Data Science Lead

About the job

About Paystack

Paystack’s mission is to power African ambition. Over 300K businesses across Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and Kenya use Paystack’s modern payments gateway, including Qatar Airways, MTN, Burger King, UPS, Africa World Airlines, AXA Mansard Insurance, FairMoney, PiggyVest, Crocs, Under Armour, Richemont Lifestyle Group, and many others.

Over the last 10 years, we’ve built products that have helped shape online payments in Africa, from automated recurring payments to direct bank payments and automated chargebacks. Today, Paystack is part of The Stack Group (TSG), a family of technology brands building modern infrastructure across payments, banking, consumer products, and emerging technologies.

At Paystack, we hire talented people, treat them with genuine respect, and give them the space, resources, and support to do the best work of their lives. We’d love your help.

About the Lead Data Scientist role

We are seeking a high-energy Lead Data Scientist with 5+ years of experience in predictive modeling to drive measurable bottom-line impact. Reporting to the Data Analytics Lead, you will own credit risk analytics (Paystack MFB), business forecasting, and strategic predictive projects. You will collaborate with the broader data team and business heads to deploy high-quality, meticulously crafted analytical products that solve complex business challenges.

We’ll trust you to own

Advanced Analytics & Model Ownership

• Strategy & Roadmap: Define the advanced analytics vision by leveraging business acumen and stakeholder relationships to prioritize high-impact projects.
• Infrastructure: Identify and source the tooling and frameworks required to scale advanced analytical capabilities.
• Risk & Forecasting: Develop and maintain core credit risk models (PD/LGD/EAD, default, segmentation) and business forecasting frameworks (revenue, volume, margins) under varying scenarios.
• Optimization: Ensure model integrity through continuous monitoring, back-testing, stress-testing and documentation for auditors and regulators.

Data Lifecycle & Collaboration

• Extract and refine datasets for modeling, partnering with Data Engineering to automate pipelines and ensure rigorous data governance.

You’ll thrive in this role if you

• Passion: Have a deep interest and curiosity in advanced analytics.
• Collaborative: Have exceptional stakeholder management abilities.
• Resilient: Do whatever it takes to make your team successful, no matter the issue—whether sourcing data or getting strategic buy in.
• Communication: Are an excellent and empathetic communicator both verbally and in writing.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Master’s in a quantitative field (Statistics, Economics, Data Science, or similar).
• 5+ years in predictive modeling or data science, ideally within fintech or lending.
• Expert in statistical modeling and time-series forecasting with a proven track record of implementation.
• Advanced SQL for ETL/analysis and expert Python (Pandas, NumPy, Scikit-learn, Statsmodels).
• Experience in building credit risk models (PD, LGD, EAD)
• Experience building and maintaining robust model pipelines.
• Proven ability to translate complex quantitative results into clear, actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders.

Bonus points if you have

• Experience in building application and behaviour scorecards in the credit risk space and in influencing lending decisions
• Experience with dbt, Airflow for orchestration and GitHub for change control
• Experience in using AI to improve quality and efficiency of workflows

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package and benefits
• 13th month bonus
• TSG Equity compensation
• Full medical coverage
• Wellbeing stipend
• Generous leave and sabbatical policies
• Hybrid working environment
• Smart, kind colleagues who are invested in your growth.

Paystack is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We’re committed to providing employees with a work environment that is progressive and open-minded. Our employment philosophy is to hire the best people and empower them to do the best work of their lives. Employment decisions are based on business needs and individual merit without regard to race, color, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, nationality, marital status, gender, or age.