Desjardins Group

Data Scientist, Model Validation

Desjardins Group$80K — $110K *
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in a related field such as actuarial science or data science.
  • Minimum of six years relevant experience, including three years in analytics or modelling.
  • Knowledge of mathematical modelling and statistics is essential.
  • Proficiency in Python, R, SQL, and SAS programming languages.
  • Experience with risk management models in areas like pricing, reserving, or claims in P&C insurance.
  • Fluent in French; intermediate English required for communication with partners and clients.
  • Understanding of Canadian regulatory frameworks related to model risk management.

Responsibilities

  • Ensure data usage meets standards for strategic modelling processes.
  • Validate predictive modelling against Desjardins Group’s quality criteria.
  • Analyze business needs to confirm model suitability through validation.
  • Prepare and manage complex models while adhering to programming standards.
  • Apply advanced statistical and machine learning methods for model testing.
  • Draft guidelines and shape methodological decisions for data processes.
  • Advise teams on quantitative model validation and enhance delivery methodologies.
  • Identify system optimization opportunities and estimate changes' impacts.
  • Monitor industry trends to update model validation practices accordingly.
  • Ensure compliance with regulatory expectations for property and casualty insurance.

Benefits

  • Flexible vacation of four weeks starting in the first year.
  • Defined benefit pension plan for stable retirement income.
  • Comprehensive group insurance, including telemedicine services.
  • Reimbursement for health and wellness expenses.
  • Support for telework equipment costs.
Full Job Description

As part of its activities, Desjardins Group uses a large number of data-driven quantitative models to support its product and service offer and to properly manage its risks, with the goal of always doing what’s best for members and clients. While these models provide indisputable decision-making support, their use leads to further risks that must in turn be analyzed, assessed and mitigated. As a data scientist, model validation, you help ensure that data is appropriately valued at each stage of the model’s life cycle. You help make business decisions, develop solutions and services tailored to business issues and interpret member/client behaviour. More specifically, you will be required to:

  • Ensure that modelling processes make appropriate use of available data based on characterization, quality and processing as part of strategic initiatives

  • Ensure that predictive modelling is carried out according to the required standards and that Desjardins Group’s quality criteria are met through the validation process

  • Analyze the business needs behind the model and confirm the model’s suitability through validation

  • Ensure that the programming required to prepare and mine data, and to develop, evaluate, support, roll out and manage highly conceptually complex and innovative models meets the required standards

  • Use advanced and innovative statistical, machine learning and artificial intelligence methods to test the methodologies proposed by the first line of defence

  • Help draft guidelines and methods and shape methodological and technological choices

  • Advise and train teams on quantitative model validation methods and update them to improve delivery speed

  • Identify opportunities to optimize rules and systems, anticipate underlying impacts of changes and help develop data management and modelling support tools

  • Represent teams with various internal interested parties

  • Monitor the industry to understand and anticipate trends in your field of expertise in model validation, with a view to developing and updating practices that are contextually appropriate for the organization

  • Ensure alignment with relevant regulatory expectations for property and casualty (P&C) insurance

What we offer*

  • Competitive salary and annual bonus

  • 4 weeks of flexible vacation starting in the first year

  • Defined benefit pension plan that provides predictable, stable income throughout retirement

  • Group insurance including telemedicine

  • Reimbursement of health and wellness expenses and telework equipment

* Benefits apply based on eligibility criteria.

#LI-Hybrid

What you bring to the table

  • Bachelor’s degree in a related field (actuarial science, statistics, applied mathematics, engineering, data science, computer science)

  • A minimum of six years of relevant experience, including a minimum of three years in analytics or modelling; experience in P&C insurance (pricing, reserving, claims, capital/catastrophes, analytical marketing)

  • Please note that other combinations of qualifications and relevant experience may be considered

  • Knowledge of French is required

  • Intermediate knowledge of English due to the nature of the duties or work tools or because the position involves interactions with English-speaking partners, members and/or clients

  • Knowledge of mathematical modelling and statistics

  • Proficiency in programming languages: Python, R, SQL, SAS

  • Proficiency with risk management models in at least one of the following areas:

    • Pricing and underwriting in P&C insurance: GLM/GAM, frequency/severity models, auto/home/commercial segmentation, elasticity analyses and business impact assessments

    • Reserving and valuation of liabilities: Chain-Ladder, Bornhuetter-Ferguson, Mack and related diagnostics, IFRS 17 considerations

    • Loss management and fraud prevention: detection and anomaly models

    • Client behaviour and distribution: retention models, propensity models and offer optimization

    • Catastrophe risk and capital: CAT model concepts (such as AIR, RMS), risk aggregation and capital indicators (such as MCT)

  • Knowledge of property and casualty insurance

  • Knowledge of regulatory frameworks applicable in Canada (such as model risk management expectations, IFRS 17, MCT, AMF/OSFI guidelines)

Action oriented, Complexity, Customer Focus, Differences, Innovation, Interpersonal Savvy, Nimble learning

Trade Union (If applicable)

Job Family

Data (FG)

Unposting Date

2026-07-9

About Desjardins Group

Desjardins Group is a Canadian cooperative financial group with headquarters in Montreal, Quebec. It was founded in 1900 and has since grown to become the largest cooperative financial group in Canada, with over 7 million members and clients. The group offers a range of financial services including banking, insurance, wealth management, and investment services. Desjardins Group operates primarily in Quebec and Ontario, but also has a presence in other Canadian provinces as well as in the United States and Europe. The group is committed to social responsibility and sustainability, and has implemented various initiatives to promote these values.
Learn more about Desjardins Group
Size
48,200 employees
Industry

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