Vice President, Data Strategy, Sustainability

Oaktree Capital Management•Los Angeles, CA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Oaktree is a leader among global investment managers specializing in alternative investments, with more than $220 billion in assets under management. The firm emphasizes an opportunistic, value-oriented, and risk-controlled approach to investments in credit, equity, and real estate. The firm has more than 1,400 employees and offices in more than 25 cities worldwide. We are committed to cultivating an environment that is collaborative, curious, inclusive and honors diversity of thought. Providing training and career development opportunities and emphasizing strong support for our local communities through philanthropic initiatives are essential to our culture. Our mission is to deliver superior investment results with risk under control and to conduct business with the highest integrity. Sustainability considerations are a critical component of achieving this mission. Sustainability factors directly and materially impact investment outcomes, and a concerted and consistent focus on sustainability throughout the investment lifecycle allows us to avoid undue risk and better identify valuable opportunities.

Requirements

7-10 years of experience in asset management, investment banking, research, or related financial services (experience in dedicated data roles preferred)
Solid understanding of investment concepts and market dynamics (fixed income experience a plus)
Experience working in or alongside sustainability/ESG functions is strongly preferred
Familiarity with sustainability frameworks, data, and market practices (e.g., TCFD, SFDR, climate metrics, ESG data providers)
Data fluency (but not necessarily a builder)
Comfortable working with large datasets and translating data into insights
Ability to partner effectively with technical teams (Technology, data engineering) without needing to build solutions independently
Familiarity with tools such as Power BI and SQL (strongly preferred). If no familiarity, must commit to learning these tools to address data quality issues, respond to client requests, and partner with our Technology and Reporting teams
Familiarity with ESG data platforms (e.g., Bloomberg ESG, MSCI) is strongly preferred
Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and stakeholders
Process-oriented mindset; able to design and improve scalable, repeatable workflows
Proven ability to work cross-functionally with senior stakeholders, including investment teams and leadership
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for both technical and non-technical audiences
Commercial awareness and ability to connect sustainability work to client and business outcomes
Be passionate about sustainability, finance, and the role data can play in supporting informed decision-making
Be a strategic, solutions-oriented thinker with strong judgment and a pragmatic approach to execution
Possess a strong sense of ownership and accountability, with the ability to independently drive complex initiatives forward
Thrive in a demanding, fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities with professionalism and composure
Be highly collaborative and effective at building trusted relationships across teams and senior stakeholders
Demonstrate intellectual curiosity, sound judgment, and a continuous improvement mindset
Exhibit integrity, professionalism, and a commitment to excellence in all aspects of their work

Nice To Haves

experience in dedicated data roles preferred
fixed income experience a plus
Familiarity with tools such as Power BI and SQL (strongly preferred)
Familiarity with ESG data platforms (e.g., Bloomberg ESG, MSCI) is strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Own and drive the Sustainability data & reporting roadmap
Lead the strategy, prioritization, and execution of data and reporting initiatives across the Sustainability team
Act as the central coordinator across Sustainability, Technology, Risk & Reporting, and investment teams to ensure alignment and delivery
Translate evolving business needs into clear data, tooling, and reporting requirements
Act as a “data product owner” for Sustainability Central (Sustainability Central is our internal application that supports core analyst driven sustainability processes)
In partnership with Technology, oversee the ongoing development, enhancement, and adoption of Sustainability Central
Define product priorities, user needs, and success metrics; ensure the platform remains fit-for-purpose as the program evolves
Drive user engagement, training, and feedback loops to improve usability and impact
Enhance sustainability reporting and insights
Partner with Reporting & Performance to maintain and evolve fund-level sustainability reporting
Identify opportunities to improve automation, consistency, and decision-usefulness of outputs
Ensure reporting aligns with internal investment needs as well as external client and regulatory expectations
Enable data-driven sustainability initiatives
Identify and operationalize opportunities to use data to advance key sustainability priorities (e.g., physical risk assessments, methane engagement, sector deep dives)
Support the integration of sustainability insights into the investment process
Strengthen client and commercial impact
Proactively identify ways sustainability data and reporting can deepen client relationships and support fundraising
Partner with client-facing teams to translate sustainability capabilities into clear, differentiated messaging
Maintain external awareness and bring best practices in-house
Stay current on market developments, including sustainability frameworks, data providers, and peer practices
Assess implications for Oaktree’s data strategy and recommend pragmatic enhancements
Manage relationships with third-party ESG data providers (e.g., MSCI), including evaluating data quality, coverage, and fit-for-purpose
Support contract renewals and vendor assessments; identify gaps in current data coverage and recommend solutions
Establish and maintain data quality standards across sustainability data sources, ensuring consistency and accuracy of inputs into reporting and analytics
Own the resolution of data discrepancies and serve as the escalation point for data integrity issues across teams.
Natural inclination to do detective work to resolve data discrepancies