Insurance Solutions Director (Americas)

Who we are
Aberdeen Investments is part of Aberdeen Group plc, one of the UK’s leading Wealth & Investments groups. Strengthening talent and culture is one of our strategic priorities. We strive to make Aberdeen a great place to work so that we can attract and retain the industry’s best talent. Our people put our stakeholders at the heart of everything they do by helping us to make a positive difference to the lives of our clients, customers, colleagues, shareholders and society. We are repositioning our specialist asset management business to meet client demand and are committed to providing excellent client service, supported by leading technology and talent.
 
As a global business, Aberdeen consists of three divisions: Investments, Adviser, and interactive investor (ii). Each division is dedicated to meeting and adapting to our clients' evolving needs.
 
In the Americas, our sole focus is on the investments business. We have offices in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Sao Paolo. Our breadth of experience gives us close proximity to the companies we invest in and the markets we operate in.
 

Role Summary

The Aberdeen Investments (“Aberdeen”) Insurance Solutions Director (Americas) will play a leading role in the design, communication and delivery of a range of services, products and capabilities that incorporate Aberdeen’s insurance investment solutions offering in the Americas region.

The role will sit within the Strategic Insurance Group, and to promote and facilitate the extension of our global insurance capability in the US, Canada and Bermuda. There may additionally be an opportunity to expand this focus to include Latin America also.

Working in close collaboration with colleagues across Aberdeen, including our various Asset Classes (e.g. Multi-Asset, Fixed Income (Public & Private), Equity, Quantitative, Alternatives and Private Markets) and Client Group, the Insurance Solutions Director (Americas) will help set the strategic direction for engagement with all types of insurers in the US and Canada, including ‘on’ and ‘off’ balance sheet business types.

The role will collaborate with the broader Aberdeen team to design, implement and provide on-going support of existing client mandates to deliver comprehensive solutions both within single, and across multiple, asset classes globally. This will incorporate advisory and discretionary relationships and employ internal and third-party capabilities as appropriate.

Client Engagement – Direct

• Work collaboratively with the Americas Institutional Team and play a leading role in executing our insurance business strategy – e.g. assess potential target clients and their needs; communicate / present Aberdeen’s insurance investment capabilities; design and propose potential solutions through working closely with the relevant investment teams; supporting and enhancing the insurance knowledge of colleague working directly with existing insurance clients and prospective insurance clients.
• Provide guidance, advice and thought leadership to insurers – relating to industry trends and themes, market conditions and regulatory developments. Capture and share regional knowledge through a program of strategic engagement with key internal and external stakeholders. Act as key client interface and internal coordination point for the research, design and embedding of new products and bespoke client solutions.
• Conceive and implement investment solutions for our insurance clients (in close collaboration with our portfolio management teams) – including pooled products for the mass-market and bespoke solutions for individual insurers, including complex cross-asset offerings designed to meet specific, custom objectives and single asset mandates to address specific client requirements.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key insurance clients and prospects (in collaboration with our client relationship management teams) and deliver excellent client service – e.g. provide technical support on insurance investment matters in a consulting/advisory capacity.

Client Engagement – Indirect

• Continually promote and ultimately establish Aberdeen as a leader for insurance investment solutions in the US, Canada and Bermuda.
• Contribute to Aberdeen’s thought leadership agenda covering both written collateral (e.g. whitepapers) and external speaking events (e.g. industry events and conferences).
• Collaborate with colleagues from our Global Macro and other research teams to develop investment thought leadership (white papers, etc.) to support the build-out and credibility of our Strategic Insurance Group to existing insurance clients and the wider market.
• Anticipate industry, regulatory, market and client trends and identify creative solutions for individual insurers (and products for the insurance market more generally) that solve current and future problems – communicating and positioning them with clients, prospective clients, the wider market and key internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate with teams across Aberdeen to develop and implement innovative new insurance investment solutions or products – communicating and positioning them with clients, prospective clients, the wider market and key internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate with teams across Aberdeen to develop new investment strategies and frameworks for inclusion in insurance client portfolios and pooled products.

