Director, Head of Underwriting

This candidate will be an accomplished underwriting executive to serve as Director, Head of Underwriting and a key member of the Operations Leadership Team, reporting to the Vice President, Operations. This highly visible role carries enterprise-level influence over underwriting strategy, risk appetite, and decisions involving complex and high-value life insurance cases. The Director will set the direction for underwriting quality, risk selection, and market competitiveness while helping position the business for disciplined, profitable growth.

As the senior leader accountable for execution of the underwriting program, the Director will advise executive stakeholders and partners across Distribution, Product, Actuarial, Legal, Compliance, Claims, and Operations. The role leads a team of underwriting consultants, builds leadership and technical capability, and serves as a trusted partner to Home Office Distribution, field partners, reinsurers, and the medical director.

Your role and impact

Here's a glimpse of your responsibilities and the meaningful impact you'll create as the Director, Head of Underwriting:

• Provide strategic and technical leadership for large and complex life insurance cases involving $10+ million of risk, applying sound judgment to balance risk appetite, competitive positioning, customer outcomes, and profitable growth within reinsurance treaty guidelines and authority limits.
• Lead strategic initiatives and third-party relationships involving vendors and reinsurers, establishing clear governance, performance expectations, and accountability. Leverage underwriting data, analytics, and emerging trends to provide actionable management insights, identify opportunities, and improve risk selection, operational effectiveness, and business performance.
• Build and sustain a high-performing underwriting organization by setting a clear talent strategy, strengthening succession and capability planning, and coaching, mentoring, and developing underwriters. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and disciplined decision-making aligned with enterprise priorities.

What's in it for you

• Competitive pay: Fair compensation for your hard work.
• Healthcare coverage: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision from day one.
• Life insurance: Company-paid coverage for you and your loved ones.
• 401(k) plan: Matching contributions to help secure your financial future.
• Family support: Paid parental leave and reimbursement for adoption and surrogacy expenses.
• Work-life balance: Flexible time-off policy to recharge and pursue passions.
• Dress for your day: Express your style comfortably at work.
• Inclusion and Culture: A respectful environment that values unique contributions.
• Flexible work options: Remote, hybrid, and onsite opportunities at various locations across the U.S. for better work-life integration.
• Well-being focus: Programs to support a healthy balance between work and home life.
• Community connections: Build strong relationships through virtual and in-person interactions, with resources for your growth.

What sets you up for success

• A bachelor's degree in business, finance, insurance, risk management, or a related field and 10--15 years of progressively responsible life underwriting experience are required.
• Candidates must hold the Fellow, Academy of Life Underwriting (FALU) and Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI) designations, demonstrating advanced technical expertise and professional achievement recognized across the life insurance industry.
• Qualified candidates will also bring leadership experience within a complex life underwriting organization, demonstrated authority in evaluating large, complex, and high-value life insurance risks, and comprehensive knowledge of medical, financial, and non-medical underwriting principles.
• Experience applying reinsurance treaties, regulatory requirements, and enterprise risk-appetite standards is essential.
• Candidates must have a demonstrated record of leading organizational change, developing underwriting talent and succession pipelines, managing reinsurer and vendor relationships, using data and analytics to improve risk selection and operating performance, and influencing executive and cross-functional stakeholders.