Manager, Data Science at Visa

Job Description

• The Senior Data Scientist is a Manager level role in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) team and positioned within the Visa Consulting & Analytics (VCA) business unit. VCA primarily provides data driven consulting services to Visa clients globally.  We are seeking an innovative and analytical thinker to execute on our data-driven strategies for the SSA sub-region. As a Senior Data Scientist, you are expected to participate in business development, develop descriptive analytics, predictive and prescriptive models and develop context-based proto-types and high impact storyboards to promote a data-driven strategy and solutioning approach for the company and our clients. The role does not currently have any direct reports or line management responsibility.

Principal Responsibilities

• Conducting transactional data analysis and developing advanced statistical models within our distributed computing environment using big data technologies for internal and external clients and stakeholders.
• Identify strategic and tactical innovation opportunities around data and data-related processes that will promote fact-based decisioning processes and scalable solutions.
• Execute and support the strategic direction and the roadmap for the Data Science group in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Work with regional and global Data Science teams to develop high-quality analytic products and solutions that  promote growth and business development for the region
• Contribute to keeping us at the forefront of technical advancement in Data Science by using cutting-edge tools and techniques for generating business insights
• Develop next-generation analytic methods where existing techniques are not adequate to address business challenges
• Collaborate with technology partners to build an Analytics Technology Ecosystem that supports advanced modelling and decisioning.
• Develop, share, and build global best practices and knowledge management within the team
• Socialize innovative new ideas and approaches that are scalable and have market demand
• Communicate effectively to technical and non-technical audiences including developing and delivering effective client presentations.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5+ years of analytics expertise in applying statistical solutions to business problems
• Post-graduate degree (Masters or PhD would be an advantage) in a Quantitative field such as Statistics, Mathematics, Operational Research, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, or equivalent.

Professional Experience

• Experience working in one or more of the Card Payments markets around the globe is an advantage
• Good understanding of the Payments and Banking Industry including aspects such as consumer credit, consumer debit, prepaid, small business, commercial, co-branded and merchants.
• Good knowledge of data, market intelligence, business intelligence, and AI-driven tools and technologies
• Experience planning, organizing, and executing multiple projects with diverse cross-functional teams
• Demonstrated ability to incorporate new techniques to solve business problems
• Demonstrated resource planning and delivery skills

Technical Expertise

• Expertise in distributed computing environments / big data platforms (Hadoop, Elasticsearch, etc.) as well as common database systems and value stores (SQL, Hive, HBase, etc.)
• Ability to write scratch MapReduce jobs and fluency with Spark frameworks
• Familiarity with both common computing environments (e.g. Linux, Shell Scripting) and commonly-used IDE’s (Jupyter Notebooks); proficiency in SAS technologies and techniques
• Strong programming ability in different programming languages such as Python, R, Scala, Java, Matlab, C++, and SQL
• Familiarity with solution architecture frameworks that rely on API’s and microservices
• Familiarity with common data modeling approaches, and ability to work with various datatypes including JSON, XML, etc.
• Ability to build data pipelines (e.g. ETL, data preparation, data aggregation and analysis) using tools such as NiFi, Sqoop, Ab Initio; familiarity with data lineage processes and schema management tools such as Avro
• Proficient in some or all of the following techniques: Linear & Logistic Regression, Decision Trees, Random Forests, K-Nearest Neighbors, Markov Chain Monte Carlo, Gibbs Sampling, Evolutionary Algorithms (e.g. Genetic Algorithms, Genetic Programming), Support Vector Machines, Neural Networks, etc.
• Expert knowledge of advanced data mining and statistical modeling techniques, including Predictive modeling (e.g., binomial and multinomial regression, ANOVA); Classification techniques (e.g., Clustering, Principal Component Analysis, factor analysis); Decision Tree techniques (e.g., CART, CHAID)
• Deliver results within committed scope, timeline and budget
• Very strong project management skills and experience

Business Experience

• Results-oriented with strong problem solving skills and demonstrated intellectual and analytical rigor
• Good business acumen with a trackrecord in solving business problems through data-driven quantitative methodologies. Experience in payment, retail banking, or retail merchant industries is preferred
• Team oriented, collaborative, diplomatic, and flexible style
• Very detailed oriented, is expected to ensure highest level of quality/rigor in reports and data analysis
• Proven skills in translating analytics output to actionable recommendations and delivery  
• Experience in presenting ideas and analysis to stakeholders whilst tailoring data-driven results to various audience levels
• Exhibits intellectual curiosity and a desire for continuous learning

