Senior Model Risk & Validation Lead (AI/ML)

Starling; Manchester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Birthday leave

Enhanced pension

Private Medical Insurance

Life insurance

Volunteer time (16 hours/yr)

Cycle to Work

Perkbox access

Job summary

Starling Bank is seeking a Model Validation Manager to join the Model Risk Oversight Team. You will validate AI/ML models and traditional risk models, act as a senior escalation point, and contribute to risk governance framework development.

You will produce validation reports, engage with developers and owners, and present findings to senior leadership, ensuring timely remediation across the model lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Graduate-level education in a numerical discipline or equivalent work experience.
• Proven track record of building, mentoring, and managing high-performing technical teams of quantitative analysts.
• Extensive experience overseeing a broad portfolio of model types, including AI/ML algorithms and traditional models (IFRS 9, Forecasting, Operational Risk).
• Expert use of analytical tools such as Python/R/SQL/SAS and spreadsheets.

Responsibilities

• Act as a senior escalation point for complex validation challenges and communicate with model developers and senior leadership.
• Support the validations of AI/ML and traditional models across Starling.
• Develop and enhance Model and AI risk governance framework.
• Produce and review validation reports and ensure findings are understood and addressed within timelines.
• Lead on Risk Assurance reviews and preparing committee papers.
• Present high-level validation findings to Senior leadership and stakeholders to enable robust risk management.
• Engage with stakeholders across the model lifecycle to uphold best practices.

Skills

Python

R

SQL

SAS

Communication

Education

Graduate-level education in numerical discipline

Tools

AI/ML risk tools

Job description

Starling Bank is seeking a Model Validation Manager to join the Model Risk Oversight Team. You will validate AI/ML models and traditional risk models, act as a senior escalation point, and contribute to risk governance framework development.

You will produce validation reports, engage with developers and owners, and present findings to senior leadership, ensuring timely remediation across the model lifecycle.