Head of Investment Research Studio

Our mission starts with you!

Vanguard is seeking a strategic product leader to drive the vision and development for Vanguard’s front office research and analytics platform. As the Head of Investment Research Studio, you will play a critical role in driving the development and deployment of analytics capabilities and technology that support the organization’s data-driven investment strategies. This position requires a blend of data technical expertise, product strategic vision, and leadership skills, and will benefit from dedicated product and engineering teams. This role will report to the Head of Insights and will be instrumental in transforming our investment teams’ analytics culture through delivering cutting edge capabilities, aligned with our strategic objectives, to empowered users who seek to serve our clients in new and innovative ways. 

In this role, you will create a dynamic research studio environment that empowers investment teams to independently develop, deploy, and manage their own analytics and models. This self-service approach will facilitate ease of access to data and accelerate the development of insights, enabling faster, more informed decision-making. By providing the necessary tools and frameworks, you will foster an innovative environment where data scientists and analysts can experiment with new methods and technologies, leading to continuous improvement and superior investment outcomes.You will also ensure a clear pathway to production for all analytics and models built within the research studio environment, integrating seamlessly with Vanguard’s broader data strategy and operational workflows. This will guarantee that innovative solutions are not only developed but also effectively deployed and utilized across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

Research Studio Development

• Lead the development of a comprehensive research studio environment that supports self-service analytics and model building.

• Define and implement key capabilities for the research studio, including data access, advanced analytics tools, collaboration features, and deployment pipelines.

• Ensure the research studio environment is user-friendly and supports the diverse needs of investment teams.

• Equip the research studio with capabilities for data exploration, real-time analytics, machine learning, and visualization tools.

• Promote best practices in model development and ensure robust documentation and version control within the research studio.

Advanced Analytics and Insights Generation

• Democratize analytics and model development into a self-service function, enabling investment teams to independently create and deploy their own models.

• Support the capabilities needed to experiment with new methods and technologies, encouraging innovation and rapid prototyping.

• Lead the creation of intuitive and impactful data visualizations that communicate complex investment insights to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Ensure that all models and analytics developed have a clear pathway to production, integrating with operational workflows and data governance frameworks, and aligning with the organization’s strategic goals.

Analytics Infrastructure and Tools

• Work closely with the Head of Investment Data Platform to ensure the analytics infrastructure supports efficient data processing and advanced analytics capabilities.

• Oversee the selection, implementation, and maintenance of analytics tools and technologies that support the efficient development and deployment of models and insights.

• Stay informed about emerging trends and innovations in analytics and evaluate their potential applications.

Talent Development and Leadership

• Build and lead a high-performing team of data scientists, analysts, and researchers, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.

• Provide mentorship and guidance to team members, supporting their professional growth and development in the rapidly evolving field of data analytics.

• Attract, retain, and develop top talent in investment analytics, building a diverse and inclusive team.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate with senior leadership across the organization to identify opportunities for leveraging analytics to drive business growth and operational efficiency.

• Engage with various business units to ensure alignment of analytics initiatives with organizational goals and to support their analytics needs.

• Communicate complex analytical concepts and insights to senior stakeholders in a clear and actionable manner.

Qualifications:

• Eight years related work experience, including five years investment management experience. Experience in statistical analyses and related statistical tools preferred. Supervisory experience preferred.

• Undergraduate degree in finance, economics, mathematics, or statistics or equivalent combination of training and experience required. Graduate degree preferred.

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