Life & Annuity Actuarial Illustrations Project Manager
Guardian Life
Guardian is seeking an Actuarial Illustrations Project Manager to join the Individual Life and Annuity Product Illustrations Team. Working with a team of professionals, you will complete plans to implement new life and annuity products, features, and enhancements in Guardian’s innovative, critically important illustration system, the Guardian Proposal System (GPS). You will be responsible for translating life & annuity actuarial product descriptions into detailed and comprehensive illustration system specifications, developing quality assurance testing tools, and completing test plans to ensure quality product implementations in support of our goal to grow market share in our life and annuity business. You will also assist the Head of Life & Annuity Illustrations in defining project scope, developing project & resource allocation plans, and providing direction to analysts and testers. At Guardian, “We do the right thing”; “We believe people count”; “We courageously shape our future together”; and “We go above and beyond for the people we serve”. We demonstrate our core values by acting with accountability, leading with the consumer at the center, committing to collaborate, communicating transparently, and connecting with empathy & compassion.
You are
A self-starter who is fueled by collaboration with teammates, product creators, and software developers, and someone who can transform conceptual thinking into executable insights
Able to interface effectively between business customers and technical teams
Comfortable collaborating and working in groups, but also able to work independently with limited direction
Highly diligent and able to manage multiple assignments and priorities simultaneously while in various phases of development
Able to adapt to changing business priorities and environments
Someone who has a strong customer focus and who delivers on commitments with a sense of urgency
Capable of learning and working in a hybrid work environment with geographically dispersed teammates and business partners
You will
Support the implementation of new life & annuity products, features, and enhancements in the illustration system by:
Collaborating with colleagues in Product Development, Actuarial, Compliance, IT, and Policy Administration/Operations, as well as with our illustration software vendor (iPipeline/WELIS) in both the planning and implementation phases
Assisting the Head of Life & Annuity Illustrations in defining project scope, developing project & resource allocation plans, providing direction & consultation to analysts and testers
Translating complex actuarial product requirements and/or high-level end-user requirements into detailed illustration system specifications for product calculations
Developing, modifying, and employing Excel based tools to verify the accuracy of illustration calculations
Creating detailed numerical examples to assist the software development team (third party vendor) in delivering quality code
Developing, reviewing, & contributing to the documentation and execution of detailed test plans to ensure that illustration calculations align with product requirements and end user needs
Identifying, reporting, and reconciling system defects on a timely basis
Coordinating User Acceptance Testing with our business customers and obtaining their sign-offs on software deliverables
Evolving the team’s standard processes for requirements documentation & system testing
Regularly communicating status on current projects and initiatives
Participating in the after-business hours' testing of our software production deployments (approximately 6 times per year)
Serve our internal and external customers by:
Troubleshooting complex technical problems with product calculations and/or rates with a sense of urgency
Providing production support for inquiries / problems surfaced by end-users
Serving as a back-up to the Illustrations Project Managers and other teammates
Providing cross training and knowledge sharing to ensure the team’s continuous growth & development
Performing ad hoc calculations for illustrations requiring manual workarounds for requests beyond the system’s current functionality
Distilling complex illustration processing to non-technical field or colleague audience
Serve as a liaison between the illustration team and other analysts and/or project managers from the various life and annuity policy administration systems by:
Advising cross-functional teams on project impacts to their systems due to interdependencies and restrictions with the illustration system
Coordinating, implementing, & testing complex illustration system changes required due to new policy administrative practices or systems
You have
Minimum of 10 years of experience in the life insurance & annuity industry as a senior business systems analyst and quality assurance tester, with a high level of expertise in life and/or annuity illustration systems and/or policy administration systems
Life and annuity taxation experience, including TAMRA/MEC considerations
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including experience developing quality assurance testing tools for life and/or annuity product calculations
Bachelor’s degree in Math, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, Information Technology, Finance, or equivalent business experience
Excellent analytical, troubleshooting, problem-solving, communication, & organizational skills
Experience writing business systems requirements and performing quality assurance testing
Excellent time management skills and the ability to contribute to multiple complex projects simultaneously
Experience working with cross-functional teams in a hybrid environment
The ASA - Associate, Society of Actuaries – designation
Project Management and/or People Management experience preferred
Advanced Markets Sales experience, a plus
Location & Travel
The primary location for this position is either Bethlehem, PA or Hudson Yards, NYC, with flexibility to work remotely 2 days per week.
Required to work in-office 3 days per week
Salary Range:
$84,320.00 - $138,522.50The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.
Our Promise
At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.
Inspire Well-Being
As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues. Explore our company benefits at www.guardianlife.com/careers/corporate/benefits. Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.
Accommodations
Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact applicant_accommodation@glic.com.
Current Guardian Colleagues: Please apply through the internal Jobs Hub in Workday.