Lead Data Scientist (m/w/d)

<h2><strong>About the Job</strong></h2> <p>As a key growth accelerator, A11 partners with Europe’s most ambitious startups and scaleups, corporates and SMBs to connect them with top-tier talent ready to make an impact.&nbsp;</p> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">We're looking for a Lead Data Scientist (m/f/d) to own one of the most technically ambitious and commercially consequential AI initiatives in European B2B. Our partner company is a leading B2B mobility and payment solutions provider active in 50+ countries, with around 2,700 employees and €19 billion in transaction volume. As the business enters its next phase, it is investing heavily in data and AI to strengthen its market position at scale.</p> <p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">You will own the full Sales Models portfolio - Next Best Action, Churn, Customer Lifetime Value, and adjacent use cases - and lead a cross-functional team of Data Scientists and Engineers to deliver it. You set the roadmap, the technical standard, and the business case. You translate model outputs into decisions that reach C-level, and field reality into model improvements. This is not a coordination role. You define what gets built, in which order, and why.</p> <h2><strong>In this role, you’ll:</strong></h2> <ul> <li class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Own the product roadmap for the Sales Models portfolio: NBA engine, Churn integration, CLV modeling, and adjacent use cases such as cross-/upsell logic and share-of-wallet estimation</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Lead a cross-functional team of 3-5 Data Scientists and 1-2 Engineers with full functional authority: technical direction, prioritization, sprint cadence, quality gates, and delivery</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Drive integration of sales models into operative systems (Dynamics 365, Power BI) and own the feedback loop between field sales, CRM data, and model iteration - turning market signals into systematic improvements</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Translate GTM requirements into model specifications and model constraints into business-actionable trade-offs for senior leadership, while building the governance infrastructure that makes the portfolio sustainable at scale</li> </ul> <h2><strong>Your Profile:&nbsp;</strong></h2> <ul> <li class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">5-7 years at the intersection of Data Science, AI Product Management, and Engineering, ideally combining two of: a top-tier consultancy data science practice, a Lead Data Scientist role with team responsibility, or an AI/ML PM role at a scale-up</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Technically deep (Python, SQL, ML frameworks, cloud data infrastructure) and able to lead Data Scientists credibly: setting direction on model architecture, reviewing feature engineering choices, and stepping into the code when needed</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">You think in business cases and revenue impact, not just model accuracy - and can communicate trade-offs clearly to both a CCO and a Data Scientist</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Fluent in German and English; willingness to travel within Europe 1-2 times per month</li> </ul> <p>Please note that this position is based close to Düsseldorf.&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>Benefits and Perks:</strong></h2> <ul> <li class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Full ownership from day one: roadmap, team direction, and outcomes - not a slice of someone else's initiative</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">Direct C-level visibility on one of the company's most strategically important AI programs, with a clear path into broader product and leadership roles</li> <li class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">An international environment spanning HQ strategy to field sales across European markets, with flexible hybrid working and additional perks including Jobrad eBike leasing and parent-child offices</li> </ul> <p><em>If you’re eager to join the A11 Ecosystem and shape what’s next, we want to hear from you!</em></p> <h2>Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion</h2> <p><em>A11 is committed to diverse and equal opportunities hiring for all – applicants, candidates, and employees alike. We value humans – with all our glorious multifaceted backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences – and look forward to your application.</em></p>