Director - Research & Development

Maya; Metro Manila; On-site; PHP 3,000,000 - 8,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Maya is seeking a Director to lead our AI Research & Development Pillar—the engine that brings frontier AI into Maya. This is not a vertical delivery role; it is a research function whose mandate is to identify, adapt, and transform cutting-edge AI advances into high-impact solutions that move the needle for Maya’s products, customers, and operations.

The ideal candidate brings a proven track record of building and scaling world-class research organizations, setting multi-year technical vision,

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s degree in CS, OR, Math, Statistics, Engineering, AI, or related quantitative discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in research, machine learning, AI, optimization, or related fields.
• 5+ years building and leading high-performing research teams, including people management.
• Demonstrated ability to define and execute multi-year research strategies with measurable business impact.
• Exceptional ability to influence executives through technical expertise and thought leadership.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Ability to shape organizational strategy through innovation and thought leadership.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the multi-year research strategy and roadmap for the R&D pillar.
• Lead and direct applied research to develop novel algorithms, models, and data-driven solutions.
• Lead high-impact, multi-year research programs from inception through measurable business outcomes.
• Translate complex business challenges into AI/ mathematical formulations with measurable outcomes.
• Architect end-to-end research solutions from concept through production deployment.
• Act as the principal technical advisor to CTO and executive leadership on AI strategy.
• Drive cross-functional initiatives spanning product, engineering, risk, operations, and business teams.
• Build and develop a world-class research organization and hiring plan.

Skills

Executive influence

Analytical thinking

Research judgment

Leadership

Strategy development

Publications

Education

PhD or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Operations Research, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, AI, or related quantitative discipline

Job description

Our goal is for everyone to make bolder choices with their finances.

To get there, we're creating an all-in-one ecosystem of financial services for today's generation of goal-getters. That feat takes extraordinary people-those with the guts to challenge the way things are and transform them into something better.

To be part of Team Maya is to be Bolder for Better.

Description:

Overview:

WeareseekingaDirectortoleadourAIResearch&DevelopmentPillar—theenginethatbringsfrontierAIintoMaya.Thisisnotaverticaldeliveryrole;itisaresearchfunctionwhosemandateistoidentify,adapt,andtransformcutting-edgeAIadvancesintohigh-impactsolutionsthatmovetheneedleforMaya’sproducts,customers,andoperations.Thisleaderwillbridgethegapbetweenthefrontierofacademicandindustryresearchandreal-worldfintechapplication,buildingateamthatoperatesattheintersectionofrigorandimpact.

Theidealcandidatebringsaproventrackrecordofbuildingandscalingworld-classresearchorganizations,settingmulti-yeartechnicalvision,andinfluencingattheexecutivelevel.TheypossessdeeptechnicalbreadthacrossAIresearchdomains—includingLLMs,Audio/SpeechAI,OperationalResearch(Optimization,DecisionScience),CausalAI,andNeuro-symbolicAI)—andhavedemonstratedabilitytotranslatefrontierAIintomeasurablebusinessoutcomesatscale.

Whatyouwilldo:

• Defineandownthemulti-yearresearchstrategyandroadmapfortheR&Dpillar,alignedwithMaya’sbusinessobjectivesandAIvision.
• Leadanddirectappliedresearchtodevelopnovelalgorithms,models,anddata-drivensolutionsthatcreatedurablecompetitiveadvantagesforMaya.
• Leadhigh-impact,multi-yearresearchprogramsfrominceptionthroughmeasurablebusinessoutcomes.
• TranslatecomplexbusinesschallengesintoadvancedAI,mathematical,oroptimizationformulationswithmeasurableoutcomesacrosslending,fraud,marketing,andintelligentoperations.
• Architectend-to-endresearchsolutionsfromconceptthroughproductiondeployment.
• ActastheprincipaltechnicaladvisortoCTOandexecutiveleadershiponAIandoptimizationstrategyacrossMaya.
• Drivecross-functionalinitiativesspanningproduct,engineering,risk,operations,andbusinessteamstoensureresearchtranslatesintodeployed,production-gradesolutions.
• Build,lead,anddevelopaworld-classresearchorganization;definehiringstrategy,setthetechnicalbar,andgrowfutureresearchleaderswithintheteam.

Whatwearelookingfor:

• PhDorMaster’sdegreeinComputerScience,OperationsResearch,Mathematics,Statistics,Engineering,AI,orarelatedquantitativediscipline
• 10+yearsofexperienceinresearch,machinelearning,AI,optimization,orrelatedfields
• 5+yearsofexperiencebuildingandleadinghigh-performingresearchteams,includingpeoplemanagementandorganizationaldevelopment
• Demonstratedrecordofdefiningandexecutingmulti-yearresearchstrategieswithmeasurablebusinessimpact
• Exceptionalabilitytoinfluenceexecutivestakeholdersthroughtechnicalexpertiseandthoughtleadership;publicationrecordorsignificantresearchoutputatrecognizedAI/MLvenuesisstronglypreferred
• Exceptionalanalyticalandproblem-solvingcapability
• Strongscientificrigorandresearchjudgment
• Abilitytoinfluenceexecutivestakeholdersthroughtechnicalexpertise
• Demonstratedabilitytoshapeorganizationalstrategythroughinnovationandthoughtleadership

About Us

Maya is the all-in-one money platform that is bringing Filipinos bolderways to master their money.It is powered by a unique integrated financial services ecosystem that addresses the ever-evolving needs of today’s generation of moneymakers through cutting edge technology.

Welead millions of Filipinos — consumers, businesses,communities, and government agencies alike — into a version ofthe current digital economy that’s more inclusive, transparent,and empowering than ever.

We arepowered by the country's only end-to-end digital payments company Maya Philippines, Inc. and Maya Bank, Inc. for digital banking services.

Maya Bank, Inc. and Maya Philippines, Inc. are regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. https://www.bsp.gov.ph/