Indexed Annuity Product Lead (Hybrid)

Guardian Life Insurance; New York (NY); On-site; USD 132,000 - 218,000; Full time

Job summary

Guardian Life Insurance seeks an Indexed Product Development Lead to drive the development and management of indexed annuity products in partnership with the Head of Indexed Annuities. The role requires hands-on product design, market insight translation, and close collaboration with pricing, legal, compliance, marketing, distribution, and technology.

You have 5+ years in annuity product development with FIA/RILA experience, strong communication, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• 5+ years of annuity product development experience; FIA/RILA experience required.
• Knowledge of annuity mechanics, pricing concepts, regulatory/filing environment, and distribution dynamics.
• Strong executive and technical communication skills.
• Ability to manage several dissimilar projects concurrently in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Own development and management of indexed annuity solutions and roadmaps.
• Establish business cases for new products and enhancements.
• Coordinate R&D across Pricing/Actuarial, Competitive Intelligence, Distribution/Sales, and leadership.
• Identify market opportunities and translate into differentiated products.
• Lead cross-functional design and pricing sessions from concept to launch.
• Support development of product specifications and documentation with implementation teams.
• Serve as SME for indexed annuities and riders.
• Manage day-to-day new product and in-force indexed annuity business.
• Participate in contracts and filing processes with Contracts and Compliance.
• Support marketing collateral and field enablement.
• Contribute to product governance and risk processes.
• Communicate updates across the organization.

Skills

Annuity product development

FIA/RILA experience

Executive communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Financial analysis

Project prioritization

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Position Summary

Do you want to help shape the future of Guardian’s indexed annuity portfolio? Are you a hands-on product builder who thrives on turning market insight into differentiated solutions, translating design into detailed specifications, and coordinating the many partners to build and manage differentiated solutions? Do you bring practical expertise in Fixed Indexed Annuities (FIA) and Registered Index-Linked Annuities (RILA) and a passion for customer-centric design?

At Guardian, we do the right thing, we believe people count, we courageously shape our future together, and we go above and beyond for the people we serve. If these values resonate with you, Guardian is seeking an Indexed Product Development Lead to drive the development and management of our indexed annuity products in close partnership with the Head of Indexed Annuities.

You are

A results-oriented product development professional with deep, practical knowledge of indexed annuities. You excel at translating insights and strategy into detailed product design, communicating the business and customer value of the solutions you recommend, considering operational and administrative product dynamics, and driving execution through cross-functional teams. You are equally comfortable serving as the day-to-day subject matter expert on product mechanics and coordinating with key partners such as pricing, legal, compliance, marketing, distribution, and technology to deliver and maintain a successful product.

You will

• Own the development, implementation and management of a portfolio of indexed annuity solutions; building and maintaining the indexed annuity near-term and long-term product development roadmap, keeping a healthy pipeline of concepts, enhancements, and in-force initiatives aligned to strategy.
• Establish business cases for new products and enhancements, including market opportunity, competitive positioning, financial rationale, and risk considerations.
• Coordinate R&D across Pricing/Actuarial, Competitive Intelligence, Distribution/Sales, and senior leadership to assess viability, competitiveness, and alignment with business objectives.
• Identify emerging market opportunities, consumer needs, and industry trends, and translate them into differentiated product solutions.
• Lead cross-functional working sessions that drive design and pricing decisions from concept to launch.
• Partner with implementation team to develop and maintain detailed product specifications and supporting documentation.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for indexed annuity products and riders currently and previously sold, supporting internal and external partners on product mechanics and positioning.
• Manage day-to-day new product and enhancement issues and the existing block of in-force indexed annuity business, including ad-hoc product requests and sale exceptions.
• Participate in the contract and form drafting process and partner with Contracts, State Filings, and Compliance on filings and approvals.
• Support the development and review of marketing collateral, training, and field enablement during implementation.
• Contribute to product governance and risk processes by assessing impacts to product design, pricing, business mix, and portfolio performance.
• Establish credibility across the business to communicate product updates clearly to all levels of the organization.

You have

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree, or equivalent related work experience.
• 5+ years of annuity product development experience or closely related annuity experience; indexed annuity (FIA/RILA) experience required.
• Working knowledge of annuity product mechanics, pricing concepts, the regulatory and filing environment, and distribution dynamics.
• Strong executive and technical communication skills with the ability to ensure clarity and accuracy in external and internal product related materials.
• Excellent influencing, organizational, facilitation, and communication skills; able to gain consensus and cultivate strategic internal relationships.
• Strong analytical capability, financial acumen, and sound business judgment.
• Ability to manage several dissimilar projects concurrently and prioritize appropriately in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.

Reporting Relationship

This role will report to the Head of Indexed Annuities.

Location

The primary location for this position is Hudson Yards, New York, but we are also open to candidates who can commute into our Bethlehem, PA, Pittsfield, MA, Stamford, CT, or Boston, MA offices at least 3-days per week.

Salary Range

$132,420.00 - $217,545.00

The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Our Promise

At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.

Inspire Well-Being

As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits. Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Accommodations

Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual’s known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail]. Please note: this resource is for accommodation requests only. For all other inquires related to your application and careers at Guardian, refer to the Guardian Careers site.

Visa Sponsorship

Guardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment-based visas (e.g., such as an H-1B). In order to be a successful applicant, you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship/support now or at any time in the future.

Notice Regarding Guardian’s Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment

As part of Guardian’s job application process, Guardian may use artificial intelligence tools (“AI Tools”) to automate the sorting and filtering of information provided by applicants as part of its preliminary screening. This preliminary screening may be used to help identify applicant materials and resumes relative to their indication that the applicant meets the requirements for the specific job for which they are applying, as specified in the listing posted on Guardian’s jobs website (Careers at Guardian at https://www.guardianlife.com/careers). At Guardian, we do not use AI Tools to substantially assist or replace human judgment or discretionary decision making in our hiring process. All hiring decisions will be made by Guardian colleagues.

Please be aware that if you apply for a specific position with Guardian, you will have the choice of opting out of Guardian’s use of AI Tools during the job application process. If you would like to request an alternative process that does not utilize AI Tools or would like to request a reasonable accommodation, within ten business days of your position application, you must email your request to [e-mail], making sure to provide your name and job requisition identification number. Guardian will retain your applicant materials and resume and all information therefrom in accordance with Guardian’s document retention policy, a copy of which you may request via [e-mail].

Additionally, at applicable times, Guardian will make public the most recent bias audit results for such AI tools, which may be found here.