Head of Data Science Technology Solutions

At Franklin Templeton, we advance our industry by developing innovative ways to help clients achieve investment goals. Our dynamic firm spans asset management, wealth management, and fintech, offering many opportunities for investors to progress toward their objectives. We welcome diverse perspectives and a flexible culture that empowers employees to reach their potential.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner closely with CIOs, Portfolio Managers, and Research Heads to translate investment challenges into scalable analytical solutions.
• Develop and productionalize alpha signals, risk models, optimization engines, liquidity analytics, and scenario‑modelling capabilities.
• Embed analytics within portfolio construction, trading, and risk systems (e.g., Aladdin, Wall Street Office, Axioma).
• Drive quantifiable improvements in performance attribution, risk‑adjusted returns, drawdown management, and portfolio efficiency.

Data Science Platform & Architecture

• Design and implement a robust, cloud‑enabled data science platform supporting:
  • Research and experimentation environments
  • Feature stores and reusable signal libraries
  • Model development, validation, and testing frameworks
  • MLOps and model lifecycle management
  • Deployment pipelines into investment and risk platforms
• Ensure architecture supports cross‑asset reuse, security, auditability, and regulatory compliance.
• Align platform standards with broader ITS data and infrastructure strategy.

Enterprise & Cross‑Functional AI Enablement

• Collaborate with Risk, Finance, Operations, and Distribution teams to extend AI capabilities in line with investment technology priorities.
• Contribute to enterprise AI initiatives, including stress‑testing automation, operational intelligence, and advanced reporting analytics.
• Represent ITS Data Science in enterprise AI governance and model risk forums.
• Promote responsible AI principles such as explainability, transparency, and bias mitigation.

Organizational Build & Global Scale

• Establish and scale a high‑performing global data science organization embedded within ITS.
• Develop a federated delivery model supporting regional investment teams across market hours.
• Create clear differentiation among quantitative research, data science, AI engineering, and ML platform engineering roles.
• Implement talent development pathways to build deep capital markets and vendor platform expertise.

Product Mindset & Value Realization

• Operate data science as a product capability with defined roadmaps, prioritization frameworks, and measurable value tracking.
• Establish adoption metrics and performance KPIs for all deployed solutions.
• Balance near‑term market support needs with longer‑term platform innovation.

Governance & Controls

• Implement robust model validation, monitoring, and lifecycle management processes.
• Ensure compliance with model risk management standards and regulatory expectations.
• Maintain data lineage transparency and documentation standards aligned with ITS governance frameworks.

Candidate Profile

Experience

• 10+ years in asset management, capital markets, or quantitative investment technology environments.
• Demonstrated leadership building and scaling data science or quantitative analytics teams within a technology‑enabled operating model.
• Proven track record delivering production‑grade AI/ML solutions embedded in investment platforms.
• Experience operating in regulated financial services environments.

Capital Markets Expertise

• Deep understanding of:
  • Multi‑asset portfolio construction and optimisation
  • Risk modelling and stress testing
  • Market structure, liquidity dynamics, and execution considerations
• CFA designation strongly preferred.
• Advanced degree (PhD/MSc) in quantitative finance, statistics, mathematics, computer science, or related discipline desirable.

Technical & Platform Expertise

• Strong command of statistical modelling, machine learning, and time‑series analysis.
• Experience integrating alternative datasets into investment workflows.
• Familiarity with cloud‑native data architectures, distributed compute, and MLOps frameworks.
• Experience working with enterprise investment platforms (e.g., Aladdin, Wall Street Office, Axioma) strongly preferred.

Leadership & Operating Style

• Technology‑forward leader with strong investment credibility.
• Product‑oriented and outcome‑driven.
• Comfortable operating in a global, matrixed ITS organization.
• Strong communicator capable of influencing senior investment and technology stakeholders.

Benefits Highlights

• Three weeks paid time off the first year
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with 85% company match up to IRS limits
• Employee Stock Investment Program
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Purchase of company funds with no sales charge
• Onsite fitness center and recreation center*
• Onsite cafeteria*

*Only applicable at certain locations.

Franklin Templeton is an affirmative action equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees, and we evaluate qualified applicants without regard to ancestry, age, color, disability, genetic information, gender identity or expression, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law, ordinance, or regulation.

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