Head of Data Science(m/f/d)

Who we are:

neuefische GmbH, with our brands neuefische and Spiced Academy , has been Germany’s leading tech bootcamp provider for over ten years. Our programs create opportunities for people to launch fulfilling careers while driving the digital skills transformation across Germany.

To date, over 7,000 participants have trained with us, and around 70% start working in tech immediately after the bootcamp. With 40% female participation , our courses not only build skilled professionals but also foster greater diversity in the tech industry. Many programs conclude with certifications from renowned partners such as IHK, Amazon, and CompTIA .

Our vision: To transform lives by equipping people with the skills, confidence, and support they need to succeed in tech—online and on campus, in both German and English.

Head of Data Science (m/f/d)

At neuefische, we help people build meaningful careers in tech. Our Data Science track — branded externally as the School of Data & AI — is the largest and most strategically important part of our academy. It spans multiple programs across Data Science, AI Engineering, Machine Learning, AI Project Management, and AI Modeling.

We are looking for a Head of Data Science (internally referred to as "Track Lead Data Science") to take ownership of the academic quality, team leadership, and operational success of this track.

Your Role

As Track Lead, you are responsible for the overall success of our Data Science track. You lead the teaching team, drive curriculum excellence, and ensure the track operates sustainably at scale.

Unlike many academic leadership roles, this position is fully focused on leadership and program management – there is no teaching load.

You will work closely with the Head of Teaching, other Track Leads, Teaching Resource Manager,Teaching Quality Manager, Product, Admission and HR.

Your Responsibilities

Given the scale of the track, you are not expected to do everything yourself. Part of the role is building the right structures and empowering Senior Coaches, the Teaching Resource Manager, and other team members to share responsibility where appropriate.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and support a team of Coaches (this is how we call our Trainers), Teaching Assistants, and Freelancers

• Ensure regular 1:1s and team meetings happen across the team — you own the structure, but can delegate execution to Senior Coaches or peers where it makes sense

• Foster a strong, collaborative, and high-performance teaching culture where coaches and assistants feel empowered and supported

• Own the overall view of coach performance, drawing on input from the Teaching Quality Manager, student feedback, and cohort outcomes — and act on it through coaching conversations or escalation

• Support the career development of coaches in collaboration with the Teaching Quality Manager —help them define goals and access training or certifications

Curriculum & Quality

• Collaborate with Product and Teaching Quality to continuously improve programs

• Ensure learning materials remain aligned with industry developments and standards

• Analyse student feedback and cohort insights to refine curriculum and teaching approaches

• Drive consistency and academic excellence across cohorts and programs

• Contribute to pedagogic innovation — ideate, test, and iterate on new teaching methods and structures to meet business and educational goals
Operational & Financial Responsibility

• Take ownership of track performance together with Teaching Leadership, including budget planning, tracking, and reporting

• Coordinate staffing decisions with the Teaching Resource Manager, including allocation of instructors to cohorts and approval of freelance coaches

• Ensure that strategic and operational initiatives agreed with leadership are clearly communicated to the team and effectively implemented

• Balance educational quality with operational efficiency and financial sustainability

Cohort Planning & Staffing

• Plan cohort configuration, including input on cohort dates, student numbers, and coach-to-cohort allocation

• Manage the coordination of simultaneous cohorts across multiple programs and formats (online and on-campus)

• Oversee onboarding of TAs and freelancers, and take ownership of onboarding and integration of new Coaches

Hiring & Team Growth

• Partner with HR in recruiting Coaches and Freelancers

• Conduct interviews and evaluate teaching demonstrations

• Provide input on hiring decisions and team composition

Thought Leadership & Track Evolution

• Stay current with developments in Data Science, Machine Learning, AI Engineering, and Applied AI

• Help shape the strategic direction of the track, including advising on the evolution of existing programs and the development of new offerings

• Act as the subject matter expert within the organisation, supporting cross-functional initiatives and contributing to product decisions

• Foster continuous learning and knowledge sharing within the team

About the Data Science Track

Our Data Science track includes the following programs:

• Data Science & AI — 12-week full-time bootcamp covering Python, ML, data visualisation, and AI fundamentals (IHK-Zertifikat “Fachkraft für Data Science und AI”)

• AI Engineering – Data Science und Machine Learning — combining Data Science foundations with ML Engineering and deployment (Python, Docker, DBT, TensorFlow, Prefect, Grafana, Prometheus)

• Machine Learning — focused deep-dive into ML systems and architecture

• AI Project Management — 18-week program preparing professionals to lead AI transformation projects (Scrum, Data Visualization, Databases)

• AI Modeling — 6-week intensive short course on AI/ML modeling for participants with existing coding skills (IHK-Zertifikat, taught in German)

The team currently consists of:

• ~10 employed Coaches (Senior, Mid, and Junior level)

• ~10 Teaching Assistants

• 5–9 Freelancers

We run 33+ cohorts per year across these programs, with approximately 80% online delivery and 20% on-campus cohorts in Berlin. All programs are taught in English, except AI Modeling which runs in German.

What You Bring

We are intentionally looking for a people leader with strong domain understanding.

Required

• Prior experience in team leadership or people management

• Professional background in Data Science, Machine Learning, Analytics, Applied AI, or a closely related technical role

• Solid programming / technical background (e.g. Python, data tooling, ML ecosystem)

• Strong communication and organisational skills

• Ability to balance quality, people, and operational realities

• Comfort with budget responsibility and operational KPIs

Nice to Have

• Experience in teaching, mentoring, or coaching

• Experience in EdTech, training, or bootcamp environments

• Familiarity with modern DS / ML tooling & workflows (e.g. TensorFlow, Docker, DBT, Hugging Face, Prefect)

• Experience working with cross-functional teams

• Familiarity with publicly funded education programs (Bildungsgutschein)

What We Offer

• Leadership role with high strategic impact

• No teaching load – full focus on leadership & program development

• Flexible workload – 80% part-time possible

• Salary range: 75.000 – 80.000 EUR

• Hybrid / remote-friendly setup

• Claude Max subscription (Anthropic) for AI-assisted productivity

• Collaborative, highly experienced teaching environment

• Direct influence on curriculum, quality, and track evolution

* Even if you feel like ticking only 60% of the requirements, we would still like to review your application. At neuefische, we attach great importance to equal opportunities and respectful cooperation. All applicants should be valued equally - regardless of gender and gender identity, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity. We value diversity and we are committed to integration and diversity.