VP Chief Actuary- Onsite Des Moines, Iowa

Wellabe is seeking a Vice President, Chief Actuary to join our team. The Vice President, Chief Actuary is the senior actuarial leader for the organization and is responsible for the overall actuarial strategy, governance, and delivery across modeling & forecasting, valuation, pricing, and product development/management. This leader ensures disciplined risk management practices, profitable growth, and strong regulatory/financial reporting outcomes across all lines of business. This role has direct influence over rate strategy and product decisions; actuarial recommendations are expected to be translated into action.

Be successful in this role

Someone in this role will:

• Enterprise Actuarial Leadership
  • Provide enterprise‑wide leadership and direction for actuarial strategy, policies, and practices across modeling & forecasting, pricing, valuation, reserving, product development/management, and risk management.
  • Serve as the organization’s principal actuarial authority, ensuring adherence to actuarial standards of practice and regulatory requirements.
  • Lead and develop actuarial leadership and teams, fostering a high‑performing, ethical, and collaborative culture.
• Financial Stewardship & Risk Management
  • Oversee reserve adequacy, asset‑liability modeling, experience studies, and assumption governance to ensure financial strength and balance sheet integrity.
  • Partner with Finance and Investments on capital management, asset adequacy testing, and long‑term financial planning.
  • Provide actuarial insight for audits, examinations, and regulatory filings at the state and federal level.
• Product Strategy & Profitability
  • Oversee product development, pricing strategy, and ongoing profitability management across lines of business.
  • Evaluate emerging risks, trends, and competitive dynamics to inform product strategy and pricing decisions.
  • Ensure actuarial input supports sustainable growth, customer value, and risk‑appropriate returns.
• Regulatory & Governance Partnership
  • Act as a key partner to Compliance, Legal, and Regulatory Affairs to ensure actuarial practices meet or exceed regulatory expectations.
  • Support regulatory examinations and interactions, including actuarial memorandums, rate filings, and financial disclosures.
  • Provide actuarial expertise to executive leadership, the Board of Directors, and relevant committees as needed.
• Modernization & Continuous Improvement
  • Champion modernization of actuarial tools, models, data, and processes to improve efficiency, insight, and scalability.
  • Leverage analytics, data, and emerging technologies to enhance actuarial decision‑making and enterprise reporting.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives across actuarial operations and governance.
• People Leadership
  • Lead, mentor, and develop actuarial leaders and professionals at all levels.
  • Oversee workforce planning, succession planning, and talent development within the actuarial function.
  • Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and professional growth consistent with organizational values.

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in actuarial principles, pricing, reserving, valuation, and risk management.
• Strong understanding of insurance regulatory environments and actuarial governance.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to translate actuarial insights into executive‑level decision support.
• Proven leadership, communication, and influence skills across technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Experience driving change, modernization, and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field required.
• Fellowship designation (FSA or equivalent) strongly preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive actuarial experience, including senior leadership responsibility for pricing, valuation, reserving, and regulatory engagement within the insurance industry.

Benefits

• Hybrid availability
• 401(k) with company match
• Health insurance
• Paid time off, holidays
• Volunteer time off
• Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA)
• Paternity leave

Growth opportunities

We believe each of us has potential to grow and adapt with our business. We take your career as seriously as you do. Helping you develop your skills and talents leads to opportunities — not only for you, but also for our company. That’s why we provide:

• LinkedIn Learning Premium access
• CliftonStrengths® assessment and coaching
• On-site and virtual workshops and cohorts featuring world-class content from FranklinCovey, Crucial Learning, Gallup, and more 
• Free world-class insurance acumen courses through AHIP and LOMA
• Reimbursement and bonus opportunities for professional designations and certifications, including a tuition reimbursement program 
• Opportunities to take part in Wellabe's mentorship programs 

About Wellabe

Since 1929, Wellabe has been finding solutions to help our customers protect their health and financial well-being. And we’re committed to fostering an internal culture of inclusivity, well-being, and development so each of our team members can succeed. Learn more about Wellabe’s culture of betterment by visiting wellabe.com/culture.

Wellabe is full of smart, caring, hard-working people with a broad range of talents who understand collaboration is key. We bring our best selves every day, to connect with others to solve problems, spark innovation, and bring ideas to life. Meet the team and learn what makes Wellabe a great place to work by visiting wellabe.com/news/employee-spotlights.

Our core values:

• Be dedicated: Show unwavering commitment by proactively taking initiative, setting clear goals, and managing time effectively.
• Be trustworthy: Take accountability for actions, navigate difficult conversations with integrity, and build strong relationships through consistent, honest behavior.
• Be determined: Demonstrate enthusiasm and a relentless drive to overcome obstacles and achieve goals.
• Be collaborative: Foster teamwork by being self-aware, actively listening, and effectively communicating across all levels.
• Be open: Embrace diversity and new ideas to create an inclusive environment.
• Be generous: Embody generosity and compassion by serving a greater purpose and helping others.
• Be better: Commit to continuous improvement and adapt effectively to change.
• Be well: Prioritize physical and mental health, manage stress, and demonstrate emotional intelligence.