Team Description
The Data Insights Unit (DIU) are focused on applying data science skills and technologies to investment research, enhancing and complement the traditional ‘investor’ skills of our fund managers and analysts. A core part of this is the introduction of ‘alternative data’ into investment research. These are big, unstructured or novel data sets that are not already provided through traditional channels such as research from investment banks or through the Bloomberg terminals that every investment analyst or fund manager already has on their desktop.
The quantity of information available for investment research purposes is increasing at such a rate that traditional industry practices and skillsets are unable to absorb and process it. Global trends in digitalisation, social media, open data and technology are all creating vast streams of alternative data that are often highly unstructured and obscure. However, they contain valuable and often unique insights. The Data Insights team aims to find these new and potentially unorthodox datasets, extract the rich, hidden information they contain and use their expertise to enhance traditional fundamental research.
The team has already had successes applying geospatial analytics and visualisations to answer investor questions, and is looking to expand and build upon this capability.
Overview of role
The Geospatial Data Scientist will be a skills leader in the DIU. You will have two key accountabilities:
Firstly, to further develop the team’s capabilities for geospatial analysis including both infrastructure and skills. You will collaborate with our colleagues in IT and external vendors to ensure our server infrastructure has the appropriate hardware and software to support rapid and scalable geospatial analysis. You will also provide training and mentoring for our junior data scientists, building their geospatial skills. You will take personal responsibility for the business relevance and agility of this capability; developing it strategically in a way that builds competitive advantage for the firm.
Secondly, you will provide direct analysis to investors. Our team acts as an internal facing consultancy, providing data-driven evidence for investor-driven decisions. You will use both your specific skills as a geospatial analyst, and your more general skills as a data scientist, to support the investment desks and contribute to high quality investment decisions. On some projects you will act as a subject matter expert, providing support and coaching for the primary data scientist as they deliver geospatial analyses. On other projects you will act as the primary data scientist, and will be expected to answer the business question using an appropriate range of data science techniques and technologies. You will be supported by the team’s experts in other data science specialities, and collaborate with these experts on our larger more strategic projects. Balancing tactical and strategic priorities, you will do a mix of answering specific investor questions and developing data assets which increase the breadth of investor questions that can be answered.
The data insights unit operates in a hub and spoke model, with the hub acting as a centre of excellence for data science skills and the spokes consisting of data scientists embedded in investor teams. The Geospatial Data Scientist will be expected to work from the hub, collaborating with other hub data scientists on strategic developments and supporting the embedded data scientists in the delivery of tactical projects. The DIU currently has 9 members, with expansions to the hub taking the team size to 15 over 2016. Further expansions to the spokes are expected for 2017, which will come with associated increases in the responsibilities associated with this role.
Responsibilities
- Deliver Desktop and server-level geospatial analyses and visualisations to inform investor decisions
- Have the agility to leverage other non-GIS data science skills where appropriate, rather than forcing every project to be viewed through a GIS lens. Ensure the answers to investor questions are provided using the most appropriate tools and techniques for the job, whether this involves collaborating with our other experts or teaching yourself something new
- Participate in the design and implementation of our big data technology stack, with a specific view to ensuring this platform supports large scale geospatial analysis
- Provide training to further develop the DIU’s geospatial analysis skills
- Support the embedded data scientists in the hub, both by mentoring them and by assisting them with projects that require your specialist skills
- Contribute to the strategic development of our “Data Assets”. Pre-processed datasets which are applicable across a wide range of investor questions, but may involve complicated data cleaning and/or algorithm development to convert from a raw format into something useable
Skills / Experience
Essential
- Extensive experience using Geospatial Information Systems to solve business problems
- Experience across the full data science project lifecycle, including:
- Engaging with stakeholders
- ETL
- Modelling
- Delivering Insights (reporting)
- Strong maths and/or statistics
- Strong coder, with fluency in SQL and at least one other language
- Relevant degree subject (e.g. Computer Science) and 2+ years of relevant experience, or 6+ years of relevant experience
Useful
- QGIS
- Knowledge of common geospatial data sets globally (location data, administrative units/boundaries, census, postal geographies)
- Experience with geospatial modelling techniques, e.g. gravity models
- Spark, Hadoop
- Python, R
- Amazon Redshift, SQL Server
- Machine Learning
- Tableau
- Alteryx
- Information Visualisation, both theory and other tools (Shiny, D3, etc)
- Experience deploying or administering GIS infrastructure, or working with IT to do so
- Asset Management / Investment practices, knowledge of financial markets
- Strong communication skills
- Leadership and/or coaching skills
This job vacancy is sponsored by Mark Ainsworth, who some of you may know from previous roles in the retail industry and as a long standing member of the SLA.
Please apply direct oneline: www.schroders.com/careers or direct any enquiries to Schroders HR department by email to Sheetal Patel on sheetal.patel@schroders.com
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