Director, Product Research and Development (R&D)

Overview

Join an amazing team that is consistently recognized for our achievements and culture, including our most recent Forbes award of being one of America's Best Midsize Employers for 2026!

Position Summary:

The Director of R&D is a senior leadership role responsible for defining and driving the product strategy and overseeing the research, development and implementation of insurance products for the assigned line of business to achieve the profitable growth that supports the company vision. The Director will lead and manage a team of research and development professionals. The Director will lead and evolve a cross-functional process with Actuaries, State Product Management, Sales, Underwriting, and other stakeholders to continuously enhance the product and pricing.

This position will be responsible for personal property products (Homeowners and Landlords). 

Geo-Salary Information

An in-person interview may be required during the hiring process

State specific pay scales for this role are as follows:

$118,078.00 to $330,661.00 (CA, NJ, NY, WA, HI, AK, MD, CT, RI, MA)

$118,078.00 to $330,661.00 (NV, OR, AZ, CO, WY, TX, ND, MN, MO, IL, WI, FL, GA, MI, OH, VA, PA, DE, VT, NH, ME)

$118,078.00 to $330,661.00 (UT, ID, MT, NM, SD, NE, KS, OK, IA, AR, LA, MS, AL, TN, KY, IN, SC, NC, WV)

The expected base salary for this position will vary depending on a number of factors, including relevant experience, skills and location.

In CA: Typical hiring range is $201,933 to $280,462

Responsibilities

Essential Job Functions:

• Product Strategy, Research, and Execution
  • Defines and drives strategic plans for assigned line of business product development and execution in partnership with senior management.
  • Directs and oversees data research and statistical analyses to solve complex business problems.
  • Leads end-to-end product research, including initiating research, planning and coordinating resources, conducting research, leading implementation, and overseeing monitoring of product performance with specific focus on assigned line of business.
  • Prioritizes and governs the product development portfolio to ensure focus on the highest-impact initiatives.
• Lead Review, Governance, and Market Insight
  • Evaluates and approves research plans and results, ensuring rigor, clarity of insights, and actionability.
  • Oversees identification and resolution of product issues and directs implementation of recommended solutions and product enhancements.
  • Directs and synthesizes analyses of competitor pricing, product features, and service levels, and translates insights into product and pricing strategies.
  • Establishes and oversees product training strategies and ensures effective training delivery across the organization as needed.
• Leadership and Management
  • Owns leadership and management of the Product Research and Development area for assigned line of business
  • Leads and develops team members; establishes training opportunities; and oversees talent development, performance management, compensation decisions, and staff planning.
  • Builds and advances R&D Managers and Analysts at various levels, ensuring strong succession and capability development.
  • Leads and owns the decision-making process for evaluating new ideas and pricing positions related to assigned line of business area, ensuring alignment with company financial and strategic goals.
• Cross-Functional Ownership and Integration
  • Leads and aligns colleagues and other divisions to implement and operationalize changes in pricing, product models, and product enhancements.
  • Establishes and ensures full integration with Underwriting, Sales, Claims, and other divisions to drive process improvement and product performance.

Qualifications

Education:

Minimum:   

• Bachelor’s Degree required with an emphasis in analytical concentration such as math, statistics, economics, finance, quantitative research, etc.

Preferred:   

• Master’s Degree

Experience:

Minimum: 

• 8+ years experience in product development field OR equivalent combination of education and/or experience

Preferred: 

• 15+ years experience in P&C Insurance industry
• 10+ plus years experience in research, analytics, planning, etc.
• 10+ years leading and managing a team 
• 5+ years of homeowners personal lines product experience

Knowledge and Skills:

Minimum: 

• Highly motivated and driven individual with excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Up-to-date knowledge of insurance market and emerging change trends
• Advanced analytical and quantitative skills required.
• Strong track record of demonstrated creativity in pricing and product development.
• Ability to review highly complex issues that may have a significant financial impact on the Company and develop strategic solutions.
• Must have initiative and be a self-starter.
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to build commitment to decisions.
• Must have excellent team building and staff development skills.
• Broad knowledge and experience with statistical and machine learning models

About the Company

Why choose a career at Mercury?

At Mercury, we have been guided by our purpose to help people reduce risk and overcome unexpected events for more than 60 years. We are one team with a common goal to help others. Everyone needs insurance and we can’t imagine a world without it.

Our team will encourage you to grow, make time to have fun, and work together to make great things happen. We embrace the strengths and values of each team member. We believe in having diverse perspectives where everyone is included, to serve customers from all walks of life.

We care about our people, and we mean it. We reward our talented professionals with a competitive salary, bonus potential, and a variety of benefits to help our team members reach their health, retirement, and professional goals.

Learn more about us here: https://www.mercuryinsurance.com/about/careers

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Perks and Benefits

We offer many great benefits, including:

• Competitive compensation
• Flexibility to work from anywhere in the United States for most positions
• Paid time off (vacation time, sick time, 9 paid Company holidays, volunteer hours)
• Incentive bonus programs (potential for holiday bonus, referral bonus, and performance-based bonus)
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and pet insurance
• 401 (k) retirement savings plan with company match
• Engaging work environment
• Promotional opportunities
• Education assistance
• Professional and personal development opportunities
• Company recognition program
• Health and wellbeing resources, including free mental wellbeing therapy/coaching sessions, child and eldercare resources, and more

Mercury Insurance is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Pay Range

USD $118,078.00 - USD $330,661.00 /Yr.