Director of Data Science

AI Futures are the exclusive Search Partner for one of the largest Data & AI transformation programmes in Germany. The new CEO has publicly committed to transforming the business with AI, with significant investment behind the mandate to solidify their position as the No.1 in their sector in Europe. This is a rare opportunity to join a new leadership team at a pivotal moment with the budget, executive mandate, and data assets already in place.

The Opportunity

You will own the translation of data assets into deployed intelligence products that generate measurable EBIT across customer revenue, operational cost reduction, and margin improvement. Reporting directly to the CDAIO (board -1), you will build and lead a midsize Data Science team with direct P&L accountability and co-ownership of business outcomes alongside commercial and operations stakeholders.

• Own the Data Science function end-to-end team leadership, roadmap, prioritisation, and EBIT accountability
• Identify, prioritise, and deliver high-value use cases across customer intelligence (recommendations, marketing mix modelling, personalisation, fraud detection) and operations intelligence (demand forecasting, inventory optimisation, return reduction)
• Co-own business outcomes with commercial, product, and operations stakeholders. You are accountable for adoption rates and EBIT contribution
• Define and embed reusable standards and shared methodologies across use cases to maximise speed and scalability

The Candidate

• Proven track record of turning data science into quantified EBIT impact. You can point to specific products you shipped that moved revenue or reduced cost, with numbers to back it up
• Data Science and ML background with production experience across customer and operations use cases
• Comfortable owning business outcomes at the P&L level you speak the language of EBIT, margin fluently
• Experience building, leading, and developing a high-performing Data Science team with direct disciplinary responsibility
• Credible at C-level able to translate complex data science into commercial language and hold business stakeholders accountable for adoption
• B2C or Retail experience with recommendations, return reduction, or inventory optimisation is a differentiator
• STEM degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or Physics
• English Required, German is a plus
• Based in Germany, comfortable at HQ near Munich two days per week

Package up to €170k

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