[Work with Dena and Comp on salary pieces. Please consider this description to be a draft for now (should be close though) intended to keep the process moving.

Corporate Actuary – Vice President / Senior Vice President

Job Description

Symetra is seeking an accomplished and forward-thinking actuarial executive to serve as Corporate Actuary, a senior enterprise leadership role responsible for shaping the strategic direction, modernization, and effectiveness of Symetra’s corporate actuarial capabilities.

Reporting to the Chief Actuary, this leader will oversee a broad portfolio of enterprise actuarial functions, serve as a strategic partner to senior executives, and help connect actuarial expertise with the financial and strategic decisions shaping Symetra’s future.

This is a high-visibility opportunity for a leader who can think beyond traditional actuarial reporting and modeling; reimagining how actuarial capabilities generate insights, influence decisions, and create long-term enterprise value.

The position may be filled at the Vice President or Senior Vice President level, depending on the selected candidate’s experience and qualifications.

About the role

The Corporate Actuary is a strategic enterprise leader responsible for bringing together and advancing several of Symetra’s most important actuarial capabilities. Leading through experienced functional leaders, this executive will establish direction, align priorities, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and ensure the actuarial organization delivers both technical excellence and meaningful business insights.

A defining opportunity is to champion the next generation of actuarial capabilities at Symetra. Building on an established modernization roadmap, this leader will help transform how actuarial information is produced, analyzed, and used. This will be accomplished by leveraging automation, modern data and modeling platforms, advanced analytics, and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI). The ambition extends beyond improving efficiency to increasing the speed, accessibility, and strategic value of actuarial insights.

The Corporate Actuary will serve as a trusted partner to the Chief Actuary, CFO, and other enterprise leaders, bringing an integrated actuarial perspective to financial performance, capital management, strategic initiatives, and long-term business decisions.

The role oversees four distinct functions, each led by a senior actuarial leader:

• Enterprise Modeling: Enterprise actuarial modeling supporting financial projections, reporting, risk analysis, capital, and strategic decision-making.
• Experience Studies: Enterprise experience analysis, data capabilities, and assumption-ready insights supporting actuarial and business decisions.
• International Reporting: Embedded value, international capital reporting, and other actuarial reporting and coordination with Symetra’s parent company, Sumitomo Life.
• Office of the Appointed Actuary: Domestic statutory actuarial oversight, regulatory relationships, assumption governance, and domestic regulatory and rating-agency capital reporting.

The Corporate Actuary provides strategic leadership and organizational oversight while preserving the Appointed Actuary’s independent statutory authority and judgment.

What you will do

Enterprise Strategy & Executive Partnership

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Chief Actuary, CFO, and other senior executives, connecting actuarial expertise and financial insights to enterprise strategy and decision-making.
• Bring an integrated perspective to financial performance, capital, risk, and long-term value creation, identifying opportunities and implications that cross organizational boundaries.
• Lead corporate actuarial involvement in major strategic initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions, and partner with Capital Solutions on transactions and capital strategy.
• Build strong relationships across business divisions, Finance, Investments, Risk, and other enterprise functions to align priorities and advance shared objectives.
• Lead the broader day-to-day actuarial relationship with Sumitomo Life, coordinating communication and international reporting while the Chief Actuary retains the executive relationship.

Actuarial Transformation, Innovation & Modernization

• Champion a multiyear transformation of enterprise actuarial capabilities, moving from labor-intensive model production and reporting toward scalable processes and actionable business insights.
• Provide executive sponsorship and strategic direction for the Enterprise Modeling modernization roadmap, establishing priorities, aligning stakeholders, and accelerating progress.
• Advance effective use of automation, AI, modern data platforms, analytics, and modeling technologies to improve efficiency, governance, responsiveness, and decision-making.
• Encourage shared enterprise capabilities, consistent methodologies, and scalable solutions that reduce duplication and improve collaboration.
• Foster curiosity, innovation, and continuous improvement while maintaining appropriate controls and financial discipline; bring external perspectives and industry best practices.

