We are looking for a Head of Applied Science to lead the scientific strategy and execution for Search across Europe’s largest fashion & lifestyle platform. This leader will define the long-term vision for Search relevance and discovery, leveraging machine learning, AI, and experimentation to help millions of customers find the right products quickly and confidently.
You will lead a team of managers, and principal applied Scientists & engineers responsible for developing and deploying state-of-the-art query understanding, retrieval, and ranking models for Search. Working closely with Product, Engineering, Analytics, and Design, you will shape the future of Search by balancing customer experience, business outcomes, and scientific innovation.
INCLUSIVE BY DESIGNIf you think you have what it takes, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every single requirement. You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles!
At Zalando, our vision is to be the leading pan-European ecosystem for fashion and lifestyle e-commerce – one that thrives on diversity and is truly inclusive by design. We believe that diverse teams fuel innovation and creativity, and we actively seek out talent from all backgrounds.
We actively seek to reduce bias in our hiring and employment processes, focusing on your qualifications, skills, and contributions. To support this, we kindly ask that you refrain from including personal details such as your photo, age, or marital status in your CV, ensuring a fair and equitable evaluation based solely on your abilities and potential.
We are committed to providing an exceptional and accessible candidate experience for everyone. If you require any accommodations to support you throughout the hiring process, please let us know – we are here to assist you.
Discover more about our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace: https://jobs.zalando.com/en/our-culture/diversity-and-inclusion
WHAT WE'D LOVE YOU TO DODefine and drive the long-term Applied Science strategy, aligning roadmap investments with customer needs and business priorities.
Lead the development of advanced ML models for query understanding, retrieval, ranking, and personalization to improve Search relevance.
Build and inspire high-performing teams of Applied Scientists and ML engineers, fostering a culture of scientific rigor, mentorship, and continuous learning.
Optimize for business outcomes by balancing relevance, diversity, monetization, and operational efficiency.
Accelerate innovation by investing in scalable machine learning platforms, data infrastructure, and experimentation frameworks.
Establish best practices for model governance, offline evaluation, online experimentation, and standardized scientific methods across teams.
Drive adoption of emerging AI/ML techniques, ensuring the organization stays at the forefront of technological advancements.
Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, UX, and leadership to define priorities and influence the broader organizational strategy.
Proven experience leading high-performing Applied Science or Machine Learning organizations.
Track record of defining technical vision and delivering business impact through AI and machine learning.
Ability to attract, develop, and retain exceptional scientific talent.
Deep expertise in machine learning, information retrieval, learning-to-rank, NLP, or related disciplines.
Strong understanding of experimentation, causal inference, statistical modeling, and evaluation methodologies.
Experience deploying and operating large-scale machine learning systems in production.
Demonstrated ability to translate customer problems into scientific solutions that deliver measurable business impact.
Experience balancing customer experience, operational considerations, and commercial objectives.
Strong strategic thinking with the ability to prioritize long-term investments alongside near-term delivery.
Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
Experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives across engineering, product, analytics, and business teams.
Ability to influence senior leadership through data, scientific reasoning, and clear communication.
Zalando provides a range of benefits, here’s an overview of what you can expect. Ask your Talent Acquisition Partner to learn more about what we offer.
27 days of holiday a year to start for full-time employees
2 paid volunteering days a year
Employee shares program
40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Lounge by Zalando, discounts from external partners
Relocation assistance available (subject to prior agreement)
Family services, including counseling and support
Health and wellbeing options (including Wellhub, formerly Gympass)
Mental health support and coaching available
Drive your development through our training platform and biannual peer-to-peer review
Skills Required
- Proven experience leading high-performing Applied Science or Machine Learning organizations.
- Track record of defining technical vision and delivering business impact through AI and machine learning.
- Ability to attract, develop, and retain exceptional scientific talent.
- Deep expertise in machine learning, information retrieval, learning-to-rank, and NLP.
- Strong understanding of experimentation, causal inference, statistical modeling, and evaluation methodologies.
- Experience deploying and operating large-scale machine learning systems in production.
- Demonstrated ability to translate customer problems into scientific solutions with measurable business impact.
- Experience balancing customer experience, operational considerations, and commercial objectives.
- Strong strategic thinking and ability to prioritize long-term investments alongside near-term delivery.
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives across engineering, product, analytics, and business teams.
- Ability to influence senior leadership through data, scientific reasoning, and clear communication.
Zalando Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Zalando and has not been reviewed or approved by Zalando.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off includes a sizable annual allowance that can grow with tenure, plus additional paid days for volunteering. This breadth is highlighted as supportive of work–life balance.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Mental health support, round‑the‑clock counseling for employees and households, and broad fitness/wellness access are emphasized as robust. Substantial product discounts and partner offers add meaningful lifestyle value.
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Parental & Family Support — Structured support around parental leave—such as buddy programs, re‑onboarding, and paid child sick days—helps ease family responsibilities. Flexible and part‑time leadership options further accommodate parents.
Zalando Insights
What We Do
Welcome to Zalando. Here’s some key info about us: Our position and vision: - We’re Europe’s leading online platform for fashion and lifestyle - Founded in Berlin in 2008, we bring head-to-toe fashion to more than 50 million active customers in 25 markets; offering clothes, footwear, accessories, and beauty - Our vision is to become The Starting Point For Fashion. Our offering: - Our assortment of international brands ranges from world-famous names to local labels - Our platform is a one-stop fashion destination for inspiration, innovation, and interaction - As Europe’s most fashionable tech company, we work hard to find digital solutions for every aspect of the fashion journey: for our customers, partners, and friends of our brand. - Our logistics network with 12 centrally located fulfillment centers allows us to efficiently serve our customers throughout Europe, supported by warehouses in Italy, France, Poland, and Sweden with a focus on local customer needs. Our beliefs: - Our ambition is to combine our passion for self-expression through fashion with our unwavering commitments to sustainability and D&I - We believe that our integration of fashion, operations, and online technology gives us the capability to deliver a compelling value proposition to both our customers and fashion brand partners.
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