Actuarial Annuity Modeling Senior Director - REMOTE

Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company, is seeking an Annuity Modeling Lead within the Financial Actuarial department. This position serves as the Annuity Modeling Lead, responsible for end‑to‑end modeling strategy, execution, and people leadership for the annuity modeling portfolio.

This role can be staffed fully remote.

Role Purpose

In addition to the enterprise expectations for a Senior Director, Actuary – NF, this role:

• Leads the centralized annuity modeling function, accountable for design, implementation, testing, and maintenance of production models supporting valuation, reserving, and key risk and capital frameworks.
• Serves as the primary actuarial modeling point of contact for annuity stakeholders, ensuring that modeling capabilities, limitations, and risks are clearly understood and proactively managed.
• Drives scalability and modernization of the annuity modeling environment to support business growth, regulatory change, and operational resilience.

Key Responsibilities

• Owns the annuity modeling strategy across AXIS and ALFA, ensuring models remain fit‑for‑purpose, well‑controlled, and aligned to NF’s risk appetite and financial objectives.
• Leads the design and execution of large‑scale modeling initiatives.
• Partners with internal stakeholders to shape reserve and valuation methodologies, providing thought leadership on modeling implications, trade‑offs, and long‑term impacts.
• Ensures robust, standardized model testing and control frameworks are designed, implemented, and maintained across annuity models, including documentation, unit testing, and end‑to‑end validation for major changes and new products.
• Owns quarter‑end and year‑end modeling execution for annuities, including planning, prioritization, and communication of timelines, risks, and rerun criteria to stakeholders and leadership.
• Partners with Model Risk Management, Risk, and Audit to address model risk findings, coordinate validation activities, and close issues in a disciplined and timely manner.
• Drives performance improvement of annuity models (e.g., consolidating models, leveraging compression approaches, reducing manual inputs, and enhancing run efficiency).
• Leads evaluation and, where appropriate, adoption of alternative or emerging modeling platforms and tools (e.g., external vendor solutions) to enhance scalability, control, and analytical capabilities.
• Partners with Technology and Data teams to improve data sourcing, integration, and compute strategies that support reliable, scalable model runs and analytics.
• Acts as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on annuity modeling topics, translating complex modeling concepts into clear, decision‑relevant insights and recommendations.
• Maintains strong connectivity with valuation, pricing, ALM/Investments, Finance, and Risk stakeholders to align modeling priorities, manage expectations, and ensure transparency around model capabilities and limitations.
• Represents annuity modeling in key governance forums, ensuring materials and messages are accurate, balanced, and well‑supported.
• Leads, develops, and engages a team of actuarial professionals, setting clear expectations, providing timely feedback, and creating opportunities for growth, succession, and leadership development.
• Builds depth and breadth in the modeling bench by expanding expertise in annuity products, asset modeling, and emerging regulatory frameworks; creates pathways for associates to gain exposure across modeling and actuarial domains.
• Fosters a culture that can operate effectively under ambiguity and changing priorities, encouraging associates to frame options, trade‑offs, and recommendations rather than waiting for fully defined direction.
• Reports to Actuarial leader and manages a team of four or more actuarial professionals.

Experience and Qualifications

• Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA), or equivalent credentials.
• Significant experience (typically 10+ years) in life/annuity actuarial roles, with a strong focus on valuation, reserving, or financial reporting and deep familiarity with annuity products.
• Demonstrated leadership of complex modeling initiatives and teams, including responsibility for production models and quarter‑end / year‑end deliverables.
• Hands‑on experience with major actuarial modeling platforms (AXIS strongly preferred) and an understanding of end‑to‑end modeling processes (data, model design, compute, output, and analytics tools).
• Proven ability to influence across functions and levels, including senior leaders and external partners (regulators, auditors, consulting firms, software vendors).
• Strong people leadership track record, including performance management, coaching and development, and succession planning for future leaders.

Benefits include medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off (18 days to start, plus 9 holidays, 8 hours Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours Unity Day), 401(k) with company match, company‑paid pension plan, and business casual attire.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.