Senior Data Scientist (Pricing Strategist)

ONLY APPLY IF:You're an immediate JoinerAre willing to work on site in Riyadh for 3 month contract duration (with a possibility of extension)Domain: Retail & Corporate Banking – Pricing & AnalyticsRole Overview:We are seeking a Senior Data Scientist specializing in Pricing Strategy to design and optimize advanced pricing models across retail, SME, and corporate banking products. The role requires deep expertise in data science, financial modelling, and regulatory‑compliant analytics, with the ability to influence strategic decisions in one of the largest banks in the Middle East.Key Responsibilities:Pricing Analytics & ModelingDevelop statistical and machine learning models, Bayesian models for loan, deposit, and fee pricing.Conduct elasticity analysis, demand forecasting, and scenario simulations (Monte-Carlo simulations) for banking products.Build dynamic pricing frameworks aligned with Sharia‑compliant banking principles.Establish best practices for experimentation, model validation, and deployment.Business Strategy AlignmentPartner with product, risk, and finance teams to align pricing with profitability and customer value.Provide board‑level insights on revenue impact, margin optimization, and competitive positioning.Support regulatory reporting with transparent, auditable pricing models.Data Infrastructure & GovernanceDefine data pipelines across core banking systems, CRM, and BI platforms.Ensure compliance with SAMA (Saudi Central Bank) regulations and data governance standards.Collaborate with engineering teams to embed pricing models into production systems.Market & Competitive IntelligenceBenchmark pricing against regional and global banks.Monitor macroeconomic indicators (oil prices, interest rates, inflation) impacting pricing strategy.Track customer behavior and digital adoption trends in Middle East banking.Required QualificationsMaster’s/PhD in Data Science, Statistics, Economics, or related field.8–20 years of experience in data science, with at least 5 years in financial services pricing strategy.Strong expertise in:Regression, Bayesian models, ML Models, survival models, clustering, time‑series forecasting, optimization techniques like Linear & quadratic programming, Dynamic programming models, Sotchastic modelling etc.Hands on Simulation, price elasticity optimization, Monte Carlo simulations etc. along with stress testing experience.Machine learning frameworks (Python, R, TensorFlow, PyTorch).Strong knowledge of Statistics and advanced statistical modellingSAS Proficiency (Optional)SQL and cloud data warehouses (Snowflake, BigQuery, Azure Synapse).Proven track record of delivering measurable pricing impact in banking or financial services.Excellent communication skills for executive‑level presentations in English (Arabic would be an add-on)Preferred SkillsExperience in Middle East banking markets.Familiarity with Sharia‑compliant financial products.Knowledge of SAMA regulatory frameworks.Exposure to QlikSense, Power BI, or Tableau for pricing dashboards.