Head/Director of Data Science

Location: Barcelona, Spain

Department: Vector Data Science

We are now expanding our data capabilities and seeking an experienced Head / Director of Data Science to lead and scale our Data Science UA team function in Barcelona.

This role is ideal for a leader with a strong technical background, excellent people-management skills, and the ability to turn data into actionable, high-impact product and business outcomes.

Role Overview:

The Head / Director of Data Science will be responsible for building and growing our Data Science organization, driving advanced analytics and ML initiatives, and ensuring our products and business units are empowered by high-quality insights and predictive capabilities.

You will work closely with Product, Engineering, Revenue, and Leadership teams to translate business needs into DS/ML solutions, strengthen our data infrastructure, and support decision-making across the ecosystem.

This is a strategic and hands-on leadership role with significant influence on product evolution, optimization algorithms, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and scale the Data Science function across the organization.
• Translate business and product goals into clear DS/ML initiatives and execution plans.
• Build and promote a strong data-driven culture across all teams.
• Applied Data Science & ML.
• Oversee development, deployment, and monitoring of ML models across Appodeal’s product and monetization ecosystem.
• Guide experimentation, modeling, uplift measurement, and algorithmic optimization.
• Ensure model quality, reliability, fairness, and performance at scale.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management.
• Partner with Product and Engineering teams to integrate Data Science into product roadmaps.
• Work with business units to identify opportunities, define DS/ML requirements, and deliver impactful insights.
• Communicate DS outcomes, metrics, and recommendations to leadership.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team of Data Scientists, Analysts, and ML/AI specialists.
• Foster knowledge sharing, best practices, experimentation, and continuous improvement.
• Drive hiring, talent development, and team structure optimization.

Data Infrastructure & Governance

• Collaborate with Data Engineering and MLOps teams to ensure robust pipelines, feature stores, and model deployment workflows.
• Improve data quality, observability, and governance standards.

Qualifications:

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Math, or a related field (PhD is a plus).

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in Data Science, Machine Learning, or Applied Analytics.
• 3+ years in a DS leadership role (Lead DS, Head of DS, Director of DS, or similar).
• Demonstrated experience building and leading Data Science teams.
• Proven track record of delivering DS/ML solutions with real business impact.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of ML algorithms, experimentation, predictive modeling, and statistical analysis.
• Hands-on experience with Python, ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn), and analytics tooling.
• Solid understanding of data pipelines, big data technologies, and collaboration with Data Engineering teams.
• Experience with AdTech, attribution, auction mechanics, or optimization algorithms is a strong plus.

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to translate technical concepts into business language.
• Strong decision-making and prioritization abilities.
• Passion for mentoring, coaching, and building high-performing teams.

What We Offer:

• Opportunity to build and lead the Data Science function of a global product company.
• Direct influence on product roadmap and business outcomes.
• Collaborative and international team environment.
• Competitive compensation package and growth opportunities.
• A chance to shape the future of mobile app monetization.