Firmwide Market Data Specialist

About the role

The D. E. Shaw group seeks a driven specialist to join its Firmwide Data team. This high-impact team manages the full life cycle of data at the firm, including sourcing, vendor management, operational execution, and stakeholder collaboration across regions and functions. The position offers broad exposure across the firm and the opportunity to make meaningful improvements in a collaborative, collegial environment across technology, investment, and infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Manage workflows across the data life cycle, including sourcing, legal and compliance coordination, vendor relationship management, and collection of stakeholder feedback.
• Identify data sources that support business goals and research needs, proactively sharing opportunities and advising investment professionals on potential solutions.
• Negotiate commercial terms while maintaining strong vendor relationships.
• Partner with legal and compliance colleagues to facilitate timely, compliant access to data and serve as a point of contact for related questions.
• Maintain accurate records of subscriptions, entitlements, contracts, and vendor interactions in accordance with internal standards and to preserve institutional knowledge.
• Analyze data usage, costs, and business utility to identify opportunities to consolidate subscriptions, improve adoption, and inform renewal decisions.
• Maintain audit readiness and responsibility for audit coordination.
• Collaborate with colleagues across regions and functions to resolve data-related issues, assess needs, and establish priorities.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree and one to four years of experience in data management, financial services, research, operations, data suppliers, or a related field.
• Interest in how data is used within investment, research, or business processes, with the aptitude to learn technical concepts.
• Keen attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to manage recurring operational tasks with consistency and accuracy.
• Demonstrated work ethic, follow-through, and willingness to take ownership of assigned responsibilities.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with a wide range of internal stakeholders and communicate clearly across teams.
• Professionalism and sound judgment in working with external vendors, with a practical and commercially aware approach to identifying opportunities.
• Interest in the technical infrastructure supporting data management, even if coming from a less technical background.
• Familiarity with financial markets, banking, research environments, or publicly traded data companies is a plus.
• Exposure to legal, compliance, audit, procurement, or vendor-management workflows is helpful but not required.

Benefits

• Variable compensation in the form of a year-end bonus, guaranteed in the first year of hire.
• Medical and prescription drug coverage.
• 401(k) contribution matching.
• Wellness reimbursement.
• Family building benefits.
• Charitable gift match program.

Pay

The expected annual base salary for this position is $140,000 to $180,000.