifying appropriate techniques and validating solutions rigorously
• Critical thinking and a drive to produce high-quality work, ensuring that all solutions meet rigorous standards
• Demonstrated success translating complex business problems into strategic data science initiatives. Ability to lead through ambiguity and change
• Strong understanding of Agile methodologies, with the ability to drive iterative delivery across cross-functional teams
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication to both technical and non-technical audiences, and leadership skills
• Proven ability to build teams, influence roadmaps, and deliver measurable business value in complex environments
• High-energy and self-driven orientation

Nice to Have

• Experience building or scaling shared data science platforms, registries, or enterprise data assets
• Familiarity with merchant risk, fraud, or identity ecosystems
• Experience driving cross-team standardization and reusable capabilities
• Exposure to governance frameworks for model validation and AI systems

Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role.

In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail] and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must: Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices; Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed; Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.

In line with Mastercard’s total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in Canada, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive pay based on location, experience and other qualifications for the role and may be eligible to participate in a discretionary annual incentive program. This is a pipeline posting for future opportunities within our team.

Pay Ranges

• Vancouver, Canada: $154,000 - $247,000 CAD
• Toronto, Canada: $154,000 - $247,000 CAD

Everyone wants easier ways to pay; we invent them. Checkout lines are slow; we speed them along. Merchants want more sales; we give them data and insights. People need financial access; we connect them. Corporate purchasing is complicated; we make it simple. Commuters are busy; we speed them on their way. Governments need greater efficiencies; we help create them. Small businesses are virtual; we give them access to a world of buyers. Retailers want to fight fraud; we provide the tools.