Vice President, Data Science

Merrick Bank • South Jordan, UT

3d

About The Position

The Vice President of Consumer Lending Analytics is a high-visibility executive leadership role focused on driving growth and improving risk-adjusted returns for Merrick Bank’s Recreational Lending business. This business offers secured installment loans through dealer partners for RVs, boats, trailers, and other recreational products. The VP leads a cross-functional team of data scientists and business analysts, including people leaders and individual contributors, and drives improvements in credit strategy, verification strategy, pricing, valuations, collections, and recoveries.

The role aligns internal resources—including business line partners, finance, legal, compliance, second-line credit risk, and technology—as well as external vendors, to launch initiatives that address business priorities and the needs of partners and end customers. The position is ideally based in South Jordan, Utah; a hybrid or remote arrangement, or another location, may be considered at the hiring manager’s discretion.

The role also carries responsibility for maintaining effective control-system policies and procedures, complying with the Bank’s internal policies and applicable laws and regulations, updating procedures when conditions or compliance issues change, and communicating operational problems, policy violations, or potential unlawful conduct.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field such as business, economics, finance, statistics, engineering, mathematics, or sciences.
• At least 10 years of experience using data-driven analysis to inform business or product strategy.
• At least 5 years of people leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success with progressively increasing scope and responsibility.
• Strong communication skills and ability to present to C-suite leadership.
• Proficiency with SQL or a scripting language such as Python or R.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools, including Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to develop cross-functional relationships and get work done across departments.
• Experience with credit policy and/or pricing strategies.
• High curiosity and learning agility, initiative, and willingness to perform hands-on work.
• Familiarity with consumer financial services regulations.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in consumer financial services or fintech, particularly with indirect and/or secured lending products.
• Experience overseeing the development and launch of machine learning models in a lending business.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and develop a cross-functional team of people leaders and individual contributors, fostering high performance, learning and development, and associate engagement.
• Optimize credit policies, including approval and decline criteria, policy limits, verification requirements, and risk model implementations.
• Develop, monitor, and interpret KPIs and financial metrics to manage the P&L and support strategic decision-making.
• Oversee the roadmap and delivery of data science initiatives, including credit risk underwriting models, for Consumer Lending businesses.
• Conduct data-driven analyses and market research to identify product enhancements, pricing adjustments, and partner and customer experience improvements that improve profitability and market positioning.
• Evaluate internal policies and external solutions to improve customer verification, including income and employment verification.
• Build relationships and collaborate with business line partners, finance, legal, compliance, second-line credit risk, technology, and external vendors to coordinate and implement strategic initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned by senior management.
• Maintain ethical standards, sound judgment, and confidentiality.
• Develop, document, communicate, maintain, and enforce effective control-system policies and procedures within the area of oversight.
• Update policies and procedures in a timely manner when operating conditions change or breakdowns or noncompliance with laws and regulations arise.
• Comply with the Bank’s internal control policies and procedures and applicable laws and regulations.
• Communicate operational problems, code-of-conduct or legal noncompliance, policy violations, and illegal acts.

Benefits

• Competitive pay, including a bonus target or variable pay incentive program.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Wellness programs.
• Group life and AD&D insurance.
• Paid vacation, sick days, and bank holidays.
• Employee engagement activities, including Employee Appreciation Day, DEI Employee Resource Groups, corporate social responsibility, and service recognition.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive