Data Operations Lead

**OUR COMPANY BACKGROUND & CULTURE**

University Pension Plan Ontario (UPP) is a new, jointly sponsored pension plan that serves over 37,000 members and beneficiaries from four participating universities (Queen’s University, the University of Guelph, the University of Toronto and Trent University) and 12 affiliate employers.

We are an exciting and ground-breaking pension start-up, with over $11 billion in assets under management. Our goal is to enhance the long-term sustainability of defined benefit pension plans in the university sector now and for generations to come. We are here to protect the stability of our members’ pensions and deliver service excellence—that’s our pension promise.

At UPP, we are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and reconciliation - across race, place, culture, gender expression and sexual identity. We actively seek talent who share in this commitment and bring their whole selves to work.

**THE ROLE**

We are seeking a motivated experienced Data Operations Lead with diverse experience in the different facets of data operations, data vendor management, data procurement and its related operational processes with a proven background in driving best practices with a hands-on attitude to build from ground up.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Data Operations professional to join a team of high-performing individuals and make a great impact in a start-up organization. Reporting directly to the Director, Data and Analytics, the Data Operations Lead will partner with business leaders and their teams to lead the design, development and implementation of Data Operations initiatives and projects and be key input in the development of daily data operations processes that support reporting, notifications and data quality management working in close collaboration with the broader Data & Technology team and the Business teams.

UPP has adopted a Hybrid Work Model which allows staff the flexibility to work remotely with the opportunity to work in person at the office ~2 days a week. Our office is located in downtown Toronto.

**KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES**:
Will be responsible for a variety of duties, including but not limited to the following:

- Lead a matrix team / squad of data operations, business process owners and technology process owners and lead the use case engagement model from planning to execution of data operations across multiple domains at UPP.
- Design and streamline data operations processes from use case initiation to consumption.
- Oversee and support the data operational activities that include process and procedure execution of data management (external and internal data sources), security set-ups, reconciliations, addressing and resolving data exceptions.
- Align and ensure collaboration with within the Data & Technology team (Data Engineering, Business Intelligence, Solutions Architecture and Technology Partners) on automation opportunities and on ensuring data operations activities function smoothly and meet business SLAs.
- Lead and represent the Reference and Index data vendor management (contract inception to licensing) strategic initiatives and ensure all key data management elements are accounted for, including operational process changes.
- Institutionalize knowledge of data used in the investment processes
- Work with Data & Technology teams to design and implement data related tools and analytics related to operational processes.
- Be the key liaison for the data operational processes in support of audit, and control of process by building and refining internal monitoring processes and procedures.
- Keep up to date with current trends & vendor / product offerings and how they might be used by the data operations team.
- Provide guidance and support for all content and information configuration settings and processes as applicable

**QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE**:

- Minimum of 7-10 years’ experience in Data Operations and investment and/or pensions operations data management
- Experience developing Data Operations processes, framework, and operationalization within a “design/build” phase
- Experience with Data Operations in an Enterprise/Corporate environment
- Undergraduate degree or higher post-secondary education in field of study or related (Math, Engineering, Economics, Business, or similar quantitative discipline)
- Experience working with financial data vendors such as Bloomberg, S&P and Refinitiv and their product offerings
- Strong understanding of Index methodologies and rebalancing processes.
- Strong understanding of key investment finance data management concepts such as security master data, financial statement data, pricing, and market data.
- Excellent project management skills and ability to work under pressure and manage high priority strategic projects with multiple or competing deadlines
- Proven ability to communicate and synthesize complex ideas or large amounts of data into simple, concise presentations a