Head Of Model Risk Oversight (Fintech)

TL;DR

Head of Model Risk Oversight (Fintech): Establishing and scaling the Second Line of Defence (2LOD) model risk management framework for hirify.global Bank Europe with an accent on regulatory compliance, AI governance, and independent validation of complex financial models. Focus on building governance structures from scratch, managing technical validation of credit and fraud models, and ensuring alignment with EU AI Act and ECB/EBA standards.

Location: Must be based in or be able to relocate to Spain (Madrid or Barcelona), with occasional travel to Dublin and London.

Salary: €102,000–€138,000 + Incentive Awards

Company

hirify.global is a rapidly growing challenger bank on a mission to make money work for everyone by solving real-world financial problems through innovative technology.

What you will do

• Define and implement the EU-wide Model Risk Management (MRM) framework and validation standards.
• Lead technical 2LOD validation of material and high-risk models, including credit scoring, fraud detection, and stress testing.
• Establish oversight protocols for AI, Generative AI, and LLM use cases in compliance with the EU AI Act.
• Serve as the primary driver for the Model Risk Oversight Committee (MROC) and report to the Board Risk Committee.
• Provide objective technical challenge to first-line analytics and engineering teams.
• Manage regulatory relationships with bodies like the Central Bank of Ireland regarding model risk profiles.

Requirements

• Post-graduate degree (MSc or PhD) in a quantitative discipline (Statistics, Mathematics, Financial Engineering, etc.).
• Extensive experience in quantitative Model Risk Management within a tier-1 or challenger bank.
• Deep understanding of European prudential regulations (ECB/EBA guidelines, IFRS 9, ICAAP/ILAAP, GDPR).
• Hands-on proficiency in SQL and Python.
• Proven track record in scaling model risk governance frameworks from scratch.
• Ability to translate complex statistical concepts into actionable insights for senior management.

Culture & Benefits

• Flexible working hours and a culture of trust.
• 38 days of annual leave including public holidays.
• €1,200 annual learning budget for professional development.
• Private healthcare scheme and comprehensive wellbeing support.
• Relocation assistance to Spain.

Hiring process

• Introductory call with the recruitment team.
• Initial call with the hiring manager.
• Series of role-specific, behavioural, and leadership principles interviews.