VP, Modeling & Data Science

VP, Modeling & Data Science

Lending Club Bank's Decision Science group is seeking an innovative and highly experienced quantitative data science leader to join us as our VP, Modeling & Data Science. This pivotal role will shape the next generation of modeling strategies across Lending Club's enterprise—spanning personal loans, auto, purchase finance, and deposits. As a key member of the leadership team, you will be responsible for setting a clear strategic vision for modeling excellence, including integrating next-generation machine learning (ML), AI capabilities, and advanced data sources into our credit, fraud, and marketing ecosystems.

We're looking for a leader with extensive experience in the consumer lending or Fintech industry who is passionate about leveraging advanced analytics and machine learning to solve complex business problems. You will lead a high-performing team of modelers and partner cross-functionally to build an agile, future-ready modeling infrastructure.

• Set the enterprise modeling strategy across key domains: credit underwriting, fraud detection, marketing targeting, pricing, and operational decisioning.

• Champion AI/ML model innovation and oversee deployment of advanced statistical and ML models across the Lending Club ecosystem.

• Drive the development, enhancement, and governance of a comprehensive suite of models, ensuring performance, interpretability, and compliance.

• Collaborate with Technology to evolve our machine learning platform for scalable experimentation, deployment, and monitoring.

• Lead a team of 6–10 seasoned modeling and data science professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, curiosity, and rigor.

• Build robust partnerships with cross-functional teams including Credit Strategy, Marketing, Risk, Operations, Engineering, and Compliance.

• Evaluate and integrate emerging data sources to unlock new insights and opportunities across our lending and deposit products.

• Set the agenda for continuous improvement in tools, technologies, and methodologies.

• Serve as a modeling thought leader, representing Lending Club in industry forums and regulatory discussions, and benchmarking best-in-class practices.

• Partner closely with Model Risk Management to ensure strong governance and alignment with evolving regulatory expectations.

• Communicate complex technical and business topics with clarity and impact to senior leadership, the board, and regulators, on all aspects pertaining to the management of the modeling/AI/ML function.

• 15+ years of relevant business experience, with a significant portion in consumer lending.

• 10+ years of experience in people management leading and developing teams of modelers, data scientists, or other analytical functions.

• Extensive hands-on experience with predictive modeling methods (e.g., logistic regression, multivariate linear regression, decision tree, cluster analysis), with a strong command of a wide range of advanced data mining and machine learning techniques.

• Deep practical experience and solid understanding of machine learning and deep learning methods (e.g., GBM, Neural Networks).

• Proficiency with leading machine learning and deep learning toolkits (e.g., Tensor Flow, PyTorch, Num Py, Scikit-Learn, Pandas).

• Experience establishing or scaling enterprise-level ML platforms and practices.

• Experience with consumer credit portfolios and data science/decision science/risk management within the banking sector is a significant plus.

• Hands-on knowledge of credit and fraud functions development in a regulated banking or fintech environment.

• Strong understanding of model governance, validation, and regulatory compliance in financial services.

• A systems thinker who is comfortable operating in both strategic and technical dimensions.

• Ability to develop sophisticated quantitative measurements and analyses to address multi-dimensional business needs.

• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to clearly and precisely articulate technical and business topics across all levels of management, including senior executives and regulators.

• Proven ability to influence and drive change cross-functionally, championing new ideas and approaches.

• Deg…