Leadership Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity, maturity and a constructive approach to business challenges
• Role model for the organization in showcasing core Visa Values
• Respect for the Individuals at all levels in the workplace
• Strive for Excellence and extraordinary results
• Use sound insights and judgments to make informed decisions in line with business strategy and needs
• Leadership skills include an ability to allocate tasks and resources across multiple lines of businesses and geographies. Leadership extends to ability to influence senior management within and outside Analytics groups
• Ability to successfully persuade/influence internal stakeholders for building best-in-class solutions
• Change management leadership

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Job Description
Purpose

• To help CyberSource customers manage the risk of taking payments (predominantly credit and debit card) online. This will include analyzing order data to identify emerging fraud trends, developing strategies to mitigate these trends, and working closely with CyberSource customers to implement these strategies using a combination of CyberSource and industry tools.

Principle Responsibilities/Key Results Area

• Work with (typically) 7-12 different ecommerce merchants to help them manage CyberSource risk
• management products to prevent online card fraud
• Develop in-depth knowledge of CyberSource risk management products through research and testing in order to act as subject matter expert to clients.
• Take a proactive approach to staying up-to-date with product developments by monitoring code release notes and knowledge sharing within the team.
• Analyze transaction data with a view to optimizing risk management strategies for clients.
• Produce regular, detailed reports that clearly explain to clients the performance of current risk
• management strategies, and if appropriate, how these can be improved.
• Maintain a detailed knowledge of industry best practice and emerging trends and technologies within payment risk management.
• Deliver occasional training sessions to clients on the use of CyberSource risk products. This may be done over the phone or involve giving presentations, product demonstrations, or whiteboard sessions.
• Occasional to frequent travel required for onsite training, assistance with implementations or periodic business review presentations.

Valid passport required
Strategic Nature, Mgmt. Accountability, & Scope

• Responsible for activities of functional area without direct reports.
• Role is key to executing CyberSource’s business strategy in region (CEMEA), ensuring that ecommerce merchants can transact confidently using CyberSource services.

Decision Making & Complexity

• Independent decision making required on daily basis.
• Required to interpret and analyze complex transaction data and identify patterns and trends, and make independent decisions on fraud screening configuration for merchants based on this work.
• Must be keenly aware of the responsibility involved in such a position, given that their recommendations for fraud screening configuration changes will impact which transactions are accepted or rejected by the ecommerce merchant.

Financial & Organizational Scope

• Individual contributor working within a global team of Managed Service Analysts, all working as individual contributors supporting ecommerce merchants in their respective regions.
• No responsibility for a budget or cost center.

Reporting Relationships & Interactions

• This role reports to the CEMEA Managed Risk Services Regional Director
• This individual will be expected to interact effectively with direct line management and others at a similar level.

Key Competencies

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to write clear and concise reports, and the skills to communicate complex concepts and results to customers via phone and email. 
• Strong presentation skills and ability to prepare PowerPoint slide decks.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills (for example, use of pivot tables, VLOOKUP queries, linking Excel to databases etc.).

Other Comments

General

• Establish, maintain and develop good relationships with Regional and global colleagues to share information, best practices and deliver to business goals.
• Multi-cultural sensitivity and interpersonal relationship management.

Security

• As with all positions within the Company, the jobholder is responsible for the security of the Visa International environment and the physical security of all Visa property, documentation and member information.

Health and Safety

• Give full support to the Company’s health and safety policy and ensure that the policy is effectively implemented and all relevant health and safety legislation is complied with within their area of responsibility and within budgeted resources. 

Business Continuity

• Give full support to the Company’s business continuity policy and ensure that the
• policy is effectively implemented. 
• Ensure familiarity with business continuity plans and support allrelevant activity.

Qualifications
Required Experience (education, skills - professional/technical/business)

• Bachelor degree in Finance, Business, Science, Engineering or Computing
• Minimum of three years of experience working within a fraud team at an ecommerce merchant
• Experience of interpreting results from fraud tools used to combat online card fraud (e.g.
• 3DSecure, device fingerprinting, IP geolocation, velocity, neural scoring etc.)
• Experience of analyzing large sets of transaction data to identify patterns and trends
• Creating clear, concise written reports in summarizing fraud analysis results.
• Preferred Experience (education, skills - professional/technical/business)

Language skills appropriate to merchants within respective region.