Drive profitability and growth across core retirement products.
Nationwide Financial is hiring a Senior Director, Actuary to lead actuarial pricing and strategy across Recordkeeping (RK), Group Annuity Contracts (GAC), and Stable Value Wrap (SVW) products. This is a senior leadership opportunity for an actuary who wants to build relationships with Retirement Solutions business leadership and influence business strategy. This role requires close collaboration with Corporate ALM actuarial as well as the Office of Investments to ensure profitable growth while mitigating downside risk.
What You’ll Do
Lead pricing strategy across private sector and public sector recordkeeping, institutional group annuities, and stable value products
Partner with business leaders to:
Transform recordkeeping to improve profitability
Support and accelerate a key business growth initiatives
Build and refine actuarial models focused on:
Capital efficiency
Risk‑adjusted returns
Asset Liability Management
Develop actuarial talent through coaching, mentorship, and clear accountability
Strategic Focus Areas
Transforming recordkeeping economics to support long‑term profitability
Supporting growth in customized institutional Group Annuity Contracts
Team & Structure
Leads ~5–6 actuarial professionals, including senior associates and rotational talent
High‑visibility role with regular exposure to senior leadership
Works across product, finance, and risk functions in a collaborative, matrixed environment
What We’re Looking For
Required
Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA)
Strong actuarial expertise in pricing and product mechanics
Demonstrated success leading through influence rather than authority
Comfort navigating resistance and driving strategic outcomes
Preferred
Experience with:
Recordkeeping
Group annuities
Stable value or institutional retirement products
Background in annuities, pensions, or asset‑liability management
Experience supporting business transformation or large‑scale change initiatives
A smart, adaptable actuary can quickly ramp into these products — leadership instinct and strategic thinking are the primary differentiators.
Why Join Nationwide
Opportunity to influence enterprise‑level retirement strategy
Strong internal mobility and leadership development pathways
Flexible work arrangements, including remote flexibility
#LI-remote
#LI-SM1
Job Description Summary
Our Nationwide Financial Actuarial team members have opportunities to use state-of-the-art tools, are encouraged to innovate and learn to master actuarial methodologies. If this sounds like a place you could thrive, then we want to know more about you!Job Description
Key Responsibilities:
Builds models and assumptions to evaluate the pricing metrics of a product design to advise business and risk management leadership of the expected profitability and most significant risks associated with new product concepts.
Demonstrates expert knowledge of pricing assumption-setting, model building, actuarial analysis, product mechanics and embedded policy owner options, valuation and non-forfeiture law.
Works with business leadership to craft innovative concepts and product designs to meet customer needs, while at the same time figuring out how the new concepts and products provide adequate risk adjusted return on capital and meet regulatory constraints. May also be involved with risk management leadership on innovative reinsurance concepts and redundant reserve transactions. Requires collaboration skills and knowledge of markets and distribution systems as well as the underlying actuarial expertise.
Evaluates, updates and maintains models and assumptions as experience emerges to manage risk and periodically resolve capital use and expected return on capital. Advises and informs business and risk management leadership of recommended product or process changes to support profitable growth and capital strength.
Educates and motivates the cross-functional team to deliver results. Communicates and influences to gain top-down support as well as approval.
Builds materials to support the state and interstate compact approval, implementation and administration of new products, including filing demonstrations and actuarial specifications.
Hires and develop talent, provides consistent coaching and feedback.
May perform other responsibilities as assigned.
Reporting Relationships: Reports to Actuarial leader. Manages a team of four or more Actuarial professionals.
Typical Skills and Experiences:
Education: Undergraduate degree in actuarial science, mathematics, statistics or similar background requiring modeling, programming or quantitative analysis.
License/Certification/Designation: Achievement of Fellowship in the Society of Actuaries. Has membership in the Society of Actuaries and American Academy of Actuaries.
Experience: At least eight years of actuarial experience and Actuarial Council approval. The highest level of technical actuarial expertise in insurance product mechanics and embedded options, pricing models, pricing assumptions, valuation and non-forfeiture laws, tax code 7702, state regulations.
Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: The role will require leadership, influence and communication skills. An ability to use past actuarial experience to apply to new product concepts and requirements, such as Principles Based Reserves, is required.
Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.
Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and Human Resources Business Partner.
Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.
Job Conditions:
Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible (Exempt)
Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Some travel may be required.
ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.
We currently anticipate accepting applications until 04/26/2026. However, we encourage early submissions, as the posting may close sooner if a strong candidate slate is identified before the deadline.Benefits
We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.
Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.
This position could be filled within any of the lower 48 U.S. states.#actuarialSmoke-Free Iowa Statement: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries comply with the Iowa Smokefree Air Act. Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed areas on or around company premises as well as company issued vehicles. The company offers designated smoking areas in which smoking is permitted at each individual location. The Act prohibits retaliation for reporting complaints or violations. For more information on the Iowa Smokefree Air Act, individuals may contact the Smokefree Air Act Helpline at 888-944-2247.NOTE TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES:
We value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. Nationwide does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. All resumes submitted by employment agencies directly to any Nationwide employee or hiring manager in any form without a signed Nationwide Client Services Agreement on file and search engagement for that position will be deemed unsolicited in nature. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is subsequently hired as a result of the referral or through other means.
Nationwide pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement within the actual starting salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity and location of the role as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. If a Sales job, Sales Incentives, based on performance goals are possible in addition to this range. Note on Compensation for Part-Time Roles: Please be aware that the salary ranges listed below reflect full-time compensation. Actual compensation may be prorated based on the number of hours worked relative to a full-time schedule.The national salary range for Sr Director, Actuary - NF - 170939 : $149,000.00-$279,000.00The expected starting salary range for Sr Director, Actuary - NF - 170939 : $149,000.00 - $249,000.00