AVP, Basis Development, R&D

Job Title

Job Description

Role Overview

We are looking for an ambitious individual to lead a team of basis development actuaries and join the London Research and Development leadership group. This is an exciting time to join the team as we provide assumptions for the Company’s ambitious growth plans in new and existing markets.

You will work on best estimate assumptions in the following markets:

• Savings and Retirement (S&R) – mortality base, mortality trend, and dependants. Markets include: UK, the Netherlands, USA, Canada and Australia
• Protection markets – mortality, morbidity and lapse base assumptions for Europe and North America. Mortality trend assumptions for all Global markets

The role will be responsible for all aspects of the delivery of assumptions, from planning, team management, technical direction, stakeholder engagement and implementation. You will work closely with the VP-Specialist in the team who is on hand as a technical consultant to help the R&D London team build critical skills needed for effective basis development.

A key focus over the next few years will be to scale the team capabilities for the increase in volume of assumptions which we need to produce. This will come through being courageous in improving economies of scale and standardising and sharing capabilities.

You will work closely with other teams including:

- R&D teams including the Medical Analytics, Strategic Analytics teams and R&D teams in other geographies across the Division

- Biometric teams in other Divisions on shared assumptions related to the US market.

- S&R and Protection teams inside the Reinsurance Division to support on Pricing and Product developments and to ensure that the assumptions developed meet their needs.

You will be working in a company that values your technical skills, the innovative ideas and solutions you bring into the work you do, and your ability to communicate those ideas effectively.

Duties

1. Lead the development and maintenance of base and trend assumptions (Terms of Trade)

2. Scaling the capabilities of the team through improving our processes and cultivating the talent of the team

3. Build strong working relationships with other teams in the business

4. Support the development of wider research capabilities of the team, including promoting time dedicated to research.

5. Provide leadership as part of the London Research and Development leadership group and line management of 4 team members

Skills & Experience

• Demonstrable exposure to basis development with a reinsurer, life company or consultancy. This could be through working directly in a pricing or basis setting team or through a review function.
• Qualified Fellow of the Institute or Faculty of Actuaries or other similar organisation with 4+ years post qualified experience
• A good understanding of the Longevity insurance/reinsurance market and/or the Protection insurance/reinsurance market
• Ability and desire to come up with and implement new approaches and techniques
• Ability to improve processes and make them scalable
• Pragmatism and commercial outlook
• Report writing and verbal communication skills, including ability to present to senior managers and to forge close relationships with other teams
• Ability to think for yourself and challenge the status quo
• Organised and deadline focused
• Interest in programming and comfortable with or willing to learn software packages, such as Tableau, SQL (or comparable database language) and R.
• Experience with people management or mentoring, and interest in coaching and developing junior staff

Working For Pacific Life Re

Every person in our global team is valued for the unique qualities they bring to our business and we seek to build their expertise and support their individual ambitions at every step. Of course, we take our work seriously and we know our team can operate under great pressure. We work hard and thrive on achievement, but we also know how to have fun and relax too. We regularly host a range of team building days to strengthen our team's connection with each other and reflect on their successes.

Providing employees with a healthy work-life balance is very important to our culture. We have a wide range of employee benefits and we host regular social activities and well being initiatives. We are also committed to supporting our employee's involvement in their communities, by actively fundraising, hosting charity events and overseeing volunteering opportunities.

Benefits (Only for Permanent and Fixed Term Employees)

• Stakeholder Pension Scheme

• Life Assurance

• Subsidised Gym Membership

• Private Medical Insurance

• Season Ticket Loan

• Eye Care

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Group Income Protection

• Wellness Benefits

As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we will provide reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process to ensure equal access to applicants with disabilities. Please contact us about your needs so that we can discuss these with you to make sure that suitable adjustments are made, where possible.

Pacific Life Re Values

Please click here to view our company values