Director, Mortality Research

You desire impactful work.
 

You're RGA ready

RGA is a purpose-driven organization working to solve today's challenges through innovation and collaboration. A Fortune 200 Company and listed among its World's Most Admired Companies, we're the only global reinsurance company to focus primarily on life- and health-related solutions. Join our multinational team of intelligent, motivated, and collaborative people, and help us make financial protection accessible to all.

A Brief Overview

This role is a key element of RGA's activities in the biometric and longevity space – one of the organization's top growth areas globally – by developing and expanding expertise in the areas of longevity and mortality research, mortality improvement trends, longevity product development, longevity reinsurance and the pension de-risking market. 

This role is part of the global Enterprise Pricing (EP) team. The role has a global remit and will be expected to work closely across many levels in multiple geographies, local teams, and local and global research teams.    

The role will report to the Research Pillar lead.  

What you will do

• Take a leading role in research to enable understanding of biometric and mortality risks across multiple international markets, with a focus on basis development;
• Take a leading role in the sourcing, evaluation, interpretation, and communication of various types of data pertaining to key drivers of mortality;
• Develop and expand expertise in modelling mortality and mortality improvements; and keep an active interest in emerging trends and concepts for longevity and mortality models and research and fresh thinking from other internal teams, the wider industry and actuarial bodies;
• Use personal connections to industry research groups to access, ascertain and influence market thinking, keeping close to the latest developments in longevity and mortality research, ensuring that the team remains well connected to these;
• Support Business Development teams with their efforts to develop various market propositions, including through participation at presentations and webinars and producing thought leadership materials; and supplying the Business Development team with relevant, timely, impactful knowledge, expertise and insights on longevity/mortality research and basis;
• Support and provide input into the team's global efforts in improving and expanding longevity and mortality basis development and research methods;
• Build relationships with local and global research teams to support knowledge sharing, improve consistency in basis setting and influence the wider mortality and longevity research agenda within RGA;
• Support the Research Pillar lead in the communication of team initiatives, outcomes of longevity and mortality research and basis enhancements to Senior Management, Pricing and Business Development, to raise the profile and increase the impact of the team;
• Propose and develop thought leadership materials and publish and present to external audiences;
• Work with the Pricing, Business Development teams and Senior Management to identify future market needs;
• Lead peer reviews of the work produced by the EP team, local Research teams or Pricing teams;
• Support other internal stakeholders with an interest in longevity and mortality research, including the valuation or capital teams on ad-hoc projects or by sharing details;

Qualifications

Required:      

• Bachelor's degree in Maths, Statistics, Actuarial Science, Finance, or related field
• 6+ years life (re)insurance, pensions, or related experience
• 3+ years of hands-on experience longevity / re(insurance) / research / consultancy
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of assumption setting in the mortality space (i.e. protection product-linked assumptions), including experience with mortality trend assumptions
• Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, Society of Actuaries, or equivalent actuarial qualification

Preferred:      

• Advanced knowledge of longevity and/or annuity products.
• Experience in actuarial applications including (but not limited to) AXIS, Prophet, MoSes

Competencies, Skills and Abilities

Required:

• Advanced collaboration skills and ability to liaise with individuals across a wide variety of operational, functional and technical disciplines
• Ability to work and manage self and project teams in a dynamic and high-pressure environment while managing multiple concurrent deadlines and making sure projects are driven to completion
• Advanced oral and written communication skills, in particular the ability to convey information in a way that is meaningful and well received by stakeholders and team members
• Expert level analytical and problem-solving skills: curious, innovative, flexible approach
• Strong business acumen and understanding of the importance of applying research to solve business issues
• Ability and flexibility to travel nationally (and on occasion, internationally) depending on base location

Preferred:

• Proficiency in a programming language such as R or Python
• Experience of leading project teams remotely

What you can expect from RGA:

• Gain valuable knowledge from and experience with diverse, caring colleagues around the world.

• Enjoy a respectful, welcoming environment that fosters individuality and encourages pioneering thought.

• Join the bright and creative minds of RGA, and experience vast, endless career potential.