Key Requirements

The successful candidate needs to be credible in the eyes of US and Canadian insurance CIOs.

Role Specific Skills & Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of the technical requirements of different types of insurers (life, P&C, reinsurers), including those with differing strategies (pension risk transfers, annuity product providers).  This includes a strong understanding of the objectives, preferences and interests of different stakeholders (boards, senior management, actuarial teams, investment teams, government and regulators, etc.).
• Exceptional understanding of NAIC, OSFI and BMA regulatory frameworks, and knowledge of other global risk-based capital regulation.
• Strong understanding of technical investment matters as they relate to insurers.
• Strong ability to apply the above expertise to originate, design and create solutions for a range of insurers in a commercially attractive manner for Aberdeen.
• Strong ability to identify commercial opportunities (including with individual clients and at a market/industry level) and to apply technical expertise to convert such opportunities into commercial success.
• Strong ability to represent Aberdeen in the industry at the highest levels – e.g., interacting with government, regulators, senior representatives of other businesses, etc.
• Strong communication, influence, stakeholder management and presentation skills – including ability to clearly communicate complex concepts to non-technical and/or senior audiences
• Willingness to travel (including international)

Risk Management & Regulatory:

• Strong knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, governance and compliance requirements
• Strong ability to demonstrate Aberdeen values in delivering work with integrity to ethical standards

Experience, Qualifications and Competencies:

• Strong insurance actuarial training or equivalent/similar background
• Significant experience working in or with insurers
• Commercial focus
• Client/customer focus
• Technical excellence
• Communication, collaboration and influence
• Strategic thinking
• Inclusive and empowering leadership
• Delivers with excellence – demonstrates responsibility and accountability
• Trust and integrity
• A proven track record of collaborating with colleagues engaging directly with insurance clients and prospects

Our Benefits:
When you join Aberdeen, you will be rewarded with a comprehensive benefits package that invests in each employee’s financial future, health and well-being. We offer a range of benefits to meet your family’s needs and employees are immediately eligible to begin participating. We have an environment where you can learn, get involved and be supported. 

What We Offer:

• Base salary range:  $175,000 - $225,000 + Discretionary Bonus
• Best in class Medical, Dental, and Vision plans with well-known carriers; Telehealth and Health Concierge services
• Health, Dependent and Commuter Flexible Spending Plans
• Employer provided Life Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Short Term and Long-Term disability with additional optional coverage options
• Investing for your Future - 401(k) Retirement Savings plan with top notch company Profit Sharing contribution which is immediately vested!
• Generous time off starting day one with 4+ weeks annual vacation plus 9 paid holidays
• Paid Parental, Adoption, and Family Sick/Caregiver leave programs
• Volunteer Days and Study Time to focus on what is important to you!
• Make a donation to your favorite Charity and Aberdeen will match up to $500 per year!
• Employee Assistance, Travel and Discount Programs. From helping you navigate the healthcare system, to providing resources and assistance to parents and caregivers of children with development disabilities.
• Flexible, voluntary benefits including Accident Insurance, Identity Protection, and Legal Assistance
• Wellness program including Nutritional Counselling and Gym Membership Reimbursements

How We Create Value:

• Our strategic drivers are the foundations from which we deliver for all our stakeholders: High Impact Intelligence, Enduring Relationships, Connections without borders and Future fit. You can find out more about our values here.

Our Inclusive Culture:

• We are committed to exploring the possibilities of working smarter. This means we’d like to hear from you, whatever way you like to work.
• We have a long-term commitment to building inclusive workplaces; we value diversity in our workforce and welcome enquiries from everyone. If you need assistance or a reasonable adjustment due to a disability please let us know as part of your application and we will assist. You can find out more about our inclusive culture here.
• Aberdeen is an affirmative action - equal opportunity employer.