Data Modeling Lead, Vice President

About this role

Vice President – Data Modelling

Position Overview:

BlackRock is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Vice President to lead its growing and dynamic Data Modelling function. This senior role is responsible for driving the design, creation, and maintenance of data models that power critical analytics, regulatory, and operational objectives across the firm. The VP will collaborate with business stakeholders, technical teams, and external vendors to ensure that data models are robust, scalable, and aligned with enterprise data governance standards. The ideal candidate will bring at least 7 years of experience in data modelling and data management, with a proven track record of delivering large-scale, data-driven initiatives. Experience in modelling for financial securities reference data is a plus, but strong data modelling expertise in any domain is sufficient.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategic Direction

• Strategic Vision: Define and execute the strategic vision for data modelling across the organization, setting the direction for how data models are designed, maintained, and optimized.

• Business Alignment: Work closely with senior leadership and business stakeholders to ensure data models address current and future business needs while adhering to industry best practices.

• Thought Leadership: Advocate for the strategic importance of data modelling within BlackRock, championing its value in driving data-driven decision-making.

Data Governance & Quality Oversight

• Governance Alignment: Ensure that all data models comply with BlackRock’s data governance framework, emphasizing data accuracy, completeness, and consistency.

• Quality Standards: Establish and enforce robust data quality standards and governance policies that integrate seamlessly with data modelling processes.

• Continuous Improvement: Oversee data health assessments related to model performance and reliability, ensuring ongoing enhancements to meet regulatory and operational needs.

Data Product Lifecycle Management

• Model Development: Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of data models—conceptual, logical, and physical—ensuring they are fit for purpose and strategically aligned with organizational goals.

• Collaboration: Drive effective coordination among product management, engineering, and business teams to integrate new or updated data models into data products.

• Scalability & Sustainability: Balance short-term business demands with long-term architectural objectives, designing models that are scalable and adaptable to future needs.

Requirements Gathering & Documentation

• Stakeholder Engagement: Lead efforts to gather and document comprehensive business requirements for data modelling initiatives, collaborating closely with stakeholders to translate business needs into model specifications.

• Technical Translation: Oversee the documentation process to ensure clarity and consistency, effectively bridging the gap between technical requirements and business objectives.

• Actionable Tasks: Break down complex modelling challenges into actionable tasks to facilitate efficient and accurate model development.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• External Partnerships: Manage relationships with data and software vendors, ensuring that third-party solutions meet BlackRock’s data model requirements and quality standards.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work in tandem with internal teams across business, technology, and operations to ensure that delivered models meet stakeholder needs on time and within budget.

• Negotiation & Influencing: Serve as a key liaison with both internal and external partners, negotiating priorities, timelines, and resources to achieve optimal modelling outcomes.

Collaboration & Communication

• Cross-Team Leadership: Lead and foster collaboration among technical and non-technical teams, ensuring that complex modelling concepts are clearly understood and appropriately applied.

• Influence & Alignment: Communicate the data modelling strategy to senior leadership, aligning cross-functional efforts with organizational priorities.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promote a culture of data literacy and best practices in data modelling through regular training and guidance.

Data Model Support & Problem Resolution

• Issue Resolution: Provide leadership in diagnosing and resolving complex data model-related issues, using data-driven approaches and industry best practices to address business challenges.

• Governance Controls: Ensure that data governance controls are embedded throughout the modelling process, from ideation and development to testing and deployment.

• Optimization & Best Practices: Advocate for and implement best practices in data modelling, continually refining processes to improve quality, efficiency, and business value.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Experience: Minimum of 7 years in data modelling, ideally within large-scale organizations in the financial services industry or a similarly complex domain.

• Technical Expertise: Proficiency in designing conceptual, logical, and physical data models; experience with data governance tools, third-party data sources, and cloud-based data platforms (e.g., Snowflake).

• Leadership & Collaboration: Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, negotiate priorities, and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including senior leadership.

• Financial Domain Knowledge: Strong understanding of financial markets and investment management is preferred; experience with financial security reference data is a plus.

• Tools & Programming: Familiarity with SQL, Python, and data governance platforms is highly beneficial.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field is required. Advanced degrees or certifications in data modelling, data architecture, or related disciplines are considered a plus.

For Wilmington, DE Only the salary range for this position is USD$117,500.00 - USD$173,500.00 . 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.

Our benefits

To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including a strong retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive healthcare, support for working parents and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

Our hybrid work model

BlackRock’s hybrid work model is designed to enable a culture of collaboration and apprenticeship that enriches the experience of our employees, while supporting flexibility for all. Employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the flexibility to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more time in the office due to their roles and responsibilities. We remain focused on increasing the impactful moments that arise when we work together in person – aligned with our commitment to performance and innovation. As a new joiner, you can count on this hybrid model to accelerate your learning and onboarding experience here at BlackRock.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being.  Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children’s educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment – the one we make in our employees. It’s why we’re dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

For additional information on BlackRock, please visit @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

BlackRock is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity to all applicants and existing employees, and we evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity/expression), sexual orientation, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status, political affiliation, religion, citizenship status, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. View the EEOC’s Know Your Rights poster and its supplement and the pay transparency statement.

BlackRock is committed to full inclusion of all qualified individuals and to providing reasonable accommodations or job modifications for individuals with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation/adjustments are needed throughout the employment process, please email Disability.Assistance@blackrock.com. All requests are treated in line with our privacy policy.

BlackRock will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in a manner consistent with the requirements of the law, including any applicable fair chance law.