Sustainability Models Methodology Researcher (VP level)

at  MSCI Inc

RESEARCH

Use your eye for actionable insights to help clients identify and manage emerging risks and opportunities.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE THAT WILL HELP YOU EXCEL

• Exceptional communication skills: This is not the standard "good communication skills" seen in every job description. More than 50% of this role will involve engaging with others, understanding their perspectives, and communicating solutions clearly. If you prefer working independently without frequent interaction, this role may not be the best fit.
• Strong quantitative skills, with the ability to understand and break down problems, and propose solutions—relying on experts to fine-tune and execute the technical details.
• 5+ years of professional experience in a relevant field, preferably working on complex quantitative projects with multiple stakeholders.
• A degree in finance, sustainability, or a technical field such as engineering or data science.
• PhD (in any topic, even unfinished) is a plus, as we value candidates with experience in conducting research, navigating ambiguity, and working towards detailed, data-driven insights.
• Basic Python knowledge: While you don’t need to be a software developer, you should be comfortable using Python to explore data, test ideas, and support model development.
• Experience or a strong interest in AI, particularly in exploring opportunities with GPTs and similar technologies, is a plus.

YOUR TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES

The Sustainable Investment Models and Analytics team is part of the broader global ESG research function, working at the intersection of qualitative sustainability research and quantitative financial research. We often serve as the interface between ESG sector research teams, which focus on sustainability, and the more technical engineering and data teams, bridging these worlds by improving collaboration and communication. Our team members are comfortable working with data, though we rarely write production code. We are skilled enough in Python to tinker and experiment, particularly in exploring how AI can enhance our models and workflows. In addition to our technical acumen, we have a strong foundation in finance. For instance, we aggregate ESG metrics at the portfolio level in products like FundMetrics. This is a truly global team, with members based in over nine cities, spanning from Mumbai to New York, offering a dynamic and diverse environment to collaborate and grow.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

In this role, you will be a key problem solver for large, complex projects that span across multiple teams and involves 100+ stakeholders. The challenges you will face are rarely well-defined, and it will be your responsibility to take initiative, leveraging your model understanding and technical skills to identify and resolve issues. This often requires speaking with several people to gather information, formulating effective solutions, and ensuring that these solutions are communicated clearly across the broader project team.
While the individual issues you encounter may not always be complex one by one, the volume of them is significant, and the true challenge lies in keeping track of everything to ensure no problem goes unresolved or forgotten. Quantitative skills are essential for grasping the scope of each problem and proposing thoughtful solutions, though you will frequently collaborate with subject-matter experts to refine and execute the details.
This is a VP-level position, but we are open to considering candidates with slightly less experience who demonstrate strong potential in problem-solving and project coordination.