VP Product Strategy

Athene Employee Services, LLC; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 260,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

The successful candidate will drive cross-functional execution across Athene’s manufacturing, investment, actuarial, risk, legal, and operations teams, while leveraging AI to improve market insights and efficiency. Bachelor’s degree required; CFA/actuarial credentials preferred.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in financial services product strategy, structuring, or development.
• Deep understanding of annuity and retirement products and wealth management distribution.
• Proven track record launching complex financial products with cross-functional execution.
• Strong ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead initiatives across disciplines.
• Knowledge of AI-enabled insights to accelerate market analysis and product development.

Responsibilities

• Lead product strategy for new wealth management channels and opportunities.
• Design and evaluate sophisticated financial product structures considering risk, economics, and regulations.
• Engage with distribution partners to validate demand and establish commercial viability.
• Own the product lifecycle from concept to launch with cross-functional teams including risk, legal, and operations.
• Develop business cases and recommendations for senior executives to drive growth.
• Champion data-driven decision-making and responsible AI-enabled capabilities to accelerate insights.

Skills

Financial product strategy

Product structuring

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder influence

AI in product analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree

CFA/Actuarial credentials preferred

Tools

Excel

Python for data analysis

Financial modeling software

Job description

We are driven to do more. More for our customers and the financial professionals who offer our products. If you are driven to do more and love the challenge of pursuing more, Athene is your kind of company. You will find we offer more than the basics to create an inclusive and dynamic work environment at our various locations.

Purpose & Impact

Athene is building the next generation of its retirement solutions business, expanding how we serve distribution partners and deliver differentiated financial solutions to investors. As part of Athene and Apollo's strategic growth initiatives, the VP, Product Strategy & Development will lead the strategy, structuring, validation, and development of innovative financial products for RIA, wealth management, and self-directed investor markets. This role combines deep financial product expertise with commercial judgment and an execution mindset. The successful candidate will bring strong knowledge of annuity and retirement products and work across insurance, capital markets, and asset management to develop sophisticated financial solutions, leveraging Athene and Apollo's investment capabilities while advancing new opportunities from concept through launch.

Key Deliverables

• Product Strategy & Innovation: Lead product strategy for new wealth management channels, identifying unmet investor and advisor needs, evaluating market opportunities, and developing differentiated financial solutions.
• Financial Product Structuring: Design and evaluate sophisticated financial product structures, applying knowledge of annuities, capital markets, derivatives, investment products, and financial guarantees. Assess trade-offs across investor outcomes, risk, economics, and regulatory considerations.
• Market Validation & Commercialization: Engage directly with wealth management firms, investment platforms, and distribution partners to validate demand, co-develop solutions, and establish commercial viability.
• Product Development & Execution: Own the product lifecycle from concept through approval and launch, translating product designs into specifications and leading cross-functional execution with Athene's existing product manufacturing, investment, actuarial, risk, legal, and operations teams.
• Strategic Leadership: Develop business cases and product recommendations for senior executives, leveraging Athene and Apollo's broader capabilities to advance innovative solutions and long-term growth opportunities.
• Advance Innovation & Efficiency: Champion data-driven decision-making, emerging technologies, and responsible AI-enabled capabilities to accelerate market insights, evaluate product opportunities, and improve development processes.

What You Need to Bring

• 10+ years of relevant experience in financial services, including financial product strategy, structuring, development, commercialization, or relevant experience preferred.
• Deep understanding of annuity and retirement products, including product structures, economics, regulatory considerations, and wealth management distribution dynamics.
• Demonstrated success developing and launching complex financial products, with strong knowledge of capital markets, investment structures, derivatives, financial guarantees, and risk management.
• Strong commercial judgment and experience collaborating with wealth management firms, investment platforms, or other distribution partners to translate market needs into viable financial solutions.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead complex cross-functional initiatives through formal or informal leadership, combining critical thinking, creativity, adaptability, a bias for action, and an understanding of how AI can responsibly enhance analysis and execution.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience required; CFA, actuarial credentials, or an advanced degree preferred.
• Drive. Discipline. Confidence. Focus. Commitment.

Athene is a Military Friendly Employer!

Athene is committed to inclusion and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.