Climate Scientist Senior – P&C Climate Risk & Exposure Analytics

USAA•San Antonio, TX

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Climate Scientist Senior provides leadership and practical modeling solutions which link cutting-edge climate science and demographic modeling to business impacts. By applying insights from atmospheric-science and innovative causal modeling approaches, the role delivers insight-to-action recommendations on how a changing climate will affect the future of USAA’s catastrophe losses and our member’s resilience. The Climate Risk and Exposure Analytics team is situated in the Actuarial group within USAA’s P&C business. The team works closely with the Catastrophe Risk Management team and seeks to develop the association’s long-term strategy under a changing climate.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Atmospheric Science, Climatology, Environmental Science, Physics, Geosciences, Economics, Finance, Statistics, Mathematics, Actuarial Sciences, Operations Research, Data and/or Business Analysis, Data Science, or a business or quantitative field; OR 4 years of relevant education and/or experience.
4 - 6 years of data & analytics experience OR a minimum of 2 years of data & analytics experience and up to 2 years of progressive functional business relevant experience within the respective industry of responsibility (i.e. P&C, Bank, Finance, Marketing etc.) for a total of 4 years combined experience OR advanced degree in quantitative analytics field such as Atmospheric Science, Climatology, Environmental Science, Physics, Geoscience, Economics, Finance, Statistics, Mathematics, Actuarial Sciences, Operations Research, Data and/or Business Analysis, Data Science or other quantitative discipline and 2 years of experience in data/analytics or functional business experience within the respective industry of responsibility (i.e.P&C, Bank, Finance, Marketing, etc.).
Demonstrates advanced skills in mathematical and statistical techniques and approaches used to drive fact-based decision-making.
Advanced knowledge of data analysis tools, data visualization, developing analysis queries and procedures in SQL, SAS, BI tools or other analysis software, and relevant industry data & methods and ability to connect external insights to business problems.
Experience with new and emerging data sets, and incorporation (data wrangling, data munging) into new insights.

Nice To Haves

Strong foundation in meteorology, atmospheric science, climate science, or a related field (e.g., geography, environmental science). Especially related to the use and interpretation of climate and numerical weather prediction models.
Proficiency in analyzing geospatial data within a programming environment (e.g., Python, R, GIS).
Experience related to wildfire risk assessment is advantageous.
Experience with catastrophe modeling software (e.g., Verisk, KCC, Cotality) or a demonstrated ability to learn and adapt to new modeling platforms.
Desire to work in an innovative, start-up like environment, leading the development and delivery of new processes.
Comfortable communicating analytical results, findings and solutions to senior leaders
US military experience through military service or a military spouse/domestic partner.

Responsibilities

Leverages advanced business, analytical and technical knowledge to participate or lead discussions with cross functional teams to understand and collaborate highly complex business objectives and influence solution strategies.
Applies advanced analytical techniques to solve business problems related to extreme events and climate change that are typically medium to large scale with significant impact to current and/or future business strategy.
Applies innovative and scientific/quantitative analytical approaches to draw conclusions and make 'insight to action' recommendations to answer the business objective and drive the appropriate change.
Translates recommendation into communication materials to effectively present to various levels of management.
Incorporates visualization techniques to support the relevant points of the analysis and ease the understanding for less technical audiences.
Identifies and gathers the relevant and quality data sources required to fully answer and address the problem for the recommended strategy.
Integrates/transforms disparate data sources and determines the appropriate data hygiene techniques to apply.
Thoroughly documents assumptions, methodology, validation and testing to facilitate peer reviews and compliance requirements.
Understands and adopts emerging technology that can affect the application of scientific methodologies and/or quantitative analytical approaches to problem resolutions.
Succinctly delivers analysis/findings in a manner that conveys understanding, influences various levels of management, garners support for recommendations, drives business decisions, and influences business strategy.
Provides subject matter expertise in operationalizing recommendations.
Remains informed on current data and analytics trends, (Ex: Cloud, Data Mining, Python, Neural Networks, Sensor data, IoT, Streaming/NRT data).
Identifies opportunities to continue to learn in the climate risk space, whether informal (e.g., Coursera, Udemy, etc.) or formal (e.g.Certifications or advanced coursework, for example ISCM CSCR).
Ensures risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.