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Sr Director & Actuary – Annuity Product Development

Northwestern Mutual · Milwaukee, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 20, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a product enhancement you led. How did it affect sales and profit?

What they are checking: Whether they have delivered product changes with measurable business results.

How do you represent product line interests in cross-department decisions?

What they are checking: Whether they can advocate for their products while working well with other departments.

How do you lead and develop actuaries on a product development team?

What they are checking: Whether they can grow technical talent and lead a team, not just do the work.

What would you do

How do you get input from the field without letting the loudest voices drive the design?

What they are checking: Whether they can co-create with the field while still making sound product decisions.

How do you balance competitive features with healthy product line financial results?

What they are checking: Whether they can weigh growth against profitability, as the posting asks.

Interest rates drop sharply. What happens to your annuity product line and what would you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can respond to market shifts that directly affect annuity value and pricing.

About the work

How would you design a new annuity product that plays to Northwestern Mutual's strengths?

What they are checking: Whether they can link product design to company advantages like financial strength and the field.

Walk me through the main risks you price for in a fixed or deferred annuity.

What they are checking: Whether they understand interest rate, lapse and longevity risk in annuity pricing.

How would you approach developing a product for an adjacent or new market?

What they are checking: Whether they can think creatively beyond core products while managing the new risks.

How do regulations like the NAIC annuity suitability standards affect product design?

What they are checking: Whether they consider regulatory requirements as part of the product design process.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Mutual.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities: • For one or more risk product lines (life, annuities, disability income and long-term care), develop and execute product development strategies that leverage our fundamental company advantages, understand the markets in which the product line is most relevant, and ensure execution in coordination with a broad variety of departments across the company. • May assist the product line leader in the development of product line strategies to maximize sales growth and ensure achievement of healthy product line financial results. • Continually evaluate and refine the Company's risk products, including developing new products and adding product enhancements and features to remain competitive and increase sales and market share. This will include both evolution as well as more innovative approaches to risk products. In addition to core risk products, design and develop solutions for adjacent markets and products, as well as disruptive approaches to the financial security market. • Liaison to all levels of the field in order to proactively seek input on desirable products, features, and benefits. Use field insight, as well as client insight, to design and develop new products and features. Maintain co-creation with the field throughout the product development process. • Provide representation and advocacy for risk product lines in cross-departmental project teams focusing on compliance, supervision, regulatory issues, servicing, marketing and sales strategies, cross-selling and financial security planning, and coordinate efforts where necessary. • Analyze competitors' products, features, and benefits to determine how NM can best compete. When warranted, make recommendations that NM offer such types of products, features, and benefits. • Ensure that projects are completed to meet schedule, scope, and budget. • Assist the field and other home office staff on product questions. Qualifications: • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Actuarial Science, marketing or related field plus a minimum of ten years of experience in insurance product development, competitive research, product compensation, or other areas of the risk product insurance industry. • Actuary background required. • Demonstrated ability to think and implement strategically. • Proven ability to lead decision making process through idea sharing and consensus building. • Demonstrated successful project leadership experience at Northwestern Mutual, or relevant external experience, with a keen focus on aligning project goals with Company strategy. • Strong knowledge of risk products. • High degree of personal initiative and self-motivation; ability to work on concurrent efforts, set priorities, and meet deadlines. • Effective communication skills with the ability to build rapport and gain acceptance of people at all levels in the home office and field; demonstrated ability to prepare and deliver clear and smooth presentations and well as convey information clearly and effectively in written format. • Series 6 & 26 required or successful completion within six months. Desirable Qualifications: • MBA degree, JD degree, FSA designation, CLU designation, CPA designation, or other relevant degree or professional designation. • Fifteen years experience in life insurance product development, competitive research, product compensation, or other areas of the life insurance industry. Skills You Have • Actuarial Expertise & Financial Analysis: Apply actuarial knowledge and analytical judgment to evaluate product design, financial performance, pricing considerations, and risk. • Annuity Product Development & Management: Develop and refine annuity products, features, and strategies that respond to client, field, competitive, and business needs. • Strategic Thinking & Learning Agility: Analyze complex issues, anticipate future implications, and quickly build knowledge in unfamiliar products, markets, or business environments. • Business Influence & Decision Leadership: Challenge established thinking, build consensus, and influence product decisions across leadership and business partners. • Cross-Functional Product Execution: Coordinate stakeholders, manage dependencies, and move complex product initiatives from strategy through implementation. This position has been classified as a Registered Representative under NMIS guidelines and requires fingerprinting.Series 26 - FINRA, Series 6 - FINRA Compensation Range: Pay Range - Start: $160,000.00 Pay Range - End: $240,000.00 Geographic Specific Pay Structure: Structure 110: Structure 115: We believe in fairness and transparency. It’s why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you’re living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable, click here to learn more. Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our clients' interests at the center of all we do. Get started now! Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.

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