Vice President, Alternative Data Strategy & Execution - Portfolio Management Group
About This Role
Business Overview
PMTech is the horizontal technology platform within BlackRock’s Portfolio Management Group (PMG), integrating investment research with advanced engineering, AI, and alternative data to make technology a direct driver of alpha. It operates as one global team across three verticals – Platform Strategy, Research Solutions (DS&S), and Platform Change (IPT) – partnering closely with the BlackRock Aladdin ecosystem and PMG investment leadership.
Job Purpose / Background
The Alternative Data Strategy & Execution role is responsible for driving the sourcing, prioritisation, and implementation of alternative datasets across PMG. The role sits at the intersection of investment research, data strategy, and commercial execution, ensuring that data opportunities are aligned to Alpha Priorities, investor strategies, and BlackRock thematic views.
Key Responsibilities
Partner with investors to identify, prioritise, and source alternative datasets aligned to Alpha Priorities and investment strategies
Maintain a strong view of the alternative data landscape, delivering thematic insights and identifying datasets that enhance existing signals or unlock new opportunities
Prioritise competing demands and drive datasets from idea through evaluation to onboarding, balancing speed, impact, and scalability
Facilitate dataset evaluation with investors and research teams, ensuring practical usability and investment impact
Act as the central point of contact for third-party data inventory, driving visibility, reuse, and discoverability of datasets across teams
Engage with a broad range of vendors, supporting strategic data partnerships, negotiations, and commercial assessment of value and fit
Coordinate dataset reviews with IDS and control functions, ensuring compliant use of data, including licensing and AI/ML usage rights
Partner with Business Managers and platform teams to streamline the data acquisition lifecycle (onboarding → trial → production) and ensure consistent workflows across PMG
Connect investors, data teams, engineering, and vendors to coordinate workflows and bring in the right expertise to drive outcomes
Support governance initiatives (including Aladdin Alpha) and contribute to improving transparency of data usage and spend across PMG
Skills & Experience
Experience in financial services, data strategy, consulting, or investment research
Exposure to alternative data and/or investment research workflows
Familiarity with data licensing, governance, and AI/ML usage considerations
Experience working across cross-functional teams spanning investment, data, and technology
Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and prioritise effectively
Demonstrated commercial acumen, including experience engaging with external vendors and assessing value
Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and drive outcomes across diverse teams
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate between investor needs, data capabilities, and commercial considerations
Interest in financial markets and the drivers of performance, from macro events to company-level fundamentals
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
5+ Years relevant experience in financial services, data, or consulting environments
Nice to Have
Basic familiarity with data tools (SQL, Python) or data platforms
Pay & Benefits
For New York, NY Only
The salary range for this position is USD$155,000.00 - USD$210,000.00.
Additionally, employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, and benefits including healthcare, leave benefits, and retirement benefits. BlackRock operates a pay-for-performance compensation philosophy and your total compensation may vary based on role, location, and firm, department and individual performance.
For Boston, MA and Atlanta, GA Only
The salary range for this position is USD$140,000.00 - USD$200,000.00.
Additionally, employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, and benefits including healthcare, leave benefits, and retirement benefits. BlackRock operates a pay-for-performance compensation philosophy and your total compensation may vary based on role, location, and firm, department and individual performance.