Investment Data Lead

Company:Mercer

Description:

What can you expect:

This is an exciting opportunity to join one of Mercer’s largest and most rapidly-growing business areas – Investment Solutions. Mercer's Investment Solutions (IS) business provides sophisticated implementation and investment services to clients. The business has grown rapidly over recent years with $500bn of client assets now under management globally, c.$190bn of which is invested on behalf of International investors. Our Investor base is institutional and typically clients are DB/DC Pension Schemes but the business is expanding into new segments including Insurance & Wealth Management.  

Mercer’s fund range was launched in Europe in September 2006 and currently consists of c.140 Irish-domiciled funds across 5 legal structures. In addition to the ability to provide bespoke solutions to large clients, these funds provide building blocks to support Mercer’s wider range of investment and risk management solutions targeting the institutional marketplace.  Mercer IS business has seen significant growth over the last few years and believes that demand for its investment solutions will continue to grow over the coming years.

The Data Solutions Team sits within the Operations Unit and is responsible for data strategy and vision for Mercer IS, ensuring that initiatives and practices align with broader business objectives.  This involves the coordination of multiple stakeholders, including Portfolio Management, Operations, Compliance, Technology, as well as third party service providers and vendors. The team is also responsible for undertaking and implementing business-wide initiatives and efficiency projects.

Candidates will ideally have experience in project management and experience with investment process workflow and data needs. Reporting to the Global Investment Data and Performance Solutions Leader, the role will be dynamic and diverse, requiring an individual with exceptionally strong project management, organisational, collaboration and communication skills.  A background in Funds/Asset Management with knowledge across asset types and portfolio management analytics will serve well in thought-partnering with our Investment Teams.

We will rely on you for:

Strategy Definition & Leadership

• Collaborate with Investment Teams to understand and deliver their specific capabilities and requirements, working closely with platform providers and technology teams to implement tailored, fit-for-purpose solutions.
• Lead the execution of the data strategy by rolling out new platforms and solutions that adhere to data governance, management, and quality principles, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of the investment teams.
• Partner with business teams to gain a deep understanding of investment strategies and workflows, and develop innovative solutions that support these initiatives, driving growth at both local and global levels.

Roadmap, Delivery & Measurement

• In partnership with the Investment Teams, create a clear roadmap for the development of Mercer’s investment solutions capabilities, orchestrating impactful programs of work that transform operational practices.
• Prioritize and sequence activities within this roadmap in collaboration with business and technology colleagues, focusing on delivering immediate value while building long-term capabilities.
• Define relevant metrics and deliver dashboards to monitor progress and ensure alignment with strategic goals.

Collaboration and Culture:

• Foster strong partnerships and collaboration with business, data, and technology partners to ensure comprehensive understanding of data needs and capabilities within the Investment Teams.
• Act as an ambassador for a data-driven culture at Mercer, promoting the importance of data in decision-making, risk management and operational efficiency.
• Maintain relationships with key stakeholders and vendors to align strategies with the specific needs of the Investment Teams.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Collaborate with business and technology colleagues to identify opportunities for data and workflow innovation that advance the data strategy and position Mercer as a leader in the investment space.
• Create an environment that encourages continuous improvement, integrating this focus into the strategic backlog for data-related changes.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure that all relevant regulatory standards, policies, and laws are integrated into the strategic and operational delivery of the data strategy, particularly in relation to privacy, security, and data usage.

What you need to have: 

• 8+ years of experience in the Asset Management industry, with direct exposure to investment teams and workflow, rather than purely technical roles.
• Familiarity with data ecosystems in Asset and Wealth Management and/or OCIOs, particularly in relation to investment processes (risk analytics, portfolio analytics, performance and attribution analytics, etc.).
• Results-oriented approach with a demonstrated ability to sympathize with the operational challenges of our investors and drive change.
• Strong communication skills to convey concepts and business outcomes effectively.
• Interpersonal skills and desire to build and nurture relationships with key business partners
• Ability to work under pressure while maintaining a results-oriented focus.
• Enthusiasm for solving problems through data, technology and connecting the dots
• Exposure across the asset classes such as Long-Only funds (Equity and Fixed Income), Hedge funds, Private Market Funds, and derivatives instruments.
• Knowledge of vendors and technologies related to investment and data activities.

What makes you stand out:

• Proven track record of collaborating with Investment Teams to develop innovative solutions that address evolving business needs.
• Experience contributing to strategic visions and roadmaps for business change, ideally with a global or multi-regional scope.
• Ability to synthesize diverse perspectives from business teams to achieve consensus and develop standardized solutions that meet stakeholder needs.
• Certifications such as CFA and CAIA
• Knowledge of core data and technology topics (e.g., cloud, automation, AI/ML, and emerging technologies).

Why join our team:

• We help you be your best through professional development opportunities, interesting work and supportive leaders.
• We foster a vibrant and inclusive culture where you can collaborate with talented colleagues to create new solutions and have impact for colleagues, clients and communities.
• Our scale enables us to provide a range of career opportunities. 

#MercerIS

Mercer, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), is a global leader in helping clients realize their investment objectives, shape the future of work and enhance health and retirement outcomes for their people. Marsh McLennan is a global leader in risk, strategy and people, advising clients in 130 countries across four businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. With annual revenue of $24 billion and more than 90,000 colleagues, Marsh McLennan helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit mercer.com, or follow on LinkedIn and X.Marsh McLennan is committed to embracing a diverse, inclusive and flexible work environment. We aim to attract and retain the best people and embrace diversity of age, background, disability, ethnic origin, family duties, gender orientation or expression, marital status, nationality, parental status, personal or social status, political affiliation, race, religion and beliefs, sex/gender, sexual orientation or expression, skin color, Traveller community, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to providing reasonable support to any candidate with a disability/health condition to allow them to fully participate in the recruitment process. We welcome candidates to contact us at [email protected] to discuss any specific needs.