Director of Data Science in Disability

Description and Requirements
The Team You Will Join
At MetLife, data isn't just a tool - it is a catalyst for growth. As part of our Data & Analytics organization, you'll unlock trusted insights that drive bold decisions, power personalized customer experiences, and deliver lasting business impact. We're building the future of data - one that's governed responsibly, engineered for scalability, and designed for growth. When you join us, you're not just supporting the business - you're empowering it. Let's transform insight into impact and data into action, together.
The Opportunity
MetLife is seeking an experienced director in Data Science for the Disability product initiatives within its Group Benefits business. The objective of these initiatives is to responsibly expand MetLife's market share in the Disability & Absence space and to improve employer and participant satisfaction with MetLife's Disability offerings, while meeting cost targets. Reporting directly to the CDAO for Group Disability insurance, this position will oversee all Advance Analytics and AI efforts for this product line.
Key Responsibilities

• Date Science in Disability & Absence: Claims auto-adjudication logic and models, claims scoring and claims duration models, fraud waste and abuse analyses and models, triage models.
• Advanced analytics leadership: Educate business partners in dental and vision and the related technology areas about the potential for analytics to add significant business value, influence relevant stakeholders and increase the use of advanced analytics in those business areas.
• Initiative delivery: Co-develop and execute the data and analytics roadmap for Dental and Vision, aligned with business objectives and enterprise data strategy.
• Claims automation: Enhance auto-adjudication models to substantially increase auto-adjudication rates, as well as processing speed, while maintaining accuracy.
• Data Science: Ideate, design and execute various data science solutions that provide meaningful business outcomes, in collaboration with major stakeholders.
• Global team and resource management: Fully integrate a global team spanning by balancing U.S. employees, India-based employees (both in multiple locations) and consulting resources. Drive consistent culture and performance standards to maximize effectiveness.
• Proactive D&A leadership: Proactively identify and propose data-driven solutions to business challenges, leading analytics organization beyond traditional service provider role to become strategic innovation partner driving business transformation.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or related quantitative field, B.S. degree with relevant experience or continuing education.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in data science field with leadership experience.
• 3 to 5+ years of Disability, life, medical or P&C insurance experience.
• Solid understanding of HIPAA, the state insurance regulatory environment and other regulations relevant to data and data science in U.S. consumer insurance.
• Demonstrated expertise in advanced analytics, statistical modeling, and data science, including classical, modern (ML/non-parametric) and AI methodologies.
• Proficiency in statistical programming languages (Python, R). Demonstrated expertise with LLMs, prompt engineering/design, RAG architectures, fine tuning, and evaluation frameworks.
• Expertise in data governance, Data/ML Ops, and/or data engineering, and related software and procedures. Proficiency in SQL.
• Proven track record of leading analytics teams and delivering business value via creative data solutions while interacting with many stakeholders in a complex organization.
• Excellence in stakeholder management and executive communication.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with employee benefits plans is a plus.
• Experience with building AI agents (e.g., LangChain) is a plus.
• Expertise in Business Intelligence is a plus.
• Experience with Hadoop and MS Azure is a plus.

Location Expectation: This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of 3 days per week in office.
The expected salary range for this position is $170,000 - $210,000 . This role may also be eligible for annual short-term incentive compensation and stock-based long-term incentives. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.
Benefits We Offer
Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, paid time off, paid holidays, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more! For more information regarding MetLife's U.S. benefits, please click here .
About MetLife
Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the "World's Most Admired Companies", Fortune World's 25 Best Workplaces™, as well as the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®, MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world's leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
As part of our New Frontier strategy, MetLife is building an AI-enabled, people-centered future. We're looking for people who bring curiosity, adaptability, and a growth mindset as we use AI to enhance how we serve customers, support communities, and evolve the way work gets done. At MetLife, AI is a responsible partner that supports human judgment, creativity, and continuous improvement while helping us build trust, inclusion, and long-term value.
Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by our core values - Win Together, Do the Right Thing, Deliver Impact Over Activity, and Think Ahead - we're inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it's #AllTogetherPossible . Join us!
MetLife is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law ("protected characteristics").
If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [email protected]. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.
MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.
This posting is for a current vacancy and is anticipated to remain open for at least 90 days from the listed posting date.
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