Quantitative Research Manager
The Group:
Morningstar's Quantitative Research Group creates independent investment research and data-driven analytics designed to help investors and Morningstar achieve better outcomes by making better decisions. We utilize statistical rigor and large data sets to inform the methodologies we develop. Our research encompasses hundreds of thousands of securities within a large breadth of asset classes including equities, fixed income, structured credit, and funds. Morningstar is one of the largest independent sources of fund, equity, and credit data and research in the world, and our advocacy for investors' interests is the foundation of our company.
The Role:
As a Quantitative Research Manager, you will be responsible for multiple high-profile investment research projects across the managed product domain. You will be a lead authority on the Morningstar Quantitative Rating and communicate the methodology to a wide range of industry professionals. In addition, you will be responsible for the ongoing development, methodology, and quality assurance of the Morningstar Quantitative Rating and Analysis, Morningstar Risk Ranking, Morningstar Markets Observer and all Automated Text solutions. You will be expected to keep pace with trends in financial research and data science industries.
As a manager and mentor, you will be expected to adopt an "iron sharpens iron" attitude where the focus is on making everyone better. Not focusing on your colleagues shortcomings but recognizing their strengths. Respect is foundational. We want to pull people up and not push them down.
A successful candidate will have impeccable interpersonal and communications skills, a solid quantitative mindset, a strong understanding of finance, and a deep knowledge of the global investing landscape though with an emphasis on the US market.
This position is based in our Chicago office.
Job Responsibilities
- People Management - you will manage a team of researchers and software engineers. Mentoring the people below you by developing their skills and positioning them for success is critical. Additionally, you will be functionally responsible for the support engineering team in Mumbai so you will need to work closely and collaborate with the management team in Mumbai.
- Execution - you will be responsible to executing against a roadmap for incremental feature development
- Quality -- you will be responsible for core Morningstar IP so you will need a strong sense of ownership, attention to detail, and willingness to dig into the weeds. You will work with Ratings Council to approve changes and provide necessary analysis
- Project Management - utilize and advocate for Agile project management practices to track projects, coordinate with internal groups, and resolve conflicts.
- Keep pace with trends in financial industry, as well as Data Science and Financial Research industries. Can apply data science techniques to relevant and meaningful financial industry client needs. When making decisions, considers the impact a solution will have on both a global and local level.
Qualifications
- A Masters degree (or higher) in quantitative or financial discipline
- 7-10 years of work experience
- Minimum 5 years of experience in software engineering or finance
- Minimum 3 years of experience in people management
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, while also taking ownership of projects independently with minimal supervision.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Proficient in at least one statistical modeling language (R or Python)
- Proficient with SQL
- Proficient with Agile software engineering practices
- Ability to stay organized and to quickly and efficiently handle multiple projects at the same time is crucial in this role
- Intellectual curiosity for the world of quantitative research
- Ability to create and promote a culture of technology excellence and innovation.
- Experience with Python, AWS and various data storage, big data technology and streaming data processing.
- Creative thinker with the ability to solve problems.
- Ability to interface and project confidence and clarity directly with senior leaders both internally at Morningstar and externally with institutional clients.
- Ability to convert strategic plans into actionable programs and projects.
- Ability to create and promote a culture of technology excellence and innovation.
- Creative thinker with the ability to solve problems.
- Ability to communicate the technical possibilities and limitations of systems to non-technical colleagues in meaningful and constructive ways.
- Pragmatist who is bold, willing to think big, and encourage teams to act decisively.
- Understands the market being served by staying on top of market trends and putting Morningstar's corporate mission into practice. Understands Morningstar's direction and helps to create a powerful vision. Can decipher which projects have the highest ROI and recognize where intellectual property or R&D ideas can help further company growth.
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