Equities & Digital Assets R&D Associate Director, Index Design

S&P Global•New York, NY

3d•$122,865 - $175,728

About The Position

S&P Dow Jones Indices is seeking an Equities & Digital Assets R&D Associate Director to lead research, design, analysis, and delivery of differentiated index solutions. Reporting to an Index Design Team Manager, with oversight from the Head of Equities & Digital Assets Index Design, this role independently leads high-profile, complex projects, translates product and client needs into systematic, scalable, well-documented index concepts, and provides support and guidance to colleagues. The Equities & Digital Assets Index Design team supports S&P DJI's equity index expansion and extends its index intellectual property and data into the DeFi ecosystem. Through research, portfolio construction, and financial theory, the team develops index strategies that address client needs while upholding standards of quality, transparency, and governance. The Associate Director works with commercial, analytical, and technology colleagues across the value stream and provides technical guidance and constructive challenge. The role owns the full index design lifecycle, including research, data gathering and validation, quantitative analysis, back-testing, methodology development, documentation, and stakeholder discussions. It also contributes to research publications, presentations, and thought leadership, and develops tools, templates, and repeatable processes to improve index design efficiency, scalability, and analytical quality. The role applies expertise in equity markets, digital assets, factor and dividend strategies, alternative datasets, portfolio construction, and quantitative research methods.

Requirements

Deep understanding of equity markets, portfolio construction, factor and dividend investing, financial theory, and the principles underlying index design, supported by substantial relevant experience.
Advanced proficiency in Python or similar programming languages, with a track record of building repeatable analytical workflows and working with complex datasets.
Excellent analytical and quantitative skills, with the judgment and experience to structure and solve complex, non-routine problems and critically review others’ work.
Strong written, verbal, and stakeholder-management skills, including explaining complex technical analysis to senior stakeholders, leading client-facing discussions, and guiding colleagues.
Demonstrated ability to independently lead high-profile, complex projects, manage multiple priorities, and provide practical support and guidance to others.
Attention to detail, sound judgment, and a delivery mindset.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or equivalent experience in finance, economics, mathematics, engineering, computer science, or a related quantitative discipline.
CFA progress, a CFA charter, or commitment to relevant professional development.

Responsibilities

Independently lead research, design, and analysis of new indices and related capabilities, including high-profile and complex projects.
Translate investment objectives, product requirements, and client needs into clear, testable index design concepts, offering recommendations and informed challenge where appropriate.
Access, clean, transform, and validate complex equity, market, and reference datasets for research and back-testing.
Design, develop, and critically review backtests, sensitivity analyses, and quantitative research to assess whether index concepts meet their objectives.
Use advanced programming skills to build and oversee robust, repeatable, and controlled analytical workflows, tools, and templates, and support colleagues in adopting good practice.
Lead methodology drafting, documentation, design reviews, and governance processes for index approval and launch, ensuring analytical quality and resolving complex issues.
Prepare and communicate analysis, charts, presentations, and research content for senior stakeholders, client discussions, and external thought leadership.
Work with the Index Design Team Manager to shape priorities and deliver agreed backlog items and complex project outcomes to required timelines and quality standards.
Build working relationships and lead collaboration with R&D colleagues, Index Engineering, Product Management, Commercial, Operations, Governance, and other functional partners.
Champion Index Design operating standards, analytical controls, and agile working practices; support colleagues and improve team quality and consistency.
Manage multiple complex research and design workstreams with clear communication, disciplined execution, prioritization, and timely escalation of material risks or dependencies.
Serve as a senior subject-matter resource on equity markets, index construction, factor and dividend strategies, portfolio design, and relevant emerging industry trends.
Provide practical support, technical guidance, and constructive challenge to colleagues.
Lead or materially contribute to research publications, presentations, and thought leadership, and develop tools, templates, and repeatable processes that improve index design.