Global Market Data Manager

We are seeking a Nashville-based Global Market Data Manager to manage the global market data team within Global Market Data Services.

Market Data Services supports the firm's global user base by providing end-user support of the major market data applications including negotiating cost effective vendor data agreements, maintaining comprehensive inventory of all services, handling all end-user requests for new data, detailed cost metrics for each business unit, ordering of end user licenses, and processing vendor invoices for payment.

The Global Market Data Manager's responsibility is to provide transparency around all data (including investment, operations, and research data) sourced from market data and external data providers, manage spend, monitor contractual obligations such as rights of use etc., and support data governance. With regard to third party research primarily used by the Equity and Fixed Income research teams, the role is responsible for vendor contracts - renewing contracts, onboarding new research providers, and terminating unwanted research contracts at the direction of the research teams.

Describe the applications and business or enterprise functions the role supports:

This role supports multiple business units and trading desks globally across multiple locations. The primary offices this employee will support are the New York, London, and Hong Kong offices, though there is presence in other international regions.

The key job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Primary point of contact and relationship manager for all hard dollar research providers and market data vendors. Communicate with all critical vendors on a quarterly basis.
• Facilitate vendor meetings and demonstrations and coordinate communication between business units regarding vendors and their products.
• Responsible for creating and periodically updating an Industry best practice view of Market research and data usage aligned with industry trends and specific business needs at the firm. This will involve developing a solid understanding of evolving business needs for market research and data.
• Escalation point for service issues and vendor audits.
• Help define and institute business processes for identifying and onboarding new research and data as per business needs, as well optimizing existing market research and data usage.
• Partner with IT, Legal, and business units for contract negotiations that, to the degree possible, reflect consistent, standardized language around rights of use, use cases and best practices for Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Collaborate with business units/users to ensure maximum use and efficiency of data products and removal/reduction of services not in use or that have declining use. Communicate with each business unit actively each month for critical vendors.
• Keep senior management informed and exposed to new technologies, vendors, and industry trends to optimize relationships, capabilities, and spend.
• Help review and approve market data invoices.
• Help maintain an inventory of market research and data vendors, products, and services, including details of internal and external usage.
• Monitor contract terms, rights of use, and actual usage across the firm, highlighting potential gaps and exposures.
• Manage the reporting to exchanges and vendors (i.e., honesty statements and other reporting).
• Serve as a data product SME for integration projects and assist in usage reviews, when needed (i.e., specific projects that involve data and relate to new or existing vendors to assess impact from a usage, data governance and contractual perspective).
• Work with vendors to ensure timely cooperation to meet project milestones.
• Work externally with vendors/exchanges and internally with Legal department though the audit process and settlement negotiation.

Market Data Services is the intersection of IT and the business functions of a diversified financial services firm. The employee will be interacting with vendors, end users, IT support, Market Data content specialists, and senior management. Successful candidate will have broad-based industry experience supporting diverse businesses with knowledge of all major vendors, assist the firm in saving money at renewals or during major negotiations, find alternative data sources and applications to better serve the business' needs, and mitigate risk by ensuring vendor contracts reflect business usage requirements.

The ideal candidate should have the following:

• Vendor data feed and Bloomberg EMRS or equivalent exchange entitlement system experience is a must.
• Detail oriented and ability to multitask.
• Must have experience with The Roberts Group (FITS) inventory management system.

Qualifications, Experience, Education:

• Four-year college degree.
• Previous experience with Market Data in Financial Services (5+ years) is required.
• Previous experience working with investment research providers and alternative data is a plus.
• Strong understanding of how market data fits within the systems landscape and ability to collaborate with IT.
• Collaborative, detail-oriented, self-starter with excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively partner across various functions in the firm and with the market research and data vendors to accomplish the stated goals.
• Strong understanding of Market data vendors, products, and services as well as usage within Financial Services (Equity and fixed income investment strategies).
• Hands on, direct and practical business style with an attention to detail and responsive attitude.
• Demonstrated good judgement in complex evolving backdrops.
• Experience working with portfolio managers, equity and credit analysts is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of traditional market data vendors such as Bloomberg, Factset, MSCI, Refinitiv (LSEG), Moody's, Markit, & S&P is preferred.
• Knowledge of investment research providers and expert networks.
• Time management skills and the ability to manage multiple requests simultaneously, along with solid organizational skills and technical understanding of market data integration into key business processes.

Skills:

• Strong analytical, problem solving and critical thinking skills.
• Project management skills, ability to facilitate discussions across various levels of stakeholders.
• Ability to work with large datasets using advanced Excel or SQL.
• Ability to multitask and properly prioritize multiple projects.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office tools.

Special Knowledge:

• If there are unique platforms or tech skills needed for role, they can be added here (this section is sometimes rolled into Skills)

Location: Nashville, TN

As a leading global investment management firm, AB fosters diverse perspectives and embraces innovation to help our clients navigate the uncertainty of capital markets. Through high-quality research and diversified investment services, we serve institutions, individuals, and private wealth clients in major markets worldwide. Our ambition is simple: to be our clients' most valued asset-management partner.

With over 4,400 employees across 51 locations in 25 countries, our people are our advantage. We foster a culture of intellectual curiosity and collaboration to create an environment where everyone can thrive and do their best work. Whether you're producing thought-provoking research, identifying compelling investment opportunities, infusing new technologies into our business or providing thoughtful advice to clients, we're looking for unique voices to help lead us forward. If you're ready to challenge your limits and build your future, join us.
Nashville, Tennessee