Executive Director, Derivatives & Hedging

Nationallifeinsurancecompany; Addison (TX); Hybrid; USD 225,000 - 330,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite hybrid schedule

401(k) eligibility

Paid time off

Job summary

National Life Group is seeking a Senior Hedging Trader to lead the hedging program for our insurance and reinsurance operations. You will work at the intersection of investments, risk management, and actuarial strategy, designing and executing hedging strategies and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure risk control and capital efficiency.

The role demands deep hedging expertise, strong communication skills, and the ability to lead within a collaborative investment team.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in designing and implementing hedging programs in insurance/reinsurance.
• Broad understanding of life and annuity products, including FIA and RILA.
• Ability to clearly communicate complex hedging strategies to diverse stakeholders.
• Experience balancing risk management with capital efficiency objectives.

Responsibilities

• Execute and implement the hedging program for insurance/reinsurance operations.
• Monitor hedge effectiveness with metrics like VaR, P&L attribution, and capital impact.
• Collaborate with investment, actuarial and finance teams on hedging strategies for products, M&A and reinsurance deals.
• Optimize collateral and capital efficiency associated with hedging activities.
• Coordinate with actuaries, distribution partners, and banks on FIA and RILA product launches.

Skills

Hedging expertise

Life & annuity knowledge

Communication

Leadership

Quantitative skills

Office proficiency

CFA background (preferred)

Team collaboration

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Come join one of America’s fastest-growing insurance companies. Since 1848, National Life Group has aimed to keep our promises, providing families with stability in good times and in bad. Throughout that history, we have provided peace of mind to those families as they plan their futures.

Our mission extends beyond the insurance and annuities policies that we offer. We strive to make the world a better place through our grants from our charitable foundation, paid volunteer time for our employees, environmentally sustainable and healthy workplaces, and events that promote the work of nonprofits in our own backyard.

We foster a collaborative environment with opportunities for growth and encourage our associates to live our values: Do good. Be good. Make good.

About Us

NLG Capital, the investment management company of NLG, manages approximately $40+ billion in AUM. Our purpose is simple – to allow NLG to keep its promises. How we do this – an obsessive focus on delivering investment results. We drive results through a rigorous but collaborative investment process, and we hold ourselves to the highest of standards, both as investors and teammates. While our process is based on rigor, our culture is based on our guiding principles: Meritocracy, Uncompromising Transparency, Intellectual Honesty, Performance Driven Learning, Relentless Pursuit of Excellence. These principles serve as the foundation of our team. They govern the way we conduct ourselves, how we interact with teammates and how we approach every investment decision. We act with the integrity and humility required to make the investment decision that is right for the firm, and ultimately our policyholders. Our culture has been deliberately built to foster curiosity and provide opportunities to learn and grow, both as people and investors. The flat and collaborative nature of our team promotes an atmosphere where the best ideas are continually expressed and rewarded. Our pursuit of excellence is unwavering.

Please note that we do not offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Role Summary

• The Senior Hedging Trader at NLG Capital is responsible for execution and implementation of the hedging program for the company’s insurance and reinsurance operations. This is a critical role that sits at the intersection of investments, risk management, and actuarial strategy. The position requires deep expertise in hedging and derivative strategies, combined with the ability to play a senior role within the hedging team working with the Head of Hedging and the broader NLG Capital investment team to ensure effective risk management, capital efficiency, and alignment with the firm’s long-term objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Facilitate day-to-day hedging transaction management within the stated goals of the organization, within risk limitations and in conjunction with the broader resources of the organization.
• Monitor and report on hedge effectiveness, including metrics such as value-at-risk, hedge P&L attribution, and capital impacts.
• Partner with investment, actuarial, and finance teams to design and execute hedging strategies for new products, M&A, and reinsurance deals—including FX hedging and inforce risk management.
• Optimize collateral and capital efficiency associated with hedging activities.
• Collaborate with actuaries, distribution partners, and banking counterparties on the development and launch of new FIA and RILA products, including custom and indexed-linked strategies.
• Work with corporate finance and actuarial valuation teams to support projections, capital planning, and stress testing.

Minimum Qualifications

• Proven track record of successfully designing and implementing hedging programs in insurance or reinsurance contexts.
• Broad understanding of life and annuity products, including FIA and RILA.
• Strong ability to communicate complex hedging strategies simply and effectively to diverse stakeholders.
• Experience balancing risk management and capital efficiency objectives.
• Strong technical proficiency, including Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); experience with quantitative tools preferred.
• Self-motivated with excellent leadership, collaboration, and communication skills.
• Actuarial, quantitative finance, or CFA background preferred but not required.
• This position currently offers an onsite hybrid work schedule, with the expectation that you are in the office four days per week. The work schedule type and core days are subject to change with advance notification and manager discretion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with U.S. statutory accounting, GAAP, and actuarial guidelines.
• Experience managing collateral and counterparty relationships.
• Prior leadership of derivatives or hedging teams in an insurance or asset management setting.

AI Proficiency Expectations

At National Life Group, we view AI as an enabler of human potential. We use AI to help us work smarter, serve more clients, and keep our promises, while remaining a relationship-driven business where our people are our greatest strength.

All applicants are expected to:

• Leverage approved AI tools, where appropriate, to improve the efficiency, quality, and impact of their work.
• Stay curious and open to new AI-enabled ways of working.
• Exercise sound judgment by reviewing and validating AI-generated content.
• Maintain accountability for the accuracy, quality, fairness, and integrity of work products by adhering to National Life’s AI guiding principles.
• Use AI responsibly and in accordance with company policies related to confidentiality, data privacy, security, compliance, retention and intellectual property.

Benefits

• Your benefits start day one and are flexible and customizable to your and your family’s specific needs. Check out the BENEFITS of a Career at National Life!

Base Pay Range. The base pay range for this position is the range National Life reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for the position taking into account the wide variety of factors, including: prior experience and job-related knowledge; education, training and certificates; current business needs; and market factors. The final salary or hourly wages offered may be outside of this range based on other reasons and individual circumstances.

Additional Compensation and Benefits. The total compensation package for this position may also include a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. The successful candidate may also be eligible to participate in National Life’s discretionary annual incentive programs, subject to the rules governing such programs. If hired, the employee will be in an "at-will position" and National Life reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

National Life is accepting applications for this role on an ongoing basis and the role remains open until filled.

$225,000—$330,000 USD

National Life Group® is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company, Montpelier, VT – founded in 1848, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest, Addison, TX – chartered in 1955, and their affiliates. Each company of National Life Group is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations. Life Insurance Company of the Southwest is not an authorized insurer in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York. Equity Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, is a Broker/Dealer and Registered Investment Adviser affiliate of National Life Insurance Company. All other entities are independent of the companies of National Life Group.

Fortune 1000 status is based on the consolidated financial results of all National Life Group companies.

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National Life Group

1 National Life Dr

Montpelier, VT 05604