Model Validation Sr. Lead📣 إعلان

About the Role

Riyad Bank is seeking a Model Validation Sr. Lead to join its team in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This full-time position requires over 10 years of experience and is central to ensuring the integrity and compliance of all quantitative and qualitative models used across the Bank.

Role Overview and Strategic Impact

The Model Validation Sr. Lead is responsible for independently validating all models within the Bank. This role involves directing a multidisciplinary team to assess model integrity, ensure strict compliance with internal and regulatory Model Validation Standards, and thereby enforce robust risk management practices. The position is critical in maintaining the Bank's financial stability and regulatory adherence.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, refine, and enforce the Bank’s Model Validation Policy, Standards, and procedures, ensuring adherence to internal appetites and external regulatory requirements.
• Lead the end-to-end model validation framework, setting enterprise direction to ensure all quantitative and qualitative models operate as intended.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal audits and external regulatory exams concerning model validation.
• Own and maintain the Model Validation standards, guidelines, procedures, and templates.
• Establish and oversee quality assurance mechanisms, including peer review, thematic reviews, and consistency checks, to ensure high-quality validation practices.
• Lead a high-performing, multidisciplinary model validation team responsible for validating a diverse portfolio of models, including risk management, investment, fraud, compliance, finance, HR, Gen AI, and Agentic use cases.
• Develop and mentor talent to promote strong technical capabilities and a high-quality validation process.
• Ensure validation conclusions are robust, well-supported, and communicated clearly to stakeholders with varying technical expertise.
• Deliver clear and actionable model validation reports, focusing on key model risks, model uncertainty, issue remediation, and emerging trends.
• Serve as the Secretary of the Bank’s Risk Analytics Working Group, facilitating the submission of model validation reports to the appropriate Risk Management Committee for approval.
• Define, maintain, and continually enhance the methodologies and test approaches used in Model Validation.
• Ensure comprehensive assessment of conceptual soundness, model developmental evidence, performance, data approaches, and implementation accuracy.
• Lead the evolution of validation techniques for emerging modeling approaches, including LLM-enabled and agentic systems.
• Serve as a key point of contact for regulators, internal audit, and senior leaders on Model Validation related matters.
• Articulate validation rationales, modeling assumptions, and risk implications clearly and confidently to supervisory authorities and executive stakeholders.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Over 10 years of experience with a broad range of model types, including Machine Learning and LLM-based models.
• Strong understanding of model risk management principles and regulatory frameworks (*, SR26-2, SS1/23).
• Demonstrated experience engaging with regulators and internal audit.
• Strong technical proficiency with programming languages and analytical tools such as Python, SAS, R, or C++.
• Familiarity with emerging technologies, AI governance, and modern model validation or development practices.

Essential Skills and Attributes

• Proven ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable insights for Senior Executives.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex challenges and tight timelines independently.
• Proactive, self-directed, and capable of working both independently and collaboratively within a team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to Senior Committees, Executives, and regulatory bodies.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to efficiently manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.

Work Environment

This is a full-time position based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, within a dynamic team focused on maintaining the highest standards of model integrity and risk management for Riyad Bank.