Definity is seeking a Senior Analyst, Actuarial (Strategic Risk) in Toronto, Ontario. This role involves leading risk management initiatives related to climate perils and driving research on climate-related hazards within the insurance sector. Key responsibilities include developing and enhancing catastrophe and climate risk models. Candidates should possess a university degree in Actuarial Science or a related quantitative discipline, completion of at least five CAS exams, and typically three or more years of actuarial or related risk analytics experience.
As a Senior Analyst, Actuarial (Strategic Risk) at Definity in Toronto, you will play a pivotal role in the Corporate Actuarial team, reporting to the Director – Strategic Risk. This opportunity combines advanced analytical work with strategic thinking, solution design, and cross-functional influence, focusing on the critical area of climate perils and their impact on the company’s operations. You will help lead the monitoring and assessment of emerging catastrophe and climate-related risks that affect Definity’s portfolio, capital position, and long-term strategic direction. This includes driving research and thought leadership on climate-related hazards and human-driven factors, such as urbanization and land-use change, evaluating their impact on exposure, vulnerability, and insured loss outcomes. Your expertise will be crucial in designing, building, and interpreting advanced analytical workflows using geospatial and climate datasets, leveraging programming languages like Python and R, and spatial analysis tools to generate decision-ready insights. The role is deeply involved in the development, calibration, validation, and ongoing enhancement of catastrophe and climate risk models, ensuring methodological soundness and alignment with internal risk frameworks and business needs. You will translate complex analytical findings into clear, actionable recommendations, presenting results through concise written deliverables and executive-level presentations tailored to senior leadership and non-technical stakeholders. Partnering closely with various actuarial teams, including Reserving, Capital, and Planning, as well as enterprise functions such as Finance, Reinsurance, and ERM, will be essential to shape risk perspectives, inform strategic decisions, and respond to ad-hoc risk-related questions. Identifying and championing improvements to data, processes, and analytical approaches will also be a key part of evolving the team’s capabilities, ensuring scalable, efficient, and consistent risk analysis. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to the strategic direction of the risk agenda, proactively identifying new areas of focus and framing analytical questions that anticipate future business and regulatory needs, including those related to the evolving climate landscape. Informal leadership and oversight, including peer review and coaching junior team members, are also related aspects of this comprehensive role.
To excel in this Senior Analyst, Actuarial (Strategic Risk) role, candidates should possess a university degree in Actuarial Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related quantitative discipline. A strong foundation is demonstrated by the completion of at least five CAS exams or equivalent actuarial credentials, coupled with typically three or more years of actuarial or related risk analytics experience within the dynamic insurance industry. Advanced programming and analytical skills are paramount, particularly in Python, utilizing libraries such as pandas, NumPy, SciPy, and scikit-learn, and/or R, with the capability to design production-quality analytical solutions. Experience working with large, complex, and often imperfect datasets, including climate, exposure, and socioeconomic data, is essential, requiring a disciplined approach to validation and quality control. The successful candidate will have a demonstrated ability to independently lead projects, make sound analytical judgments, and effectively balance technical rigour with practical business considerations. A proven track record of influencing stakeholders and collaborating effectively across various functions in a matrixed environment is also highly valued. Excellent communication, organization, and prioritization skills are required, enabling confident operation in a fast-paced, ambiguous setting. A strong sense of ownership and accountability, coupled with intellectual curiosity, strategic thinking, and a desire to translate analysis into measurable business impact, will contribute significantly to success. Polished presentation and storytelling skills are also crucial for engaging both technical audiences and senior leaders on complex risk topics. This role requires successful clearance of background checks, including criminal checks and leadership references.