Market Data Manager in London

Maven is a market-leading proprietary trading firm deploying its own capital across discretionary, systematic, and market-making strategies. Backed by deep expertise in trading, technology, and research, we are relentlessly focused on improving liquidity across global listed derivatives. Through advanced execution and pricing technologies, we improve how financial markets operate.

The Market Data Manager is responsible for the operational, technological, and AI-driven engine of Maven's Market Data function across all regions and business lines. Reporting to the Head of Market Data, the individual will deliver against Maven's Market Data strategy with a particular focus on AI-enabled vendor analytics, contract digestion, entitlement audit, and the build-out of the firm's data inventory and reporting infrastructure.

This position requires a strong commercial and operational grounding across the breadth of market data (exchange, alternative, and fundamental) alongside a demonstrable track record of using LLMs, automation, and lightweight Python to replace manual workflows. The role will partner closely with the Head of Vendor Strategy on commercial strategy, vendor negotiations, and the build-out of the function, while owning the day-to-day operational running of the team.

The successful candidate will be hands-on, comfortable doing the work themselves rather than delegating it, and will demonstrate strong commercial instinct alongside technical fluency. This position will sit in London, working closely with business and technology stakeholders globally. The role will manage Maven's Data Licensing Administrator and partner closely with the procurement team on the contract repository, vendor analytics, and inventory infrastructure.

The operational and AI capability of this role is expected to be leveraged across Maven's Vendor Strategy, Finance and Legal functions in addition to Market Data. It is a full-time permanent role and remuneration comprises an annual base salary depending on experience plus a discretionary bonus. Hybrid working: 4 days a week in the office.

Role Responsibilities:

• Ownership of the AI and automation roadmap for the Market Data function, deciding what to build, what to buy, and what to outsource.
• Daily use of LLMs and AI tooling for vendor analysis, contract digestion, usage analytics, and entitlement audit, with a track record of replacing manual workflows with AI-augmented equivalents.
• Use of internal tooling in Python (usage dashboards, automated entitlement reconciliations, simple AI integrations), working adjacent to engineering rather than as engineering.
• Automation of monthly reporting, exchange audit workflows, and other repetitive tasks across the Market Data function.
• Ownership of MD data ingestion into Maven's central data team infrastructure, enabling easy access and inventory management firmwide.

Vendor Analytics & Commercial Support:

• Day-to-day ownership of vendor analytics: usage, ROI, redundancy, and renewal forecasting across the full Market Data vendor portfolio.
• Support on vendor negotiations, renewal strategy, and RFP processes with major data and exchange vendors (e.g., Bloomberg, LSE/Refinitiv, ICE, CME).
• Building of forecast and ROI models to optimise spend and inform future Opex planning.
• Identification of opportunities for cost optimisation, vendor consolidation, and improved service levels.
• Evaluation and operational assessment of alternative data sources (e.g., sentiment, satellite, web-scraped) to support discretionary and systematic strategies.

Data Inventory & Operational Excellence:

• Build-out and ownership of Maven's data catalogue and central inventory, raising its profile with business users as the canonical reference for data sets in use across the firm.
• Management of day-to-day Market Data operations across Europe, US, and Asia jurisdictions, including monthly data reporting, annual licensing, and exchange audits.
• Onboarding of new quant and discretionary data sets across the business, including those required to support the onboarding of new Portfolio Managers, with entitlements, governance, and inventory records in place from day one.
• Partnership with the Vendor Strategy function on the cross-firm contract repository, ensuring MD records are accurate, complete, and accessible.
• Implementation of operational controls, documentation, and process improvements as the function scales.

People Management & Cross-Functional Partnership:

• Line management and structured mentorship of Maven's Data Licensing Administrator, including ownership of his development plan and growth path.
• Coordination of Market Data-related communication across Trading Desks, Technology/Engineering, Legal, Compliance, and Finance.

Governance, Risk & Compliance:

• Ensuring compliance with all Market Data licensing obligations, regulatory requirements, and internal governance standards.
• Management of entitlements, access, and audit exposure across the Market Data vendor estate.
• Deep understanding of Maven's use and interaction with all types of data, ensuring appropriate controls and documentation are in place.

Candidate Specifications:

• Between 4 and 8 years' experience gained within market data at a proprietary trading firm, hedge fund, exchange, data or technology vendor, or similar.
• Demonstrable track record of using AI and LLM tooling to multiply the throughput of a small team, including replacing manual workflows with automated or AI-augmented equivalents.
• Working proficiency in Python, with experience standing up lightweight internal tooling (usage dashboards, automated reconciliations, simple AI integrations).
• Breadth across multiple data types (exchange, alternative, and fundamental) sufficient to operate across a multi-strategy book.
• Commercial literacy in vendor negotiation, renewal strategy, and RFP discipline.
• Experience with market data inventory and management platforms (e.g., TRG Screen, Alveo) or equivalent.
• Experience working across multiple regions, time zones, or jurisdictions an advantage.

Knowledge:

• Strong knowledge of market data policy and licensing, plus at least one of the following key areas:
• AI and LLM tooling applied to operational workflows.
• Lightweight data engineering and automation (Python, SQL).
• Financial products, particularly equities, futures, and options.
• Securities exchanges and exchange relationship management.
• Alternative data sourcing and governance.
• Vendor analytics, cost optimisation, and procurement.

Skills & Competencies:

• Hands-on operator, comfortable doing the work themselves and rolling sleeves up rather than delegating to others.
• Ability to think strategically while executing operationally, equally credible at roadmap level and at the workbench.
• Ability to work autonomously and influence without direct authority across senior stakeholder groups.
• Ability to communicate and reason effectively with stakeholders at all levels, including Portfolio Managers, Traders, Technology, Legal, and Finance.
• Sound judgement, decision-making, and organisational skills, including ability to manage and mentor a junior team member.
• Excellent verbal and numerical reasoning skills.
• Proficiency in Python, modern AI tooling (LLMs, Copilot-style assistants), and Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

What We Offer:

• A great environment whereby technology is key to our success.
• The upside of a start-up without the associated risks.
• Friendly, informal and highly rewarding culture.
• A fast-growing global firm with plenty of opportunities where you will have a significant impact.