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

Grade Level (for internal use): 12 The Team S&P Dow Jones Indices is seeking an Equities & Digital Assets R&D Associate Director within the Index Design team to lead the research, design, analysis and delivery of differentiated index solutions within the Equities & Digital Assets value stream. Reporting to an Index Design Team Manager, with oversight from the Head of Equities & Digital Assets Index Design, the role will independently lead high-profile, complex projects, translate product and client needs into systematic, scalable and well-documented index concepts, and provide support and guidance to other team members.

The Equities & Digital Assets Index Design team supports S&P DJI's world-leading brand by driving equity index expansion and extending our leadership in index IP and data into the DeFi ecosystem., Through rigorous research, portfolio construction and financial theory, the team develops innovative and robust index strategies that address evolving client needs while upholding S&P DJI's standards of quality, transparency and governance.

The Associate Director will take end-to-end ownership across the full index design lifecycle, including background research, data gathering and validation, quantitative analysis, back-testing, methodology development, documentation and leadership of internal and external stakeholder discussions. The role requires strong numeracy, advanced programming capability, sound judgment and the ability to deliver high-profile, complex projects independently using controlled and repeatable approaches. The role will also lead or materially contribute to research publications, presentations and thought leadership, and drive the development of tools, templates and repeatable processes that improve the efficiency, scalability and analytical quality of index design and launch.

This role is an opportunity for an experienced, highly analytical and commercially aware index professional to shape high-profile Equities & Digital Assets initiatives while contributing to a value stream focused on high-quality delivery, client relevance and scalable innovation. The ideal candidate will combine technical depth, independent judgment and strong stakeholder leadership with the ability to guide others and turn market insight and investment objectives into robust index solutions.

The candidate will apply and deepen expertise across equity markets, digital assets, factor and dividend strategies, alternative datasets, portfolio construction techniques, quantitative research methods and the evolving tools and processes used to make index design more scalable and effective.

• Independently lead the research, design and analysis of new indices and related capabilities within the Equities & Digital Assets Index Design value stream, including high-profile and complex projects
• Lead the translation of investment objectives, product requirements and client needs into clear, testable index design concepts, providing informed challenge and recommendations where appropriate
• Access, clean, transform and validate complex equity, market and reference datasets used in index research and back-testing
• Design, develop and critically review backtests, sensitivity analysis and quantitative research to assess whether complex index concepts meet their stated objectives
• Apply advanced programming skills to build and oversee robust, repeatable and well-controlled analytical workflows, tools and templates, and support colleagues in adopting good practice
• Lead methodology drafting, documentation, design reviews and governance processes required for index approval and launch, ensuring analytical quality and effective resolution of complex issues
• Lead the preparation and communication of analysis, charts, presentation materials and research content for senior internal stakeholders, client discussions and external thought leadership

• Work with the Index Design Team Manager to shape priorities and independently deliver agreed team backlog items and complex project outcomes to required timelines and quality standards
• Build trusted working relationships and lead effective collaboration with R&D colleagues, Index Engineering, Product Management, Commercial, Operations, Governance and other functional partners
• Champion agreed Index Design operating standards, analytical controls and agile working practices, providing support and guidance to colleagues and helping raise quality and…