Director, Head of Catastrophe Research & Validation in London

Lead AIG’s Catastrophe Model Research & Validation Team, defining strategy and implementing industry‑leading analytics practices. You will collaborate with senior leaders, influence global risk modeling, and advise across business functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Global Catastrophe Model Validation function, managing and mentoring managers and scientists across the US, London, and India.
• Work with Global Actuarial Leadership to define vision, strategy, and standardized best practice for AIG’s worldwide view of risk.
• Lead end‑to‑end catastrophe model evaluation across the company, including validating new and existing vendor models, proposing adjustments, and implementing model changes and upgrades.
• Maintain relationships with reinsurance brokers and model vendors, benchmarking AIG’s View of Risk.
• Assess climate change impacts on perils worldwide and provide thought leadership on climate change research.
• Engage with regulators (PRA, Lloyd’s, Japan FSA, US state regulators) on climate‑related risk.
• Collaborate with Enterprise Risk Management to document and communicate view‑of‑risk principles, aligning with AIG’s model risk management policies.
• Drive short‑ and medium‑term improvements to internal catastrophe modeling processes.
• Collaborate with Risk Engineering, Actuarial, Underwriting, and ERM to share insights and best practices.
• Partner with the Data Office on strategic data initiatives, including vendor/data provider assessments and contract reviews.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, diversity, and inclusion.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in catastrophe research or model development, with hands‑on knowledge of multiple model vendors, preferably from an underwriting company.
• PhD or Master’s degree in Climate Science, Natural Hazards, Applied Statistics, or related field.
• Strong programming skills in R, Python, and SQL.
• Understanding of catastrophe modeling science, experience writing model reviews and validations for internal stakeholders and regulators.
• Comprehensive knowledge of catastrophe model strengths and weaknesses.
• Deep understanding of climate change impacts on insurance and experience presenting research in internal and external forums.
• Proven network development and relationship management with brokers, vendors, and market colleagues.
• Proactive, challenges existing processes, influences others, and meets critical deadlines.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts to non‑technical audiences.
• Experience managing multiple projects, prioritizing, planning, and developing strategic roadmaps.
• Strong people‑management and team development skills.