Managing Director, Investment Strategy

The Managing Director, Investment Strategy at Guardian Life's Office of the CIO is a critical leadership role. This individual will partner with the Head of ALM & Investment Strategy to design, implement, and oversee Guardian Life’s investment strategy, ensuring alignment between assets and liabilities within defined risk parameters. The role involves leading cross-functional initiatives, developing asset strategies for insurance products, providing market insights, and optimizing portfolio construction. This high-impact role requires thought leadership and the ability to drive the company's investment strategy and growth agenda.

Must Have

• Partner with Head of ALM & Investment Strategy in investment strategy development and oversight.
• Develop asset strategies for new and existing insurance products.
• Collaborate with Actuarial, Finance, Risk, and Operations on enterprise initiatives.
• Develop market insights and portfolio analysis for investment recommendations.
• Work with investment team on relative value opportunities and tactical asset allocation.
• Oversee annual investment plan development.
• Represent investment function to external stakeholders.
• Support preparation and delivery of periodic reports to senior management.
• Contribute to maintaining a high-performing investment team and mentor colleagues.
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, business, or a related field.
• 7-12+ years of relevant experience in investment management, preferably in insurance.
• Comprehensive knowledge across public and private fixed income and alternative asset classes.
• Deep understanding of liability-driven investing and ALM for an insurance company.
• Familiarity with US regulatory, capital, and accounting frameworks (NAIC, RBC, STAT).
• Ability to manage relationships with external stakeholders and influence asset manager performance.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, quantitative, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strategic thinker.

Good to Have

• CFA charter holder preferred.
• Prior experience at a US life and annuity insurance company strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of Bermuda regulatory framework is a plus.

Perks & Benefits

• Support and flexibility to achieve professional and personal goals.
• Skill-building opportunities.
• Leadership development opportunities.
• Philanthropic opportunities.
• Opportunities to build communities.
• Diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.
• Contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources.

This role works closely with the Head of ALM & Investment Strategy to design, implement, and oversee the execution of Guardian Life’s investment strategy, maintaining appropriate alignment between assets and liabilities within company defined risk parameters and strategic objectives. This role leads cross-functional initiatives in collaboration with internal teams and external asset managers. Additionally, this individual will influence the continued evolution of the General Account by identifying areas of opportunity beyond current capabilities, including exploring areas of potential strategic partnership and/or other unique structures to maximize value. This is a high impact, visible leadership role requiring thought leadership, development and oversight of complex investment strategies, and the ability to shape and drive Guardian Life’s investment strategy and growth agenda.

The key responsibilities will include:

• Partner with the Head of ALM & Investment Strategy in the development, implementation, and oversight of investment strategy
• Develop asset strategies for both new and existing insurance products
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders—including Actuarial, Finance, Risk, and Operations—to support enterprise-wide initiatives including ALM, capital planning, and product development
• Develop market insights and portfolio analysis and produce investment recommendations to optimize overall portfolio construction
• Work with other members of the investment team to maximize relative value opportunities and implement tactical asset allocation strategies
• Oversee development of annual investment plan
• Represent the investment function to external stakeholders such as third-party asset managers and potential business partners, clearly communicating investment objectives and providing guidance to ensure alignment with Guardian’s overall portfolio strategy
• Support preparation and delivery of periodic reports to senior management as required
• Contribute to maintaining a high-performing investment team by providing mentorship to colleagues, and by advancing best ideas

You are:

• Intellectually curious and creative, with a clear focus on delivering superior investment results
• A strong leader, able to successfully lead and execute investment initiates and cross-functional strategic projects with enterprise-wide impact
• Approachable, communicate effectively and confidently, and work well with others across the firm. Ability to represent the firm in presentations to the senior management, the Board, and key external partners
• Innovative, proactive, and willing to propose new ideas. Welcome being challenged and to challenge others to promote best practices
• A change agent who thrives in dynamic, growth-oriented environments
• Champion diversity of thought and foster a culture of collaboration and innovation

You have:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, business, or a related field; CFA charter holder preferred
• 7-12+ years of relevant experience in investment management, preferably within an insurance or reinsurance environment; prior experience at a US life and annuity insurance company strongly preferred
• Comprehensive knowledge across public and private fixed income and alternative asset classes and the ability to analyze and evaluate market and industry trends, and investment exposures to market risks
• Deep understanding of liability-driven investing and ALM for an insurance company. Broad understanding of insurance general account liabilities
• Familiarity with regulatory, capital, and accounting frameworks, specifically in a US context (NAIC, RBC, STAT, etc.). Knowledge of Bermuda is also a plus
• Ability to manage relationships with external stakeholders, and to evaluate and influence asset manager performance to meet company objectives
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to present complex concepts and ideas to senior leaders and build effective working relationships across both internal teams and external partners
• Strategic thinker with strong quantitative, analytical and problem-solving skills

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 MyHR@glic.com. Please note: this resource is for accommodation requests only. For all other inquires related to your application and careers at Guardian, refer to the Guardian Careers site.

Visa Sponsorship

Guardian is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment visas. In order to be a successful applicant. you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship.

About Guardian

Every day, Guardian helps our 29 million customers realize their dreams through a range of insurance and financial products and services. Our Purpose, to inspire well-being, guides our dedication to the colleagues, consumers, and communities we serve. We know that people count, and we go above and beyond to prepare them for the life they want to live, focusing on their overall well-being — mind, body, and wallet. As one of the largest mutual insurance companies, we put our customers first. Behind every bright future is a GuardianTM. Learn more about Guardian at guardianlife.com .

Visa Sponsorship:

Guardian Life is not currently or in the foreseeable future sponsoring employment visas. In order to be a successful applicant, you must be legally authorized to work in the United States, without the need for employer sponsorship.