Technical Director, Product - Financial Services

Are you passionate about being part of a team that delivers extraordinary care to help individuals and businesses prepare for and protect their retirement? If so, then Nationwide Financial could be the place for you! At Nationwide, "on your side" goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we're looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

The Annuity Business Development and Delivery team has an exciting opportunity for qualified candidates. The Annuity business plays a significant role in the performance of Nationwide Financial with consistently strong results. The expectations of our business continue to grow, and those expectations are supported in many ways including the continued investment in the project portfolio which expands across all strategic pillars.

A recent transition has created an opportunity for the right candidate to support our business in a direct and meaningful way. Responsibilities are focused primarily on two main components of our Delivery team - Project Management and Internal Process Improvement. This role would also partner with other team members to support broader Delivery team initiatives regularly.

The most qualified candidates will exhibit the following:

• Must have an attitude that recognizes we are a part of something larger than ourselves, strives to be better and a desire to influence beyond our specific organization
• Experience in leading others
• Experience/Knowledge of product centric delivery models
• Proven ability to plan, manage and successfully execute projects of varying complexity
• Has a 'can-do' attitude and is considered a leader by their peers
• Be a self-starter and able to work independently
• Proven ability to build relationships and leverage the expertise of business partners to achieve goals
• Ability to handle ambiguity and quickly adapt when changes occur
• Solid analytical skills to support critical thinking in assessing options and formulating recommendations
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Financial Services Experience - Annuity preferred, but not required

This position will be hired on a SuccessFlex basis.

The hired associate must reside within 35 miles of the following location(s):

Columbus: One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus OH, 43215

This role does not qualify for employer-sponsored work authorization. Nationwide does not participate in the Stem OPT Extension program.

Job Description Summary

Our work is essential to helping Nationwide build future capabilities to serve customer needs. Keeping existing products relevant and marketable and building new products takes research, critical thinking, practicality, and collaboration. If you enjoy gathering input and information, working independently and on a team and creating innovative solutions for customers, we want to know more about you!

As a Technical Director, you'll provide expertise leading across functional team(s) responsible for product creation and innovation. You'll lead key initiatives to address product strategy and profitability objectives and communicate product/solution strategic direction.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Leads development and maintenance, including crafting and modeling the features/capabilities of products from beginning to end, with direct responsibility for the products managed from a growth, profitability, capital, and risk perspective.

• Partners with sales leadership and finance to provide cost impact solutions and/or opportunities related to product design options. Develops business cases that support customer acquisition initiatives. Generates multiple solutions that address client/customer needs based on an assessment of the situation.

• Drives incremental and adjacent innovation to differentiate products and solutions in the marketplace in partnership with cross functional teams.

• Proactively identifies new market and business opportunities. Reacts appropriately to competitive landscape and market conditions.

• Provides support and leadership to promote product/solution strategy, design, and management.

• Serves as liaison, advising across the organization to implement new products and solutions. Looks for alignments or added value from developments across business areas and multiple fields. Facilitates problem resolution across the business.

• Builds strategic relationships to support product delivery, including vendor and partner alliances.

• Assures performance results and expectations as related to the product/solution implementation and business model.

• Develops, produces, and maintains ad hoc and custom sales report analysis. Consults with leadership regarding product trends, provides recommendations regarding sales analysis opportunities.

• Leads key project initiatives for the business in support of initial product offerings, product re-designs or tangential applications such as commissions, new business processing or policy administration.

• Facilitates client understanding of various product options and helps to prioritize options.

• Maintains a detailed understanding of pricing, client needs, market needs and sales positioning.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Reports to leader; may lead cross-department project teams and up to 3 product professionals.

Typical Skills and Experiences:

Education: Undergraduate degree in finance, economics, marketing, or related field preferred. Graduate degree desired.

License/Certification/Designation: Industry designations (e.g., CPCU, ARM, CLU, FLMI, ChFC, CFA, CFP, NASD, etc.) preferred.

Experience: Typically, ten years of relevant experience in a related industry with at least four years in product specific role.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Solid understanding of product design, regulatory framework governing such products and organization knowledge. Demonstrated strategic decision making. Proven ability in the use of analytic tools, plans pricing and products. Demonstrated ability to drive results, navigate ambiguity and to understand strategic objectives. Ability to lead high profile projects. Ability to creatively present ideas in written form and through presentations. Effective verbal and written communication skills. Proven team building and leadership skills. Ability to influence without authority.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager's leader and HR Business Partner.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions:

Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible (Exempt)

Working Conditions: May require moderate travel.

ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

NOTE TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES:

We value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. Nationwide does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. All resumes submitted by employment agencies directly to any Nationwide employee or hiring manager in any form without a signed Nationwide Client Services Agreement on file and search engagement for that position will be deemed unsolicited in nature. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is subsequently hired as a result of the referral or through other means.