Head of Data & Credit Analytics

Head of Data & Credit Analytics – Transforming Trade Finance with Data-Driven Decisioning

At TradePay, a groundbreaking venture under Sanabil Studio, we are revolutionizing the trade finance landscape in Saudi Arabia’s FMCG sector. Our mission is to replace outdated, informal supplier credit models with a modern, data-driven working capital solution that empowers small merchants, mitigates credit risk, and fortifies the entire supply chain. Unlike traditional lending approaches, we are pioneering a supply-chain-native credit system that leverages real-time transaction behavior—rather than static balance sheets—to assess risk and enable seamless B2B Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) experiences embedded directly within FMCG ecosystems.

As the Head of Data & Credit Analytics, you will architect and lead TradePay’s decision science, fraud detection, and portfolio analytics functions from inception, reporting directly to the Founder. This is an opportunity to shape the future of merchant finance in emerging markets by building scalable, high-impact analytical frameworks that drive operational excellence and business growth.

Your Strategic Impact

In this pivotal role, you will:

• Design and deploy advanced merchant scoring and decisioning frameworks that leverage supplier, marketplace, and behavioral data to enable real-time, data-backed credit approvals and risk assessments.
• Develop cutting-edge underwriting, fraud detection, and portfolio monitoring models tailored to the unique dynamics of FMCG supply chains, ensuring both merchant growth and institutional risk mitigation.
• Optimize credit limit allocation, utilization logic, and pricing models to balance merchant accessibility with portfolio health, while analyzing SKU velocity, repayment patterns, and transaction frequency for actionable insights.
• Embed real-time decisioning into core systems and APIs in collaboration with Product and Engineering teams, ensuring seamless integration across TradePay’s operational infrastructure.
• Build robust fraud detection and merchant anomaly monitoring systems to safeguard the platform while maintaining high approval rates and merchant trust.
• Develop data-driven dashboards and portfolio reporting tools that empower executive and operational teams with early warning indicators, performance metrics, and strategic recommendations.
• Design and execute analytical experiments to refine approval rates, utilization behavior, repayment quality, and overall portfolio health, leveraging A/B testing and predictive modeling.
• Establish and enforce data pipelines, quality standards, and analytical governance to ensure scalability, reliability, and compliance as TradePay expands across the region.
• Future-proof the underwriting and risk engine by exploring AI/ML advancements and preparing the team for next-generation decisioning technologies.
• Lead a high-performing data science and analytics team, fostering a culture of innovation, ownership, and cross-functional collaboration.

Why Your Expertise Matters

TradePay is at the forefront of a transformative shift in merchant finance, and your leadership will be instrumental in defining the standards for data-driven credit in emerging markets. Success will be measured by:

• Model accuracy and approval rates that balance risk and accessibility.
• Portfolio performance characterized by high repayment quality and merchant satisfaction.
• Fraud detection systems that minimize losses while maintaining operational efficiency.
• The speed, reliability, and scalability of real-time decisioning as TradePay scales.
• The strength and adaptability of the analytical foundations that underpin every business decision.

Your Path to Growth

This role offers a clear trajectory for career advancement. As TradePay’s underwriting and risk engine expands across the MENA region, you will position yourself to transition into a Chief Data Officer role, leading the strategic direction of data and analytics for one of the most innovative fintech ventures in the region.

Who You Are

We are seeking a visionary leader with:

• 6+ years of experience in data science, credit analytics, decisioning, or fintech analytics, including 2+ years in a leadership or senior individual contributor role.
• A hands-on technical mindset with proficiency in SQL and Python, and experience building underwriting, fraud, or risk models in fintech, BNPL, SME lending, or merchant acquiring.
• Deep expertise in alternative and behavioral data models, portfolio analytics, repayment behavior, and risk segmentation.
• The ability to build dashboards and analytical frameworks from scratch, translating complex data into clear, actionable business insights.
• A builder mentality with strong ownership, execution bias, and the ability to thrive in ambiguity—especially in an early-stage, high-growth environment.
• Exceptional communication skills to bridge the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders.
• Fluency in Arabic and English, enabling seamless collaboration in a bilingual, multicultural setting.

Bonus qualifications include experience in B2B BNPL, merchant finance, supply chain finance, FMCG ecosystems, embedded finance, fraud analytics, real-time decisioning systems, ML pipelines, or emerging markets like the MENA region.

The TradePay Advantage

Joining TradePay means being part of a mission-driven venture that is redefining merchant finance in Saudi Arabia. You will:

• Own the core engine of TradePay’s decisioning and analytics, shaping the future of credit for underbanked merchants.
• Work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where your ideas directly impact the business and the lives of small merchants.
• Contribute to a scalable, high-impact platform that has the potential to transform industries beyond FMCG.
• Access mentorship and growth opportunities from a venture builder with a proven track record of turning bold ideas into successful businesses.

If you are a data-driven leader passionate about leveraging technology to solve real-world financial challenges, we invite you to help us build the future of trade finance at TradePay.