Chief Actuarial Officer

Chief Actuarial Officer

Palomar is a publicly traded U.S. specialty insurance company committed to delivering innovative insurance solutions tailored to the unique needs of our clients. With a strong focus on underwriting profitability, risk management, and data-driven decision-making, we are a leader in property and casualty and reinsurance coverage. As we continue to grow, we are seeking a visionary Chief Actuarial Officer (CAO) to lead our actuarial team and drive strategic decision-making across the organization.

Join a company built on a culture of agility, innovation and authenticity that delivers peace of mind and protection to individuals and businesses impacted by adversity.

Location: La Jolla, CA or Edina, MN

What You Will Do:

Actuarial Leadership and Strategy

• Develop and execute the overall actuarial strategy to support the company's growth, profitability, and risk management objectives.
• Lead the pricing, reserving and profitability monitoring functions to ensure alignment with product, underwriting and financial goals.
• Provide actuarial insights to drive product development, portfolio optimization, and market expansion.
• Monitor emerging trends in the insurance and reinsurance markets, incorporating them into actuarial models and company strategies.

Financial and Risk Management

• Oversee reserve adequacy and ensure compliance with all applicable actuarial standards of practice (ASOPs).
• Collaborate with the Chief Risk Officer (CRO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to assess and manage enterprise risk, including catastrophe modeling and capital adequacy analysis.
• Support reinsurance strategy by providing actuarial analysis of reinsurance structures and pricing.
• Enhance the company's risk-adjusted pricing models and ensure underwriting discipline.

Regulatory and Compliance

• Ensure compliance with regulatory standards, including NAIC and state-specific requirements, as well as actuarial certifications and loss reserving processes.
• Represent the company in regulatory filings, reviews, and discussions with state insurance departments.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of regulatory developments and their potential impact on actuarial practices.

Executive Leadership and Communication

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Executive team, Board of Directors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, providing clear and actionable insights into actuarial matters.
• Communicate complex actuarial findings and recommendations to non-technical stakeholders, including investors and rating agencies.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative culture within the actuarial team and across the organization.
• Mentor and develop actuarial talent, building a high-performing team aligned with the company's goals.

What We Are Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree in actuarial science, mathematics, statistics, or a related field (advanced degree preferred).
• Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS) or equivalent credential.
• Minimum of 12 years of actuarial experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role within the specialty insurance industry.
• Comprehensive knowledge of specialty insurance products, including but not limited to property (earthquake, inland marine, builders' risk, motor truck and cargo, engineer risk), casualty (professional liability, general liability, workers compensation) and surety and credit. Familiarity with Multi-peril crop insurance preferable
• Proven track record of managing pricing, reserving, and risk management in a public company setting.
• Experience with regulatory filings, rating agency interactions, and financial reporting in compliance with U.S. GAAP and statutory accounting principles.
• Analytical Expertise: advanced proficiency in actuarial modeling tools (e.g., R, Python, SQL, or other relevant software) and predictive analytics.
• Strategic Thinking: ability to align actuarial insights with broader corporate objectives and market dynamics.
• Leadership: strong team leadership and development capabilities, with a focus on fostering collaboration and driving results.
• Communication: exceptional ability to present complex actuarial concepts to diverse audiences, both technical and non-technical.
• Regulatory Knowledge: deep understanding of insurance regulations, statutory requirements, and actuarial standards of practice.

We Love People Who Want To:

• Build strong relationships through transparency, trust, and respect for each other.
• Work in an agile environment, with a resilient mindset to find creative solutions to challenges.
• Collaborate and celebrate diverse perspectives, promoting inclusivity and equality.
• Do the right thing with strong conviction and integrity.
• Be bold and innovative to help make an impact.
• Demonstrable track record of working autonomously and driving progress
• Be intellectually curious, think creatively, and pragmatically

If you thrive in a dynamic environment, and like working with happy, authentic, talented people, you'll enjoy a career with Palomar!

What Will You Get In Return?

• Full Suite of Medical Benefits
• Long Term Financial Incentives Company Stock
• 401k with 3.5% Automatic Fully Vested Employer Contributions
• Competitive PTO + Holiday Program
• Lifestyle Spending Allowance
• Professional Development Assistance
• Career Exploration Opportunities
• Regular company-wide social events (even virtually!)
• To learn more visit us at

Diversity at Palomar

At Palomar, we are committed to diversity, equality and inclusion in all facets of the organization. We have built an open culture that celebrates the diversity of our workforce, while actively championing equality and inclusion practices that make us a company people want to work with and work for.

We believe that diversity, equality and inclusion yield greater organizational creativity and productivity, which helps us serve our customers and partners more effectively. Delivering on our diversity commitment returns greater value to our shareholders and ultimately makes a positive impact to the communities in which we do business and to the people who live in them

Pay Range: $280,000 - $410,000 + Bonus Potential & Participation in our Competitive Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Program.