Senior Data Scientist

Pezesha is hiring a Senior Data Scientist to lead advanced credit risk modelling, strategic data insights, and business intelligence initiatives in Nairobi, Kenya. The role focuses on strengthening risk management, improving portfolio performance, and using data science to support product, operational, and business decisions across Africa.

Key Job Information

• Position: Senior Data Scientist
• Level: Expert
• Department: Data Science
• Location: Nairobi, Kenya
• Working Arrangement: Hybrid/Remote options available
• Reports to: Data Science Manager

About Pezesha

Pezesha is an embedded finance company providing affordable and data-driven credit solutions to MSMEs across Africa. The company combines technology, alternative data, and financial partnerships to support financial inclusion and address financing challenges for small businesses.

About the Role

The Senior Data Scientist will lead the development and improvement of credit risk models, strategic insights, business intelligence tools, and data-driven experiments. The role combines technical data science expertise with leadership responsibilities, requiring collaboration with portfolio teams, senior management, and other business functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, test, and iterate credit risk models on a quarterly basis.
• Support portfolio performance by targeting repayment rates above 95% and default rates below 3%.
• Provide data-driven insights and reports to portfolio leads, senior management, and external stakeholders.
• Translate analytical findings into strategies that improve performance and mitigate risks.
• Lead data extraction, cleaning, transformation, and mining processes.
• Build datasets supporting descriptive, predictive, and spatial models for decision-making.
• Design and lead cross-functional experiments to optimize products, processes, and risk strategies.
• Measure and communicate experiment results to support continuous improvement.
• Develop and enhance business intelligence tools to improve product efficiency, Lifetime Value, and gross margins.
• Build and maintain real-time dashboards while supporting accurate finance, lender, portfolio, and internal reporting.
• Enhance exception reporting and apply AI and automation to improve reporting processes and portfolio quality.
• Maintain clear documentation of models, experiments, workflows, and analytical processes.
• Mentor junior data scientists and analysts while supporting team priorities, workload management, and delivery.
• Execute additional data science priorities assigned by the CEO, COO, Data Science Manager, or CDO according to organizational goals.

Key Performance Indicators

• Maintain at least 98% accuracy in Learning Management System data validation.
• Achieve at least 90% completion of planned sprints on time.
• Maintain at least 95% adherence to Service Level Agreements across data services.
• Deliver and track quarterly knowledge-transfer sessions and training for the data team.
• Support a 95% repayment rate and default rate below 3% through credit risk model iterations.
• Deliver at least two BI enhancements or new features per quarter to improve reporting and decision-making.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, Economics, or a related field.
• At least 6 years of proven experience in data science, machine learning, and credit risk modelling, preferably in fintech or financial services.
• Strong expertise in Python, R, SQL, and big data tools.
• Experience with machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, and XGBoost.
• Proficiency in data visualization tools including Power BI, ggplot, or Plotly.
• Strong understanding of credit risk management, repayment behaviour, and portfolio analytics.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.

Why Join Pezesha?

The role offers an opportunity to work on data-driven financial solutions supporting MSMEs across Africa. The position also provides exposure to leadership, regional operations, and real-world challenges in financial technology and financial inclusion.

Pezesha states that the position includes opportunities for growth, leadership, and regional exposure, as well as a competitive compensation and benefits package.

How to Apply

Applicants should send their CV and GitHub link or work samples to [email protected]. The email subject line should be: REF 26 – Senior Data Scientist.