Managing Director, IG Corporate Credit Research - Hybrid

Symetra has an exciting opportunity to join our team as Managing Director , Investment Grade Public Credit Research!

About the role

We are seeking an experienced and intellectually driven Managing Director to lead our Investment Grade Public Credit Research effort. This is a senior leadership role in a $50 billion fixed income platform with a longstanding commitment to rigorous, bottom-up fundamental credit analysis.

The Managing Director of Investment Grade Public Credit Research will be responsible for setting and maintaining the analytical standards of the team, leading coverage across a broad set of industry sectors, and actively developing credit talent at all levels. This individual will operate at the intersection of research leadership, portfolio collaboration, and analyst development-serving as the intellectual anchor of the investment grade credit franchise.

The role requires deep sector breadth, a genuine passion for credit research, and a demonstrated ability to teach, coach, and mentor analysts across all experience levels. This role will work in close collaboration with peer groups in high yield, leveraged loans, private placements, and structured products-bringing continuity and connectivity to the firm's broader fixed income platform.

This is a hybrid work role based in Farmington Connecticut (2 days per week).

Company Overview

Symetra Investment Management ("SIM") is a SEC-registered investment advisory firm with approximately $78 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2025. Symetra Financial Corporation ("SFC"), a diversified financial services company with $68.4 billion in assets as of December 31, 2024, headquartered in Bellevue, Washington is the sole shareholder of SIM. SFC is also the holding company of Symetra Life Insurance Company ("Symetra Life"), which was founded in 1957, and has insurer financial strength ratings of 'A' by A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's and 'A1' by Moody's. Symetra Life is among the top 40 largest life insurance companies in the United States (based on statutory admitted assets as of December 31, 2024) and has approximately 2.3 million customers and over 2,600 employees nationwide. SFC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Life Insurance Company, a mutual life insurance company with head offices in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1907, Sumitomo is one of the largest life insurance companies in Japan with $319 billion of assets as of March 31, 2024. SIM currently has recently begun marketing its investment management services to third-party institutional investors.

What you will do

Research Leadership

• Lead and oversee fundamental credit research across a broad universe of investment grade corporate issuers spanning multiple industry sectors.
• Refine and maintain rigorous analytical standards for issuer-level credit work, including financial statement analysis, business model assessment, capital structure evaluation, and covenant review.
• Develop and articulate well-grounded credit views in written and verbal form for use by portfolio managers in investment decision-making.
• Stay current on macroeconomic conditions, credit market technicals, and sector-specific developments that bear on issuer credit quality.
• Contribute to top-down thematic credit research and sector allocation views in collaboration with portfolio management.
• Lead the development of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for the analyst team and incorporated them into the process.

Team Development & Mentorship

• Lead, mentor, and coach a team of credit analysts ranging from junior associates to senior analysts, with a focus on accelerating professional development and deepening analytical capability.
• Conduct regular feedback sessions, provide structured guidance on the research process and communication, and support analyst performance reviews.
• Design and oversee the firm's developmental credit training program for early-career analysts, including curriculum development, onboarding structure, and progression milestones.
• Cultivate a culture of intellectual curiosity, analytical rigor, and collaborative debate within the research team.
• Identify and recruit top-tier credit research talent in partnership with senior management and human resources.

Cross Platform Collaboration

• Partner closely with portfolio managers on the investment grade team to ensure research output is actionable and aligned with portfolio construction objectives.
• Collaborate with peers and analysts in high yield, leveraged loans, private placements, and structured products to share credit intelligence, maintain issuer coverage continuity across the capital structure, and support cross-platform investment decisions.
• Participate in firmwide investment committees, credit forums, and client-facing discussions as a senior research spokesperson.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of research processes, tools, and infrastructure in partnership with technology and operations.

What we offer you

• A seat at the table within a well-resourced, $50 billion fixed income platform with a disciplined, research-driven investment culture.
• The opportunity to build and shape a best-in-class research team and training program with direct support from senior leadership.
• Meaningful cross-platform collaboration across a fully integrated fixed income franchise spanning investment grade, high yield, loans, private placements, and structured products.
• A collaborative, intellectually rigorous environment that values fundamental analysis, continuous learning, and professional development.

