Sr AI Data Science Manager

KeyBank; Cleveland (OH); Hybrid; USD 116,000 - 216,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Competitive base + incentives

Job summary

KeyBank in Cleveland seeks a Senior Manager, Data Science in the Consumer Bank to lead a team of data scientists delivering AI-powered solutions across sales, onboarding, and servicing. You will drive strategy for generative AI, prompt engineering, data curation, and evaluation while ensuring responsible and compliant practices.

The role combines hands-on technical leadership with people management, enabling ethical, well-documented AI across risk and regulatory requirements and collaboration

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in a quantitative field; 7+ years of relevant data science experience.
• 2+ years of direct people or team leadership experience.
• Deep expertise in ML/AI modeling with Generative AI and LLMs.
• Proficient Python with LLM libraries and data manipulation tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a data science team, setting goals and guiding delivery of AI initiatives.
• Oversee prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation, and model adaptation.
• Ensure model risk, regulatory compliance, and responsible AI practices.

Skills

Data science leadership

Python

LLM tooling

LangChain

Model evaluation

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder communication

Education

Master's or PhD in a quantitative discipline

Tools

Python

Pandas

NumPy

Hugging Face

LangChain

OpenAI API

Vector databases

MLOps

Job description

Location:4910 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn OhioJob SummaryABOUT THE JOB (JOB BRIEF)Within the Consumer Bank, the Senior Manager, Data Science is responsible for leading and developing a team of Data Scientists focused on identifying, building, and critically evaluating AI-powered solutions across a range of use cases, including sales enablement, marketing content generation, enhanced customer onboarding, intelligent servicing, and novel risk assessment methodologies. Leveraging current and emerging Generative AI technologies, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), this leader guides the team's work across prompt and context engineering, data curation, model evaluation, responsible AI practices, and evidence-based recommendations that inform solution design. The role balances hands-on technical leadership with people management, ensuring the team delivers high-quality, well-documented, and ethically sound AI solutions that meet model risk and regulatory requirements while advancing the bank's broader data science strategy.ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONSLead, mentor, and develop a team of Data Scientists, setting clear goals, providing technical guidance, and fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous learning. Manage team workload, prioritization, and delivery across multiple concurrent AI initiatives.Support the strategy for developing and implementing generative AI solutions by guiding the team's work in prompt and context engineering, retrieval-augmented generation, fine-tuning or other model adaptation approaches, experimentation, evaluation methodology, data and ground-truth requirements, and model behavior analysis, while ensuring adherence to model risk and regulatory requirements.Establish and govern internal frameworks for evaluating LLM performance, including metrics for accuracy, fluency, coherence, factual correctness, toxicity, bias, and safety. Ensure consistent standards for data curation, ground truth dataset creation, and adversarial testing across the team.Oversee documentation of model configurations, prompt and context strategies, data and ground-truth assumptions, evaluation methodologies, observed behaviors, limitations, and failure modes. Partner with model validation, compliance, technology, and risk teams to support the safe and ethical deployment of AI applications.Champion improvement techniques such as reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF), supervised fine-tuning or other post-training adaptation methods where appropriate, prompt and context optimization, and bias and safety mitigation to continuously improve output quality, relevance, and trustworthiness across the team's solutions.Serve as a key liaison to business, technology, and risk partners, translating complex generative AI concepts, evaluation findings, and potential risks into clear insights for both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Represent the data science team in cross-functional planning and executive discussions.Build organizational capability by developing team skills and business knowledge, particularly in Generative AI ethics, responsible AI principles, and LLM-specific risk management, while staying current on emerging technologies and industry best practices.REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONSMaster's or Ph.D. in a quantitative discipline and at least 7+ years of relevant experience, including 2+ years of direct people or team leadership.Demonstrated experience leading data science or AI teams, with a proven ability to develop talent, manage delivery, set technical standards, and guide cross-functional partners through complex modeling and evaluation decisions.Deep expertise with traditional Machine Learning (ML)/Artificial Intelligence (AI) modeling practices, with demonstrated experience in Generative AI techniques and a strong understanding of LLM architecture, lifecycle methods, evaluation approaches, capabilities, and limitations.Hands-on experience with statistical coding in Python, including LLM libraries and frameworks (e.g., Hugging Face Transformers, LangChain, OpenAI API) and data manipulation libraries (Pandas, NumPy).Knowledge of and ability to leverage traditional databases, cloud-based computing, and distributed computing. Familiarity with vector databases, retrieval systems, knowledge graphs, orchestration patterns, MLOps principles, and monitoring approaches used to support generative AI models at scale.Knowledge of financial crime regulatory requirements, technology, and data analysis best practices. Strong understanding of AI ethics principles, responsible AI governance frameworks, and regulatory considerations for AI/LLM deployments.Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication skills; ability to translate complex generative AI concepts, evaluation findings, and potential risks to both technical teams and non-technical executive audiences.PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONSExperience in Consumer Banking modeling/analytics, especially in the context of leveraging AI for these domains.Experience building and scaling data science teams and establishing LLM evaluation frameworks, including defining and applying relevant metrics.Familiarity with prompt injection vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies.Experience evaluating Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures, knowledge graph integrations, context-engineering patterns, post-training or model-adaptation approaches, and LLM evaluation frameworksCore CompetenciesAll KeyBank employees are expected to demonstrate Key’s Values and abide by Key’s Code of Conduct.Physical DemandsGeneral Office - Prolonged sitting, ability to communicate face to face in person or on the phone with teammates and clients, frequent use of PC/laptop, occasional lifting/pushing/pulling of backpacks, computer bags up to 10 lbs.TravelOccasional travel to include overnight stay.Work Location CategoryHybrid (3+ days)COMPENSATION AND BENEFITSThis position is eligible to earn a base salary in the range of $116,000.00 - $216,000.00 annually. Placement within the pay range may differ based upon various factors, including but not limited to skills, experience and geographic location. Compensation for this role also includes eligibility for incentive compensation which may include production, commission, and/or discretionary incentives.Please click here for a list of benefits for which this position is eligible.Key has implemented an approach to employee workspaces which prioritizes in-office presence, while providing flexible options in circumstances where roles can be performed effectively in a mobile environment.Job Posting Expiration Date: 10/30/2026 KeyCorp is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to sustaining an inclusive culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, pregnancy, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.Qualified individuals with disabilities or disabled veterans who are unable or limited in their ability to apply on this site may request reasonable accommodations by emailing [e-mail].#LI-Remote