Head of Investment Strategy - Sammons Financial Group Asset Management

Sammons Financial Group • Chicago, IL

10d • $408,379 - $758,419

About The Position

This role is responsible for designing and building a cohesive framework for setting investment strategies that drive company results. It involves establishing a framework for Strategic Asset Allocation to optimize portfolio returns while ensuring stability across various regulatory regimes. The position is responsible for investment assumptions, scenario analysis, and hedging programs. Collaboration with Corporate Accounting, Asset Liability Management, business units, and Risk is essential to ensure superior financial performance and capital efficiency. The Head of Investment Strategy will lead a team of specialists focused on delivering these results and will be subject to an SEC compliance program, which may include monitoring personal securities transactions, restrictions on outside business activities, and other oversight and restrictions.

Requirements

• Minimum 15 years' in the insurance investment management, preferably in Strategic Asset Allocation or Asset-Liability Management roles Required
• Experience leading and developing high-performing professional teams Required
• Superior understanding of life insurance products, including inherent risks
• Deep technical knowledge of pertinent capital models, including US Royal Bank of Canada, Bermuda Solvency Capital Requirement (BSCR), and rating agency models
• Ability to identify and direct the analysis of complex financial problems and provide strategic recommendations to executive audiences
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present highly technical investment information to non-technical audiences
• Highly organized with the demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple high-stakes projects and adapt to shifting market priorities
• Commitment to embrace shared values

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Mathematics, Actuarial Science or related field Preferred
• Experience and expertise across public and private fixed income products, including the drivers of risk and reward Preferred
• CFA designation and/or FSA Preferred

Responsibilities

• Envision and build the Strategic Asset Allocation (SAA) framework to optimize risk-adjusted returns given liability constraints and corporate objectives, including target and limit setting.
• Lead product and asset hedging programs including setting targets, reporting results, assessing current programs, and executing on improvements.
• Develop and recommend investment and hedging assumptions, including expected return, reinvestment and default assumptions.
• Create clear, insightful risk reports to provide insights to the Chief Investment Officer (CIO), Chief Risk Officer (CRO), and other executives regarding portfolio exposure and potential capital volatility.
• Lead the analysis and explanation of results for both deterministic and stochastic asset projections, ensuring proper governance, peer review, and technical documentation including ORS-CISSA-CFT-Liquidity Stress Testing.
• Apply expert knowledge of regulatory capital requirements under US Royal Bank of Canada (National Association of Insurance Commissioners - NAIC), Bermuda (Bermuda Monetary Authority), and Rating Agency (Standard & Poor – S&P, Fitch and AM Best) regimes to inform investment decisions and capital allocation.
• Collaborate across departments, specifically with Corporate Accounting, Business Units, and Risk teams, to ensure consistency in modeling approaches and a unified understanding of risk and reward.
• Manage and lead a multi-disciplinary team of strategy and risk professionals, prioritizing work in accordance with broader department and company objectives.
• Lead, coach, and mentor members of the investment staff, providing continual coaching and feedback regarding progress, strengths and areas for development. Utilize corporate programs to reinforce employee performance and development.
• Drive and reinforce commitment to internal controls processes such as those under Model Audit Rule and Record Information Management.
• Commitment to embrace Sammons Financial Group Companies shared values (Accountability, Connection, Openness, Respect and Integrity).
• As stated within the Company Attendance and Punctuality policy, regular attendance is required and expected in order to meet the business service levels and workflow demands.
• Participate in other initiatives and/or projects as necessary.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health coverage for you and your family, including Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA & FSA options, and term life insurance.
• Competitive compensation with a performance-based incentive program tied to clear goals and individual and/or company success.
• 100% company-funded Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), plus automatic enrollment in our 401(k).
• Friday afternoons off year-round, generous paid time off, and paid holidays.
• Paid development time, tuition reimbursement, and professional development opportunities across industry, individual, and leadership programs.
• Volunteer time off, and our company nonprofit matching gift program.
• An ownership culture that inspires; join a connected, values-driven workplace where employees take accountability, support one another, and are empowered to do their best work—together shaping our future shared success.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive