Senior Principal, Risk & Captive Management

The Difference You Will Make:

As Senior Principal Risk & Captive Management, you will set the vision, strategy, and operational direction for Airbnb’s global insurance programs. You’ll spearhead the development of innovative protection products for our hosts, guests, and partners, while architecting and leading insurance solutions that underpin our competitive edge. We’re seeking a fully licensed actuary with a proven track record within the industry

A Typical Day: 

• Lead Global Insurance Portfolio: Own and manage Airbnb’s insurance products, ensuring strategic oversight of all protection programs.
• Drive Product Innovation: Direct the development, launch, and continuous improvement of new insurance offerings and captive solutions for emerging risks and opportunities.
• Strategic Leadership: Guide enterprise-wide insurance strategy through data-driven analysis, competitive benchmarking, and insights into industry trends.
• Join Relationship Management: Structure, negotiate, and nurture strategic relationships with insurers, reinsurers, brokers, TPAs, claims administrators, regulators, and partners for industry-leading coverage.
• Captive Operations Oversight: Oversee captive insurance activities, including underwriting, pricing, partner management, and policy development.
• Risk Financing Strategies: Evaluate and implement strategies such as self-funding, stop-loss, and property & casualty placements to optimize Airbnb’s risk and cost profile.
• Performance Analysis: Assess key metrics, market trends, and competitor actions to continually refine insurance offerings.
• Risk Management for Growth: Guide risk strategies for acquisitions, divestitures, and expansion into new products and markets.
• Go-To-Market Leadership: Lead commercial execution, regulatory registration, and compliance for insurance products.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Work with senior leaders to design custom insurance programs that align with platform initiatives.
• Insurance Innovation: Challenge legacy models and design creative solutions for Airbnb’s global community.

Strategic Impact & Scope:

• Direct accountability for global insurance programs representing multi-billion dollar coverage and shaping Airbnb’s risk profile.
• Design solutions that empower hosts and guests as entrepreneurs, advancing Airbnb’s business model worldwide.
• Serve as a thought leader and senior advisor in insurance, risk management, regulatory strategy, and insurtech innovation.
• Pioneer the creation and launch of disruptive captive structures and coverage concepts.
• Ensure alignment of insurance and risk strategies with Airbnb’s mission, financial goals, and growth agenda.

Your Expertise:

• 12+ years of global insurance leadership, including oversight of large-scale corporate and captive operations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Insurance, Finance, Accounting, Actuarial Science, or related field required; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred.
• Fully licensed actuary (FSA, FCAS, or equivalent) in good standing.
• Proven success designing, launching, and managing complex risk and coverage programs, ideally within platform or marketplace environments.
• Preferred: Leadership experience in innovative insurtech organizations or startups and located in California.
• Deep expertise in product development, underwriting, negotiation, claims resolution, and partnership management.
• Demonstrated ability to build and scale captive entities and risk financing initiatives.
• Exceptional leadership and talent development skills.
• Strategic, innovative, and consultative problem solver.
• Advanced financial planning, strategic thinking, and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
• Outstanding communicator, able to distill complex concepts for diverse audiences.
• Embodies Airbnb’s culture of creativity, innovation, and collaborative problem solving.

Success Profile

The ideal candidate is a visionary builder, connector, and disruptor—driving the creation of insurance solutions that redefine risk, empower entrepreneurship, and secure Airbnb’s leadership in hospitality, technology, and protection. They bring technical and strategic actuarial expertise, champion insurtech disruption, and are positioned to deliver best-in-class outcomes for Airbnb and its global community.

Your Location:

This position is US - Remote Eligible. The role may include occasional work at an Airbnb office or attendance at offsites, as agreed to with your manager. While the position is Remote Eligible, you must live in a state where Airbnb, Inc. has a registered entity. Click here for the up-to-date list of excluded states. This list is continuously evolving, so please check back with us if the state you live in is on the exclusion list  If your position is employed by another Airbnb entity, your recruiter will inform you what states you are eligible to work from.

Our Commitment To Inclusion & Belonging:

Airbnb is committed to working with the broadest talent pool possible. We believe diverse ideas foster innovation and engagement, and allow us to attract creatively-led people, and to develop the best products, services and solutions. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

We strive to also provide a disability inclusive application and interview process. If you are a candidate with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in order to submit an application, please contact us at: [email protected]. Please include your full name, the role you’re applying for and the accommodation necessary to assist you with the recruiting process. 

We ask that you only reach out to us if you are a candidate whose disability prevents you from being able to complete our online application.