Vice President – Model Validation

About the role

Lead the bank‑wide independent model validation and governance framework across risk, finance, compliance and business decisioning models, ensuring robust validation and proactive model risk management in line with CBUAE standards and global best practices.

Key responsibilities

• Lead independent validation of risk, finance, business and compliance models, assessing methodology, data, assumptions, performance, implementation and documentation.
• Own the end‑to‑end model governance lifecycle, maintaining model inventory, tiering, ownership and policy standards.
• Define and monitor model risk appetite, thresholds and exposures, tracking validation findings and escalating material issues.
• Engage with Model Management and Board Model committees, presenting validation outcomes and recommendations.
• Ensure compliance with CBUAE Model Management Standards and support audit and regulatory reviews.
• Establish validation standards for AI/ML models, assessing explainability, bias, stability and model drift.
• Partner with Risk, Finance, Compliance, IT and Business teams to provide independent challenge and advisory.
• Lead and develop a high‑performing validation and governance team, building capabilities in quantitative validation and AI/ML.

Required profile

• Master’s or higher in a quantitative discipline (Economics, Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Finance, Engineering).
• 12–15 years of experience in model validation or model risk management across risk, finance and compliance models.
• Strong exposure to CBUAE Model Management Standards and UAE banking regulations.
• Hands‑on experience with AI/ML model validation and governance frameworks.

Required skills

• Model validation techniques and performance testing.
• Model risk management and governance.
• AI/ML model validation, including explainability and bias assessment.