Senior Director, Technology & Data

Senior Director, Technology & Data

Firm Overview 

Casdin Capital, LLC (“Casdin”) is a New York-based fundamental research investment firm focused on the life sciences and healthcare industry. The firm manages a long-short growth equity fund and invests in early- to late-stage private companies. Casdin was launched in 2012 by founder and CIO Eli Casdin and manages a multi-billion dollar fund.

At Casdin, we start from a position of curiosity, honesty, and passion to gain a deep and thoughtful understanding of opportunities in the life science ecosystem. We commit to finding the highest quality management teams doing the work to create high-growth companies. We use data to continually advance our knowledge, and we are long-term investors. We believe in collaboration and transparency and operate at the forefront of innovation. 

Position Overview 

The Senior Director, Technology & Data will be a senior member of the team and will drive the Casdin Information and Technology vision & strategy to support ongoing growth and operational excellence. This role will involve leading a team responsible for the firm's IT infrastructure, cyber-security, and database/application development, ensuring technology provides leverage to front-office investments and supports middle-to-back-office operations. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in financial services technology, a deep understanding of hedge fund operations, and a passion for innovation.

Key Responsibilities 

Duties and responsibilities include:

-Technology Strategy: Partners with the COO to manage the technology roadmap, by closely engaging with key business priorities and how they align with the technological requirements that support the business. Lead the firm’s overall technology strategy & roadmap, ensuring alignment with business objectives and operational excellence in a dynamic environment. 

-Team Leadership: Manage and lead a team of experienced Developers, Engineers, and Analysts mainly responsible for Systems/IT infrastructure, Application/Database Development, and third-party systems integration. Provide mentorship and hands-on feedback to ensure the team is continuously set up to do their best work.

-Business Partnership: Work closely with Research, Operations, Finance, & Administrative teams to understand their needs and develop technology solutions that support their objectives. Presents reports to the Operating Committee on technology status, goals, and progress and shares information to develop a collective understanding of programs and issues.

-Data Management: Manage the existing data warehouse solution, with ownership of the ongoing data management and optimization to support future use cases.  Partner with the data team on data sourcing, vendor management, and the infrastructure required for alternative data processing.

-Infrastructure Ownership: Responsible for Firm-wide IT Support by managing the Head of IT to oversee the internal and hosted IT environment, providing a high-quality service level to the Casdin team and any other stakeholder IT interactions.  

-System Ownership & Advancement: Responsible for the existing hardware and software applications, including trading and accounting systems, proprietary data warehouse, CRM, compliance, portfolio tracking, RMS, proprietary research tooling and other business support infrastructure. Leverage technological solutions at the forefront of innovation.

-Architecture: Continually assesses and advances the IT architecture, building a highly effective system across business functions. Continually evaluating the company infrastructure to anticipate the needs of the business and be at the forefront of what is possible.

-Security, Risk Management & Policy: Maintain and advance the firm’s cyber security program, establish a risk management program, and proactively address/mitigate all potential regulatory and policy items that are relevant to the company and our fiduciary responsibility regarding information, and technology (SEC, OCIE, and other regulatory standards).

-Vendor and Contract Management: Manage the existing technology, information, and data vendors, including ongoing contract negotiation and partnership optimization.  Evaluate new vendors for technology standards and integration requirements.  Manage firm-wide technology budget.

Requirements/Qualifications 

-Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field.

-Professional Experience:15+ years of experience in technology leadership roles, preferably within the hedge fund, asset management, or financial services sectors.

-Strong knowledge of trading systems, data warehouses, market data, client reporting & accounting systems.

-Experience managing front and middle/back-office systems in a hedge fund or financial institution.

-Technical Skills: Strong knowledge of software development (Python, git), database architecture and design (MS SQL), cloud infrastructure (Azure). Expertise in IT infrastructure (VPN, Firewalls, DR/BCP) & cybersecurity best practices and technologies. -Familiarity with industry-specific platforms/vendors (EMS/OMS/PMS, RMS, CRM) and market data providers (i.e. Bloomberg)

Proven experience as a Technology Leader that can align Casdin’s existing technological capabilities with our long-term technical aspirations with a specific background in building scalable infrastructure and services to improve efficiency at every level of the business. 

-Passionate about the latest technological advances that could benefit the firm and maintain a high level of knowledge of information security practices.

-Excellent problem-solving skills to build and drive a high-performing technology function that meets or exceeds timelines in a dynamic, time-sensitive environment.

-Knowledge of workflows across Trading Operations, Portfolio Management, Accounting Systems, Corporate Services, and Data Management to ensure the technology needs across the business are aligned.

-Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts that can provide leverage to a variety of business and operational objectives.

-Exceptional product management skills, able to coordinate business and technical needs into an organized roadmap to execute in a dynamic environment.

-Excels at managing projects, demonstrating excellent organizational, time-management, and multitasking skills with the ability to manage budgets and roadmaps effectively.

The estimated minimum and maximum base annual salary for this role is $250,000-$325,000. Actual base salaries may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience, past performance, education, and other job-related factors. In addition to base salary compensation, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, and successful candidates are eligible to receive an annual discretionary bonus.