Derivatives Strategist

THE COMPANY

For 175 years, National Life Group (“NLG”) has aimed to keep their promises to provide families stability in good times and in bad. And throughout that history, they have provided peace of mind to those families as they plan their futures.

As a mission-driven business, the cause of what they do is as important as the products they sell. And their cause is a very simple one, directed at the people who live and work on America’s Main Streets: “To Do good in our communities and with the individual families we serve.”

NLG Capital, the investment management company of NLG, manages approximately $40+ billion in AUM. Our purpose is simple – to allow NLG to keep its promises. How we do this – an obsessive focus on delivering investment results. We drive results through a rigorous but collaborative investment process, and we hold ourselves to the highest of standards, both as investors and teammates. While our process is based on rigor, our culture is based on our guiding principles: Meritocracy, Uncompromising Transparency, Intellectual Honesty, Performance Driven Learning, Relentless Pursuit of Excellence. These principles serve as the foundation of our team.  They govern the way we conduct ourselves, how we interact with teammates and how we approach every investment decision.  We act with the integrity and humility required to make the investment decision that is right for the firm, and ultimately our policyholders.  Our culture has been deliberately built to foster curiosity and provide opportunities to learn and grow, both as people and investors. The flat and collaborative nature of our team promotes an atmosphere where the best ideas are continually expressed and rewarded. Our pursuit of excellence is unwavering.

THE POSITION

Position Title     Derivatives Strategist

Position Summary & Responsibilities

NLG Capital seeks a Derivatives Strategist to join our Hedging team. You will play a pivotal role in executing our hedging strategy across all asset classes, ensuring the financial security of the company.

• Oversee and execute timely and accurate derivative transactions (options, futures, rates, and CDS) to implement the hedging program effectively.
• Employ derivative strategies to achieve NLG's goals and objectives, fostering financial stability and growth.
• Proactively recommend innovative execution strategies to enhance the firm's financial performance.
• Develop, implement, and refine market risk management (hedging) strategies, tools, and controls, safeguarding the company's financial position.
• Ensure trade specifications are precise and instruments are accurately reflected in the hedging system, maintaining data integrity.
• Utilize derivatives trading platforms to execute trades that hedge equity market exposure within our insurance products.
• Foster real-time market awareness among the investment team, aligning market opportunities with portfolio objectives.
• Manage relationships with public and private sell-side counterparties, representing NLG's interests and securing optimal access to trading desks.
• Collaborate with the team to maintain a framework for informed risk exposure and assessment.
• Monitor credit, liquidity, and market risks to support risk management and balance sheet valuation activities.

THE PERSON

Pivotal Experience & Expertise

• Direct experience developing and executing derivative strategies that address the unique nature of the assets and liabilities of an insurance company.
• 5+ years of experience in a hedging, market risk, quantitative analytics, or a related field.
• Proficient in Excel/VBA, SQL, Python, Tableau, and Bloomberg.
• An in-depth knowledge of capital markets, derivatives modeling, and valuation techniques.
• Required: Bachelor’s degree in finance, mathematics, economics, computer science, or a related quantitative field.
• Preferred: Master’s degree (or foreign equivalent) in quantitative / mathematical finance, statistics, economics, computer science, engineering, or a related field.
• Experience in an insurance company a strong plus but not required.
• Data analytics and/or programming experience is helpful but not required.
• Experience with relative value.

Cultural Fit

• Results-driven mindset.
• Thrives in an environment where the best ideas that drive the best results are rewarded.
• Has the integrity to communicate all relevant facts and information in evaluating decisions and the humility to admit what they do not know.
• Love of learning – comfortable in an organization that seeks to continually learn from its failures and successes to drive better investment decisions.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and the mentality required to address and ultimately own those ambiguous situations – finds answers and solutions, a problem solver.
• Comfortable giving and receiving constructive feedback in both real time and structured environments.
• Demonstrates transparent, direct, and open communication across the organization.
• Promotes collaboration and has a “firm first” attitude – does what is right for the firm.
• Commitment to our mission – keeping our promises, vision – to bring peace of mind to everyone we touch and values – Do good. Be good. Make good.

In addition to base salary, other rewards may include an annual bonus, quarterly bonuses, commissions, and other long-term incentive compensation, depending on the position.  National Life offers a competitive total rewards package which includes: a 401(k) retirement plan match; medical, dental, and vision insurance; a company funded wellness account for director and below employees; 10 paid holidays; a generous paid time off plan (22 days of combined time-off for non-exempt employees and exempt employees have discretion in managing their time, including scheduling time off in the normal course of business, but in no event will exempt employees receive less sick time than required by state or local law); 6 weeks of paid parental leave; and 6 weeks of paid family leave after a year of full-time employment

National Life is accepting applications for this role on an ongoing basis and the role remains open until filled.   

National Life Group® is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company, Montpelier, VT – founded in 1848, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest, Addison, TX – chartered in 1955, and their affiliates. Each company of National Life Group is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations. Life Insurance Company of the Southwest is not an authorized insurer in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York. Equity Services, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC, is a Broker/Dealer and Registered Investment Adviser affiliate of National Life Insurance Company. All other entities are independent of the companies of National Life Group.

Fortune 1000 status is based on the consolidated financial results of all National Life Group companies. 

National Life Group

1 National Life Dr

Montpelier, VT 05604

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