Organizational Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead and develop a high-performing organization through senior actuarial leaders responsible for Enterprise Modeling, Experience Studies, International Reporting, and the Office of the Appointed Actuary.
• Establish clear strategic priorities, accountability, and decision-making frameworks while empowering functional leaders to own execution and results.
• Strengthen leadership capabilities, succession planning, and organizational depth, developing the next generation of actuarial leaders.
• Promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing across teams, reducing silos and integrating enterprise actuarial work.
• Ensure capabilities, resources, and priorities evolve to meet changing business needs.

Enterprise Modeling, Reporting & Actuarial Oversight

• Provide strategic oversight of the enterprise actuarial modeling platform as a reliable, well-governed foundation for reporting, projections, capital analysis, and strategic decision support.
• Oversee international actuarial reporting, including European Embedded Value (EEV), Embedded Value Business Growth (EVBG), and the Insurance Capital Standard (ICS).
• Guide development of enterprise experience studies and data capabilities to improve the quality and usefulness of experience information.
• Provide organizational oversight for the Office of the Appointed Actuary, supporting statutory reporting, valuation governance, regulatory engagement, and domestic RBC and rating-agency capital reporting.
• Reinforce accountability and effective governance while respecting the Appointed Actuary’s independent statutory responsibilities and supporting divisional actuarial needs.

Executive Communication, Governance & External Engagement

• Translate complex actuarial, financial, and capital topics into clear, concise insights and recommendations for executive audiences.
• Build confidence and credibility through sound judgment, transparent communication, and focus on the issues that matter most.
• Represent corporate actuarial perspectives in senior leadership discussions and Board presentations as appropriate.
• Participate in key actuarial governance forums, including the Actuarial Pricing Committee and Assumption Steering Committee.
• Strengthen relationships with parent-company representatives, auditors, consultants, and industry participants as appropriate.

What Success Looks Like

• A stronger strategic voice for Actuarial — corporate actuarial expertise consistently informs enterprise decisions.
• Meaningful modernization progress — faster, scalable, well-governed processes free capacity for analysis and judgment.
• An integrated, high-performing organization — four functions with clear accountability, coordinated priorities, and strong senior leadership.
• Greater value from enterprise modeling and analytics — consistent information and timely, flexible analysis of opportunities and risks.
• Trusted relationships with the Chief Actuary, CFO, Sumitomo Life, and other stakeholders.
• Sustainable organizational capabilities through talent development, succession planning, and knowledge-sharing.
• Sound governance, regulatory accountability, and independent statutory judgment.

Why Work at Symetra

Here’s what some of our employees have to say about why they work at Symetra:

“If you want to invest in yourself and build a career, this is a great place to work. If you don’t want to put in the effort to learn the industry and become a student of the business (it takes real effort!), there are easier places to work.” – Cris H., VP Internal Sales

“We’re big enough to make an impact on the country, but small enough to care and know who you are and what you’re contributing to the organization. All new ideas are welcome!” – Stephanie F., VP Customer Service & Operations

What we offer you

Benefits and Perks

We don’t take a “one-size-fits-all” approach when it comes to our employees. Our programs are designed to make your life better both at work and at home.

• Flexible full-time or hybrid telecommuting arrangements
• Plan for your future with our 401(k) plan and take advantage of immediate vesting and company matching up to 6%
• Paid time away including vacation and sick time, flex days and ten paid holidays
• Give back to your community and double your impact through our company matching
• Want more details? Check out our Symetra Benefits Overview

Compensation

Salary Range: To be determined by HR/Compensation, reflecting potential placement at the Vice President or Senior Vice President level. Eligibility for annual bonus and long-term incentive programs, subject to applicable plan terms.

Who You Are

You are an accomplished actuarial executive who combines strong technical credibility with strategic thinking, exceptional communication, and demonstrated ability to lead through others. You are energized by shaping organizations, developing leaders, modernizing capabilities, and bringing actuarial insights into business decision-making.

• Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and Member of the American Academy of Actuaries (MAAA) required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science, Mathematics, Finance, or a related discipline required.
• 15+ years of relevant actuarial experience, including significant leadership responsibility and demonstrated success leading senior actuarial professionals.
• Broad knowledge of life insurance and annuity actuarial disciplines, including financial reporting, enterprise modeling, valuation, and regulatory capital.
• Strong understanding of U.S. statutory and GAAP actuarial financial reporting, with judgment to oversee complex enterprise actuarial functions.
• Demonstrated ability to operate as a leader of leaders, setting direction, developing talent, delegating effectively, and delivering results through experienced leaders.
• Exceptional executive communication and relationship-building skills, including simplifying complex financial concepts and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Strong business acumen, connecting actuarial analysis to financial performance, capital management, risk, and strategy.
• Proven ability to lead organizational change, champion modernization, and translate strategic objectives into execution.
• Familiarity with modern actuarial modeling platforms, data and analytics, automation, and AI.
• Experience with international reporting, parent-company relationships, or enterprise-wide actuarial coordination preferred.
• Familiarity with Bermuda regulatory frameworks and international capital requirements preferred.
• Ability to travel approximately 10–15% annually.

Travel

Approximately 10–15% per year.

Required Training & Professional Development

All newly hired people leaders with direct reports are required to complete a comprehensive leadership development program within their first year. This program includes both virtual and in-person training. The in-person sessions will take place at Symetra’s corporate headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. Symetra covers all travel and accommodation expenses.

Reasonable Accommodations

Symetra is committed to providing equitable access to all job-related responsibilities, including required travel. If reasonable accommodations are needed for travel, Symetra’s HR department will work to provide appropriate solutions in alignment with individual needs and company policies.

We empower inclusion

At Symetra, we aspire to be the most inclusive insurance company in the country. We’re building a place where every employee feels valued, respected, and has opportunities to contribute.

Inclusion is about recognizing our assumptions, considering multiple perspectives, and removing barriers. We accept and celebrate diverse experiences, identities, and perspectives, because lifting each other up fuels thought and builds a stronger, more innovative company.

Creating a world where more people have access to financial freedom

Symetra is a national financial services company dedicated to helping people achieve their financial goals and feel confident about the future. In our daily work, we’re guided by the principles of Value, Transparency and Sustainability. This means we provide products and services people need at a competitive price; we communicate clearly and openly so people understand what they’re buying, and we design products — and operate our company — to stand the test of time. We’re committed to showing up for our communities, lifting up our employees, and standing up for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Join our team and help us create a world where more people have access to financial freedom.

For more information about our careers visit: https://symetra.eightfold.ai/careers

Work Authorization

Employer work visa sponsorship and support are not provided for this role. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at hire and must maintain authorization to work in the United States throughout their employment with our company.

Please review Symetra’s Remote Network Minimum Requirements

As a remote-first organization committed to providing a positive experience for both employees and customers, Symetra has the following standards for employees’ internet connection:

• Minimum Internet Speed: 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, in alignment with the FCC’s definition of “broadband.”
• Internet Type: Fiber, Cable (e.g., Comcast, Spectrum), or DSL.
• Not Permissible: Satellite (e.g., Starlink), cellular broadband (hotspot or otherwise), any other wireless technology, or wired dial-up.

When applying to jobs at Symetra you’ll be asked to test your internet speed and confirm that your internet connection meets or exceeds Symetra’s standard as outlined above.

Identity Verification

Symetra is committed to fair and secure hiring practices. For all roles, candidates will be required (after the initial phone screen) to be on video for all interviews. Symetra will take affirmative steps at key points in the process to verify that a candidate is not seeking employment fraudulently, e.g. through use of a false identity.

Failure to comply with verification procedures may result in:

• Disqualification from the recruitment process
• Withdrawal of a job offer
• Termination of employment and other criminal and/or civil remedies, if fraud is discovered.