Senior Data Scientist, lending portfolio analytics

CMHC - SCHL; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 84,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

A national housing agency in Canada is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to lead financial risk analysis across lending portfolios. The ideal candidate has strong analytical skills and experience with data tools such as Python and SQL. This hybrid role involves collaboration with various stakeholders to provide insights and enhance analytical capabilities. Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits offered.

Benefits

Annual Paid vacation

Performance incentive

Defined benefit pension plan

Comprehensive group insurance plan

Support for personal and professional growth

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of financial risk management, including credit, market, and provision-related risk.
• Proven experience working with mortgage or loan data, including performance tracking and risk modeling.
• Excellent communication skills to translate complex analysis into actionable insights.

Responsibilities

• Analyze financial risks across lending portfolios and identify trends.
• Collaborate with stakeholders on stress testing and loss projection modeling.
• Utilize data tools to extract insights from complex datasets.

Skills

Financial risk management

Data analysis

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics, Finance, Statistics, Data Science

Tools

Python

SQL

Microsoft Power BI

R

SAS

Job description

Job Requisition ID: 11369

Position Status: Permanent Full Time

Position Type: Hybrid

Office Location: Ottawa (ON); Calgary (AB); Halifax (NS); Montreal (QC); Toronto (ON); Vancouver (BC)

Travel Requirement: Limited

Language Designation: English Essential

Language Skill Levels (Read / Write / Speak): ZZZ

Security Requirement: Reliability Status

Salary: Our salaries generally range from $84,699.11 to $105,873.89 and are based on qualifications and experience.

About CMHC

The work you do and the work we do together matters. We come to work every day with a common purpose: to contribute to a well-functioning housing system. At CMHC, we hold ourselves accountable for our results and support our colleagues in their achievements. We thrive on collaboration, connecting across CMHC and involving the right people to get our work done. Our leadership style is guided by trust, where our leaders favour an adaptive approach based on the needs of their teams. Join us and be part of a team that's committed to making a real difference and be part of something meaningful.

What’s in it for you

We’ve got the purpose, the people and the perks you need for a fulfilling career. Here’s the comprehensive and generous benefits you get when you’re a permanent employee:

• Annual Paid vacation
• Annual individual performance incentive
• Defined benefit pension plan
• Comprehensive group insurance plan to support your well-being from day one
• Support towards your personal and professional growth with training, mentorship and more
• An inclusive workplace culture and environment

About the role

Join the Housing Policy and Program team as a Senior Data Scientist, Lending Portfolio Analytics. We are looking for a seasoned risk analytics professional to lead the assessment of financial risks across lending portfolios, leveraging advanced data tools and modeling techniques. This role will drive strategic insights through collaboration, reporting, and governance, while mentoring team members and enhancing analytical capabilities across the organization.

What you'll do

• Analyze financial risks (credit, market, provision-related) across lending portfolios, identifying trends and early warning signals.
• Collaborate with the Chief Risk Office and stakeholders on stress testing, scenario analysis, and loss projection modeling.
• Utilize tools like Python, R, SAS, SQL, and big data technologies to extract insights from complex datasets.
• Develop and automate dashboards and reports using Microsoft Power BI for timely risk communication.
• Address complex business inquiries and maintain recurring risk reports and analytical processes.
• Partner with finance, treasury, and risk teams to align insights with provisioning strategies and regulatory standards.
• Promote data governance by enhancing data quality, reliability, and documentation practices.
• Mentor junior team members and continuously improve analytical frameworks, tools, and methodologies.

What you should have

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics, Finance, Statistics, Data Science, or equivalent experience.
• Strong understanding of financial risk management, including credit, market, and provision-related risk, and the distinction between expected vs. unexpected loss.
• A proven experience working with mortgage or loan data, including performance tracking, provisioning metrics, and risk modeling.
• Advanced proficiency in Python and SQL; experience with R, SAS, or Alteryx is an asset.
• An expertise in building and maintaining Power BI dashboards and reports for technical and executive audiences.
• A demonstrated ability to manipulate large datasets and apply big data technologies in a financial risk context.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex analysis into clear, actionable insights for diverse stakeholders.

It would be great if you also had

• A professional designation such as CFA or FRM (completed or in progress).
• Experience in a financial institution, regulatory body, or risk-focused environment.
• Experience in integrating macroeconomic indicators, interest rate data, and housing market trends into risk analysis.
• Led or contributed to enterprise-wide risk reporting or analytics transformation initiatives.

Posting closing date: Note, the competition will remain active until filled.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

We’re committed to employment equity and encourage women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, veterans and persons of all races, ethnicities, religions, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions to apply. We also welcome applications from non-Canadians who are eligible to work in Canada.

CMHC is an inclusive workplace where diversity of thought—and of people—are recognized, valued, and considered essential to achieving our mission.

Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion

What happens after you apply

We know that applying for a new job can be both exciting and daunting. Learn more about our hiring process. If you are selected for an interview or testing, please advise us if you require an accommodation.

If you applied before and you were not successful, don’t worry—we’re always posting new positions, so don’t hesitate to give it another shot. We’re excited to see what you bring to the table this time around!