We don't take a "one-size-fits-all" approach when it comes to our employees. Our programs are designed to make your life better both at work and at home.

• Plan for your future with our 401(k) plan and take advantage of immediate vesting and company matching up to 6%
• Paid time away including vacation and sick time, flex days and ten paid holidays
• Give back to your community and double your impact through our company matching
• Want more details? Check out our Symetra Benefits Overview

Compensation

Salary Range: $230,000- $260,000 plus eligibility for annual bonus program and long-term incentive

Who you are

Required

• Minimum 12-15 years of credit research experience in investment grade corporate bonds, with demonstrated coverage across multiple industry sectors.
• Deep expertise in fundamental credit analysis, including financial modeling, industry analysis, and relative value assessment within the investment grade universe.
• Proven track record of leading or co-leading a credit research function, including direct management and mentorship of analysts at varying levels of seniority.
• Experience designing or contributing to a structured rotational credit training program for early-career professionals.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex credit views into clear, concise investment-grade research.
• Strong cross-asset awareness and ability to collaborate effectively with peers across high yield, leveraged loans, private placements, and structured products.
• Capacity and interest in designing, developing and employing AI as part of the research process.
• Bachelor's degree in finance, economics, accounting, or a related field required; CFA designation strongly preferred.

Preferred

• Prior experience at an institutional fixed income asset manager, insurance company general account, or bulge-bracket credit research platform.
• Familiarity with the specific dynamics and investor base of USD-denominated investment grade corporate bonds at scale ($25B+).
• Experience interfacing directly with clients, consultants, and rating agencies on behalf of a credit research platform.
• Advanced degree (MBA, CPA, or equivalent) is a plus.

We empower inclusion
At Symetra, we aspire to be the most inclusive insurance company in the country. We're building a place where every employee feels valued, respected, and has opportunities to contribute.

Inclusion is about recognizing our assumptions, considering multiple perspective, and removing barriers. We accept and celebrate diverse experiences, identities, and perspectives, because lifting each other up fuels thought and builds a stronger, more innovative company. We invite you to learn more about our efforts here.

Creating a world where more people have access to financial freedom
Symetra is a national financial services company dedicated to helping people achieve their financial goals and feel confident about the future. In our daily work, we're guided by the principles of Value, Transparency and Sustainability. This means we provide products and services people need at a competitive price, we communicate clearly and openly so people understand what they're buying, and we design products--and operate our company--to stand the test of time. We're committed to showing up for our communities, lifting up our employees, and standing up for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Join our team and help us create a world where more people have access to financial freedom.

For more information about our careers visit:

Work Authorization
Employer work visa sponsorship and support are not provided for this role. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at hire and must maintain authorization to work in the United States throughout their employment with our company.

Please review Symetra's Remote Network Minimum Requirements:

As a remote-first organization committed to providing a positive experience for both employees and customers, Symetra has the following standards for employees' internet connection:

• Minimum Internet Speed:100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, in alignment with the FCC's definition of "broadband."
• Internet Type:Fiber, Cable (e.g., Comcast, Spectrum), or DSL.
• Not Permissible:Satellite (e.g., Starlink), cellular broadband (hotspot or otherwise), any other wireless technology, or wired dial-up.

When applying to jobs at Symetra you'll be asked to test your internet speed and confirm that your internet connection meets or exceeds Symetra's standard as outlined above.

Identity Verification

Symetra is committed to fair and secure hiring practices. For all roles, candidates will be required (after the initial phone screen) to be on video for all interviews. Symetra will take affirmative steps at key points in the process to verify that a candidate is not seeking employment fraudulently, e.g. through use of a false identity.

Failure to comply with verification procedures may result in:

• Disqualification from the recruitment process
• Withdrawal of a job offer
• Termination of employment and other criminal and/or civil remedies, if fraud is discovered

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