Head of Artificial Intelligence

Andela exists to connect brilliance and opportunity. Since 2014, we have been dedicated to breaking down global barriers and accelerating the future of work for both technologists and organizations around the world. For technologists, Andela offers competitive long-term career opportunities with leading organizations, access to a global community of professionals, and educational opportunities with leading technology providers. At Andela, we're deeply passionate about creating long-lasting and transformative growth opportunities for all - and doing it in an E.P.I.C. way! We're excited to continue building our remote-first team with incredible people like you. After applying for this role, you will join our Andela Community of brilliant technologists by passing a technical screening and live interview. As a community member, you'll have access to a multitude of exclusive technologist roles. Join Andela today to access this opportunity and more in our global marketplace! Our roles are typically filled at lightning speed, so if you're considering applying, get your application in quickly!

About the client

Our client is a pan-African financial services group with interests in banking, asset management, consumer finance and technology, operating hubs in Nigeria and the United Kingdom and serving millions of customers. The group is entering a new strategic phase focused on significant scaling, technological innovation and geographic expansion, and is building out its AI capability to lead that transformation.

About the role

The Head of AI will lead the organization's AI agenda, shaping how AI is applied across customer engagement, risk management, fraud detection, lending, compliance and operational efficiency. This role calls for a visionary leader with hands-on experience in AI, data science and machine learning who can build and scale an AI capability within a regulated financial services environment. You will translate business challenges into AI-powered solutions, build high-performing teams, and deliver measurable business outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Define and own the AI strategy and roadmap aligned with the digital transformation goals
• Champion the ethical and responsible use of AI in financial services
• Identify and prioritize high-impact AI use cases across retail, commercial, risk and back-office functions
• Lead the design, development and deployment of AI-driven solutions (e.g., credit scoring, customer personalization, chatbots, fraud detection, AML monitoring, document automation)
• Partner with product, technology and business leaders to integrate AI into core banking platforms, mobile apps and customer channels
• Ensure scalability, robustness and regulatory compliance of AI models
• Build and lead a multidisciplinary AI team (data scientists, ML engineers, AI researchers, data engineers)
• Establish AI governance frameworks covering model development, validation and monitoring
• Upskill internal teams through AI education, awareness and capability-building programs
• Explore emerging AI technologies (generative AI, NLP, computer vision, federated learning) and assess their application in financial services
• Build strategic partnerships with AI research institutions, fintechs and technology providers
• Represent the organization externally at AI and fintech forums, positioning it as a leader in applied AI
• Ensure AI solutions comply with local and global financial regulations (e.g., data privacy, AML, CBN guidelines, GDPR where relevant)
• Develop AI risk management practices for model bias, explainability and auditability

Must have skills

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Business or a related field
• 12\+ years of professional experience, with at least 5\+ years in AI/ML leadership roles
• Proven track record of delivering AI solutions in banking, fintech or large-scale regulated environments
• Experience with machine learning, deep learning, NLP, generative AI and cloud-based AI platforms
• Experience delivering AI-enabled solutions that drive measurable revenue growth, cost efficiency or risk reduction
• Strong knowledge of financial services processes, risk models and regulatory frameworks
• Proficiency in Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch or similar ML frameworks
• Proven experience building and leading multidisciplinary teams
• Excellent communication skills, able to bridge technical and business teams
• Based in Nigeria and able to work hybrid from Lagos Island
• Fluent English

Nice-to-have skills

• Advanced degree (MBA/PhD)
• Strong understanding of financial ecosystems across Africa and major global markets
• Experience with AI governance, model risk, explainability and auditability frameworks
• Exposure to computer vision and federated learning
• Experience working in complex, high-growth and ambiguous environments

Conditions

• Work setup: Hybrid, 3-5 days a week on-site (flexible), Lagos Island (Marina), Nigeria
• Time zone: UTC\+0, with 8 hours of overlap required
• Contract: 12 months, renewable
• Full-time, 40 hours/week
• Bring your own device (BYOD)
• Eligible location: Nigeria

At Andela, we know our strengths lie in our diverse community whose talents, perspectives, backgrounds and orientations we take pride in. Andela is committed to nurturing a work environment where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Everyone has the right to work in a professional atmosphere that promotes equal employment opportunities and prohibits discriminatory practices. Andela provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to factors including but not limited to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy (including breastfeeding), genetic information, HIV/AIDS or any other medical status, family or parental status, marital status, amnesty or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. This commitment applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Our policies expressly prohibit any form of harassment and/or discrimination, as stated above.