Job Description:
Providing for loved ones, planning rewarding retirements, saving enough for whatever lies ahead – our policyholders count on us to be there when it matters most. It’s a big ask, but it’s one that we have the power to deliver when we work together. We collaborate and innovate – pushing one another to transform not just Pacific Life, but the entire industry for the better. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do. Pacific Life is more than a job, it’s a career with purpose. It’s a career where you have the support, balance, and resources to make a positive impact on the future – including your own.
We’re actively seeking a talented Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance & Ethics Officer to join Pacific Life in Newport Beach, CA. This leader will architect, lead, and continuously strengthen Pacific Life’s enterprise-wide compliance and ethics function, ensuring the highest standards of integrity, regulatory adherence, and ethical conduct across a complex global financial services organization.
Reporting directly to the Chief Legal Officer, with a dotted-line relationship to the Chief Risk Officer, the SVP, Chief Compliance & Ethics Officer will serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO, Management Committee, and Board, and will be a valued senior leader within both the Legal & Compliance and Enterprise Risk Management functions.
This executive will build and lead a modern, forward-looking compliance organization that balances strong governance and domain expertise with practical execution, while championing Pacific Life’s Values, Purpose, and long-term business success.
How you’ll help move us forward:
Enterprise Compliance & Ethics Leadership
Lead Pacific Life’s global compliance and ethics framework, setting enterprise strategy, priorities, and operating rhythm.
Oversee the Code of Conduct, ethics education and awareness, ethics helpline, and enterprise ethics program.
Serve as Pacific Life’s senior compliance executive, providing independent oversight while enabling responsible business growth.
Provide direct reporting and regular updates to the Governance & Nominating Committee of the Pacific Mutual Holding Company Board of Directors.
Regulatory & Risk Partnership
Partner closely with the Chief Legal Officer, Chief Risk Officer, CEO, and Management Committee to address regulatory risk, emerging issues, and organizational priorities.
Act as a key second-line leader, overseeing first- and second-line compliance activities, excluding differentiated compliance activities led by Business Division General Counsels.
Lead proactive compliance risk assessments, monitoring, escalation, and remediation efforts.
Compliance Program Scope
The scope of responsibility includes enterprise oversight of:
Insurance regulatory compliance, with a heavy focus on life and annuity products, but also includes reinsurance, institutional and group benefits.
Investment, fund, and securities compliance, including separate accounts
Privacy and AI compliance programs, ensuring compliance with evolving global privacy and technology regulations
Ethics program governance and execution
Vendor and third-party compliance oversight (vendor management responsibilities to be consolidated within the function)
Team & Organizational Leadership
Lead and develop a team of approximately 50 compliance professionals.
Strengthen leadership capability and build future-ready talent, upgrading skills, bench strength, and succession where needed.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and ethical decision-making.
Leverage strong external networks, regulatory relationships, and industry insights to continuously elevate the function.
What makes you stand out:
Industry & Functional Experience
Minimum 20+ years of relevant professional experience, with 10–15+ years in financial services, insurance, or closely related industries
Deep life insurance and annuity compliance expertise required
Investment, fund, and separate account compliance experience required
Demonstrated experience leading or overseeing a formal ethics program, including code of conduct and whistleblower/helpline frameworks
Proven success operating in a matrixed, enterprise environment; global experience is a strong plus
Significant exposure to consumer-facing businesses, which represent the majority of enterprise compliance risk
Leadership Background
Prior experience operating as a senior, enterprise-level compliance leader with credibility at the executive and Board levels
Strong record of building, coaching, and developing leadership teams
Ability to influence without authority, partner effectively across stakeholder groups, and balance independence with collaboration
Education & Professional Credentials
Juris Doctor or advanced legal degree not required, but viewed as a strong asset
Candidates without a legal background must bring substantial operational and compliance leadership experience, particularly within life and annuity businesses
Leadership Attributes & Style
The ideal candidate will be:
A principled, confident leader with sound judgment and unwavering integrity
Strategic yet pragmatic, able to translate regulatory expectations into actionable business practices
Comfortable navigating ambiguity, evolving regulations, and emerging risks (including AI and data privacy)
Commercially-minded while maintaining appropriate independence
A strong communicator with executive presence and the ability to influence at the highest levels
Well-networked across regulators, peers, and industry forums
Salary Range:
$330,000 - $420,000
#LI-JVI1
Base Pay Range:
The base pay range noted represents the company’s good faith minimum and maximum range for this role at the time of posting. The actual compensation offered to a candidate will be dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to experience, qualifications and geographic location. Also, most employees are eligible for additional incentive pay.
Your Benefits Start Day 1
Your wellbeing is important to Pacific Life, and we’re committed to providing you with flexible benefits that you can tailor to meet your needs. Whether you are focusing on your physical, financial, emotional, or social wellbeing, we’ve got you covered.
Prioritization of your health and well-being including Medical, Dental, Vision, and Wellbeing Reimbursement Account that can be used on yourself or your eligible dependents
Generous paid time off options including: Paid Time Off, Holiday Schedules, and Financial Planning Time Off
Paid Parental Leave as well as an Adoption Assistance Program
Competitive 401k savings plan with company match and an additional contribution regardless of participation
You Can Be Who You Are
We are committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion that embraces the authenticity of all employees, partners and communities. We support all employees to thrive and achieve their fullest potential.
What’s life like at Pacific Life? Visit Instagram.com/lifeatpacificlife
EEO Statement:
Pacific Life Insurance Company is an Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action Employer, M/F/D/V. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact a Human Resources Representative at Pacific Life Insurance Company.
Skills Required
- 20+ years of relevant professional experience
- 10-15+ years in financial services or insurance
- Deep life insurance and annuity compliance expertise
- Investment, fund, and separate account compliance experience
- Experience leading a formal ethics program
- Prior experience as a senior, enterprise-level compliance leader
- Strong communication skills with executive presence
Pacific Life Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Pacific Life and has not been reviewed or approved by Pacific Life.
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Retirement Support — Retirement funding includes both an automatic company contribution and a dollar‑for‑dollar 401(k) match, positioned as a standout element of the package. Vesting is defined at three years in official materials.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off is described as generous and scalable with tenure, complemented by multiple paid holidays and options to augment PTO. Paid parental leave and adoption assistance further extend coverage for families.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — A flexible annual wellbeing reimbursement supports diverse needs alongside counseling resources and wellness tools. Day‑one eligibility for core coverages adds immediate lifestyle value.
Pacific Life Insights
What We Do
For more than 150 years, Pacific Life has helped millions of individuals and families with their financial needs through a wide range of life insurance products, annuities, and mutual funds, and offers a variety of investment products and services to individuals, businesses, and pension plans. Whether your goal is to protect loved ones or grow your assets for retirement, Pacific Life offers innovative products and services that provide value and financial security for current and future generations. Pacific Life counts more than half of the 100 largest U.S. companies as its clients and has been named one of the 2022 World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute. For additional company information, including current financial strength ratings, visit www.PacificLife.com. Pacific Life refers to Pacific Life Insurance Company and its affiliates, including Pacific Life & Annuity Company. Client count as of June 2022 is compiled by Pacific Life using the 2022 FORTUNE 500® list. Learn more about Pacific Life: www.instagram.com/pacificlife www.twitter.com/pacificlife www.facebook.com/PacificLife www.youtube.com/user/PacificLifeInsurance Please review our social media guidelines: paclife.co/social
