Index Product Development Manager

Job Purpose

This position is a senior role within ICE Data Indices (IDI) in London, focused on equity and commodity index development. The successful candidate will combine technical expertise, quantitative skills, and commercial acumen to design innovative index solutions and drive business growth. This is a highly proactive role requiring close collaboration with clients, sales, and business development teams to identify opportunities, customize indices, and deliver tailored solutions.

You will engage directly with institutional clients to understand investment objectives, translate them into index methodologies, and oversee implementation with quant and development teams. The role demands strong Python programming skills, advanced data analytics capabilities, and deep knowledge of equity index construction methodologies, including market-cap weighting, factor-based strategies, ESG integration, and thematic approaches. Commodity index experience is also essential.

Responsibilities

• Client Engagement & Business Development
  • Partner with sales and business development teams to identify client needs and market opportunities
  • Engage directly with asset managers, ETF providers, and institutional investors to design custom equity and commodity indices
  • Present index concepts, performance analytics, and methodology details to clients and stakeholders
• Index Design & Implementation
  • Develop new index methodologies for equity indices (e.g., market-cap, equal-weight, factor-based, ESG, thematic) and commodity benchmarks
  • Collaborate with quant and development teams to implement and deploy indices into production
  • Ensure methodologies align with regulatory and industry standards
• Quantitative Analysis & Validation
  • Perform rigorous quantitative analysis using Python, including back-testing, risk/return analytics, and scenario modeling
  • Validate index calculations and ensure methodology rules are correctly applied
  • Analyze performance attribution and sensitivity at both index and constituent levels
• Platform & Process Optimization
  • Utilize the ICE Index Platform for index construction, profiling, and customization
  • Identify workflow efficiencies and implement process improvements to enhance accuracy and scalability
• Research & Innovation
  • Conduct ad hoc research on equity market trends, factor performance, and commodity pricing
  • Stay ahead of developments in smart beta, ESG, and thematic index design

Knowledge and Experience

• Undergraduate degree in Math, Finance, Engineering, Physics, or Technology; advanced degree a plus
• Strong proficiency in Python for quantitative analysis, data manipulation, and back-testing
• Advanced Excel skills; familiarity with SQL is a plus
• Professional certifications such as CFA/CIPM are advantageous
• Deep understanding of equity index construction methodologies, including:
• Market-cap and equal-weight approaches
• Factor-based and smart beta strategies
• ESG and thematic index design
• Corporate actions and rebalancing processes
• Familiarity with commodity index methodologies and futures-based benchmarks
• Excellent communication skills for client-facing interactions and presentations
• Ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Commercial mindset with eagerness to collaborate across product, sales, and technology teams