Head, Data Science Lab

Our client, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) is a dynamic, innovative, independent and self-funded regulator of financial services and pensions; FSRA was established to replace the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) and the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Ontario (DICO).

The organization promotes strong financial services and pension sectors while protecting the public interest. FSRA has responsibility for regulating property and casualty insurance (including auto insurance rates); life and health insurance; credit unions and caisses populaires; loan and trust companies; mortgage brokers; health service providers (related to auto insurance); financial planners/advisors; and pension plans. We are building an agile, forward-thinking and collaborative culture, and FSRA is committed to encouraging innovation and competition, and promoting market integrity and stability. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the regulator of the future.

Your Opportunity to Make Difference

Our client is looking for a strategic leader to head the Data Science Lab who is passionate about leveraging data to inform and support impactful decisions and positive outcomes. You are known as someone who can establish direction from ambiguity, understand which details matter, and guide their team to deliver business results. You will play a pivotal role in helping your team elevate their craft, ensuring that they have the right strategy and are solving the right problems with the best solutions in service to business stakeholders, while growing and nurturing the Data Science Lab and its team members.

As the new Head, Data Science Lab, and as a key member of the FSRA leadership team, you will report to the EVP of Auto Insurance Products and will be accountable for providing direction to the FSRA Data Science Lab, overseeing activities related to the development and management of enterprise data science capabilities, the implementation of machine learning models, automated systems and reporting tools, and the supervising of governance and integration processes to leverage data and analytics in support of FSRA’s regulatory and supervisory efforts.

Key accountabilities include:

• Leading the development and implementation of tools, models, systems, and business intelligence dashboards to support FSRA functional groups in the monitoring and supervision of regulated entities.
• Serving as a data and analytics expert, providing leadership to the Data Science Lab team, creating a enterprise data analytics community of practice for FSRA that promotes collaboration, enterprise data analytics talent development, and meeting the data analytics needs identified across FSRA.
• Developing operational plans for the department, which align with, and support the function’s operational plan and overall FSRA strategic plan.
• Championing and leading critical change and a new collaborative, forward thinking culture within the unit, and works with other departments in FSRA to achieve this across FSRA.
• Collaborating with FSRA executive leadership team members to identify opportunities for improvement related to operationalizing data and analytics capabilities, providing strategic direction and the allocation of resources to the Data Science Lab.
• Directing the planning and implementation of FSRA’s enterprise data analytics strategy and priorities, within the overall vision, strategy and priorities of the Data Science Lab to support FSRA’s principle- based and out-come based regulation.
• Directing the department, managing the budget and its staff to support an environment and culture of service excellence which respects diversity, encourages all employees to work together to achieve results and contribute to a healthy, rewarding and productive working environment where personal and team accountability are key to meeting the FSRA mandate.
• Directing activities and projects performed by the Data Science, Machine Learning Operations, and Integration and Governance teams within the FSRA Data Science Lab to ensure proper execution of duties with emphasis on supporting FSRA’s regulatory and supervisory mandate and the objectives of sector leaders.
• Developing the process, resourcing and business engagement approach for the enterprise data analytics operational model, by delivering high value business projects, augmenting talents and adding value based on core regulated sectors’ priorities.
• Providing strategic advice and expertise to the CEO, FSRA executives and Board of Directors on department plans, priorities and outcomes including strategies, services, and issues/challenges.

Ideal Qualifications:

• Strategic Leadership in Data Science/Data Analytics: A minimum of 10 years’ of progressive experience in leading the data science/analytics function ideally in a financial services or regulatory setting to solve business problems including skills to lead projects from concept to implementation.
• Industry Experience: Expertise in financial services, financial regulation and pensions related databases and data sources is considered an asset.
• Education: University or Post-Graduate Degree in finance, business, law, analytics, mathematics, computer science, information management, statistics or a related field.
• People Leadership: Ability to provide technical leadership and mentoring to data engineers and modelling analysts to create a centre of excellence. Strong leadership and team management skills with an ability to monitor/track performance for enterprise success.
• Data Science Program Delivery: Knowledge of project management strategies, tools, and frameworks including knowledge of best practices related to data governance, data engineering/ modelling and data quality across the development lifecycle, including coding standards, coding reviews, source management, process development, testing, and operations.
• Critical Thinking: Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify business requirements and solve critical business problems using data sciences as an enabling tool. from collecting, organizing, analyzing, and disseminating significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Relationship Management: Exceptional interpersonal skills coupled with a track record of building and maintaining effective working relationships with key internal stakeholders.
• Communication Skills: Proven communication and presentation skills, comfortable engaging with large audiences, C-suite executives and senior management. In addition, the ideal candidate will be able to communicate effectively with business stakeholders/data users, and technical teams to describe data modelling decisions, and data engineering strategies.
• Data Collection/Visualization: Expertise in data collection, transformation and analytical techniques and tools (e.g., data visualization, data mining, machine learning, etc.).

How to Apply

To explore this opportunity, please apply via email by July 14, 2023 or sooner to [email protected] quoting project FSRA-HDSL.

Should you wish to speak to our Executive Recruiter or to receive a detailed position description, please contact or 416-214-9299 x4, [email protected] or Jon Stungevicius at 416-214-9299 x1, [email protected].

All applications will be held in strict confidence. We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Personal information is collected under the authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used for employment assessment purposes only.