Head - Chief Underwriter - Insurance

The Chief Group Underwriter is a critical position for Underwriting in providing leadership and development of underwriting practices for group product underwriting. This position is responsible for managing the Underwriting operations and underwriting professionals and for working collaboratively with other Underwriting management, Legal and Compliance, Actuarial/Pricing, Sales Representatives and Field Management in the attainment of top-line and bottom-line growth objectives through sound, focused risk assessment and decision making.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities :

Leadership and management of Underwriting team in delivering high quality case level product risk assessment underwriting and customer service.

Provide leadership and direction of product administration initiatives that cross many functional areas.

Implementation and management of product administration and underwriting enhancements.

Develop strong and collaborative partnerships across the organization to positively influence underwriting administrative support and satisfaction.

Effectively manage the training and technical development, while maintaining overall accountability of a group of highly professional underwriters.

Identify areas of improvement/opportunity to improve current underwriting processes/efficiency, customer service and control expenses.

Maintains positive and open communications with internal and sales partners to ensure effective problem solving and the development of appropriate tools and resources needed.

Development and implementation of strategies and process to manage the inforce block to expectations.

Support product development initiatives in collaboration with Product Marketing and Actuarial.

Initiate and negotiate with internal partners on complex pricing situations that may need deviation from normal pricing assumption.

Ability to analyze, develop and implement underwriting guidelines for product lines.

Act as the liaison for Underwriting and New Business with Legal and Compliance, on product compliance matters. Implementation and monitoring of all compliance items.

Partner with management on all State DOI inquiries and external audits related to group products, as needed.

Provide development feedback at the case level on decisions made by members of the Underwriting department.

Analyze and identify early and ongoing risk trends. Ability to develop changes to underwriting guidelines, as a result of trends, as needed.

Develop personal credibility with key sales representatives and managers.

Support the achievement of specific top-line, bottom-line, and process performance goals, established for the various work units.

Develop, track and analyze individual and work unit performance against established goals and measurements.

Obtains documents and maintains access to comprehensive staff underwriting training on all products and systems.

Develop and motivate highly skilled underwriting professionals and support staff.

Act as a mentor and technical coach to underwriting professionals on risk issues

Provide tools necessary for staff members to achieve desired individual and work unit results

Enable and motivate employees to make appropriate decisions or recommendations

Create/reinforce an environment committed to continuous learning and growth

Deliver dependable, accurate and timely service and build relationships with all customers, consistent with the company's commitment to achieving a distinct competitive advantage.

May perform other duties as assigned

Job Specifications:

College degree preferred and/or significant industry experience

Minimum of 7-10 years experience in management and underwriting risk experience

Strong knowledge of group life, accident and health insurance fundamentals and practices

Works well under pressure, managing multiple and changing priorities within deadlines

Ability to negotiate and influence both internal and external partners.

Results driven

Creative and decisive problem solving/analytical skills

Mastery of designated product line including product provisions, plan design, pricing and contractual benefits

Demonstrated solid understanding of both top line and bottom-line objectives and is able to manage both

Demonstrated consistency in performance over a sustained period of time

Knowledge of the sales/distribution process

Strong mentoring and coaching skills to assist team members in various stages of career and technical development

Ability to motivate employees to achieve results

Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.

Our company is built on helping individuals and families, and this starts with our employees. We want employees to maintain a positive balance, which is why we provide access to the benefits and resources they need to invest in themselves. From our onsite fitness facilities and generous paid time off to employee professional development programs, we are committed to helping employees live and work their best - both inside and outside the office.