Senior Director of Data Science [Search, Recommendation, Ranking , Personalisation]

**This role requires relocation to Dubai**About the RoleWe are seeking a Head of Data Science to lead and scale our Data Science team. This is a senior leadership role at the intersection of cutting-edge AI innovation and high-impact production systems.You will be managing a central team including managers, Data Scientists, ML and software engineers) across multiple pillars, including Personalisation & Search, Recommendation, AI optimisation, GenAI and ML platform.Key ResponsibilitiesDevelop data-driven business insights and work with cross-functional stakeholders to identify opportunities and recommend prioritisation of product, growth and optimisation initiativesLead, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of data scientists focused on algorithm development, machine learning, experimentation and advanced analytics.Partner with Product, Engineering, and Design to integrate solutions into scalable, production-grade systems and customer-facing experiencesChampion data-driven decision-making, ensuring that product and strategy decisions are informed by rigorous quantitative analysis.Drive innovation by staying current with emerging research, technologies, and industry best practices in algorithms, optimisation, and applied machine learning.Qualifications10+ years of progressive experience in data science, machine learning, optimisation, or causal inference, including building and deploying algorithms in production systems3+ years of people management experience leading high-performing technical teams, with a proven ability to mentor, develop, and retain top talent.Deep expertise in machine learning, experimental design, causal inference, and statistical methodologies, with a track record of applying them to high-stakes product or marketplace decisions.Experience in algorithm development and prototyping, and with productionizing algorithms for real-time systems.Experience navigating complex, ambiguous problem spaces and guiding teams through prioritisation, tradeoffs, and execution.Strong communication and influence skills, with the ability to engage both technical and executive stakeholders, align priorities, and build consensus.Strong analytical skills, with experience in extracting user behaviour insights from large datasets.