About the position
The Bank of Canada has established ambitious enterprise-wide objectives related to digital transformation across the organization, as well as significantly enhancing our ability to leverage big data analytics, machine learning (ML), and a broader use of non-traditional data sources in support of economic research and analysis.

This newly created position is a critical part to meeting these objectives and will take the leadership role in expanding the Bank’s capabilities in the area of Data Science. You will provide broad support for the Bank’s existing and growing data scientist community; providing intellectual and practice management leadership for the use of data science techniques and approaches, and promoting the development of methods, tools, and resources to allow the Bank to benefit from these emerging opportunities. Further, you will develop a small centralized team of data scientists who will provide support to Bank departments as needed. 

The Director, Data Science, will report to the Senior Director of the Bank’s Data and Statistics Office, and work closely with the Managing Director of Economic and Financial Research. 

While this is a permanent position, the Bank is open to interchange or secondment agreements.

Your future responsibilities
As the Bank’s first Director of Data Science, you will be accountable for: 

• developing and implementing a Bank wide strategy for data science support, aligned with a decentralized model, that optimizes support across departments with differing needs and existing capacity
• providing technical and intellectual leadership to ensure integrated, best practice approaches, for data driven solutions across the Bank
• serving as a key resource to client departments across the Bank, advising on the use of advanced analytics/ML for research and analytical requirements; assessing options, development approaches/strategies, supporting engagement with third parties, etc. over the full lifecycle of a project
• actively developing the Bank’s data scientist community, mentoring resources and promoting technical and professional development to enable capability to shape and meet the Bank’s evolving business requirements
• developing and directly leading a small team of data scientists to support research, projects and/or initiatives related to enhancing advanced data analytics capability at the Bank on an as-needed basis
• monitoring and assessing leading edge developments in technologies, tools and approaches to advise on potential benefit to the Bank and recommend potential investments
• leading outreach and engagement with relevant stakeholder communities, including academia, to contribute to leading practice development, knowledge dissemination, and talent management opportunities in the domain of data science
• collaborating on the identification and triaging of projects, initiatives and opportunities for leveraging data for business solutions, based on an understanding of current and emerging business priorities

Your knowledge and skills

• exceptional analytical, research and problem-solving skills
• advanced knowledge of machine learning techniques and statistical methods, with advanced skill and experience with a broad range of statistical/analytic software packages
• strong leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to communicate a long-term vision, create team effectiveness, optimize performance, effect change, coach and provide guidance
• ability to collaborate across functions, supporting and prioritizing work, and recommending optimal solutions
• ability to foster a culture of collaboration and support the development of data scientists across the Bank as well as within a centralized team
• ability to identify, cultivate and leverage external networks and collaborators to develop and expedite the Bank’s knowledge and abilities, while contributing to the broader advancement of the discipline
• ability to exchange information and ideas with others and to clarify complex information, using clear and compelling written and oral communication skills, to advance the quality of decision making
• ability to contribute to creative solutions and new ways to advance the Bank’s analytical abilities

Language requirement
English and French essential (bilingual) with a minimum starting level of functional (level 4) in second official language. Training may be provided to help reach the required level of fully functional (level 5) in second official language.