Director Underwriting

About the role

This leadership role oversees underwriting operations within designated functions or regions, serving as the primary liaison to sales and customers. Guides the delivery of insights and recommendations to support customer acquisition and retention, ensuring adherence to timeliness, quality expectations, and applicable internal and governmental regulations. The role involves monitoring quality and response times, developing team skills and performance, and overseeing strategic regional or functional initiatives. The incumbent contributes to and executes the underwriting strategy, handling progressively more complex and multiple books of business. Daily communication within the function and routine meetings with leadership are essential to review metrics, performance, and key issues.

Responsibilities

• Perform management duties, including hiring, termination, coaching, development, rewards, recognition, performance management, and staff productivity.
• Plan, organize, staff, and direct daily operations, developing and implementing policies and programs, with budgetary responsibility.
• Accountable for all levels of books of business; collaborate with Underwriting and Sales leadership to develop and refresh region-level or functional book management strategies.
• Coordinate with regional Sales leadership to anticipate client needs and manage intraday workload planning.
• Provide guidance, deeper insights, and communication assistance for critical and sensitive clients.
• Understand strategic goals, competitive position, and drive portfolio and functional results toward these goals.
• Develop and maintain positive customer relationships with key stakeholders.
• Contribute to strategy development and oversee execution, proactively managing and resolving risks and issues.
• Manage relationships between the assigned function and other key stakeholders, providing guidance to underwriting functions as a subject matter expert.
• Ensure integrity and consistent application of Underwriting policies and guidelines.
• Review renewal and prospect quotes in exception scenarios to provide guidance on reasonableness and appropriateness, recommending modifications to prevent adverse selection and financial loss.
• Other duties as assigned or requested.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mathematics, Actuarial Science, Finance, Business, Computer Science, Science, Technology, or other quantitative analysis discipline. Relevant experience may substitute for the degree as determined by the company.
• 7 years of relevant underwriting, risk management, or actuarial experience applying advanced mathematics or quantitative analysis.
• 5 years of external client interaction or comparable external interactions.
• 5 years of leadership experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• 7 years of external client interaction.
• 5 years in risk management, actuarial work, or advanced mathematics application.

Skills

• Deep understanding of Highmark Health Plan products, services, and risk assessment techniques.
• Experience with customer relationship management.
• Consultative and partnership-driven mindset.
• Strong oral and written communication.
• Strong analytical background.
• Focus on team skill development.

Travel requirement: 25% - 50%. Position is office-based with a required physical work site.

Pay

Pay Range Minimum: $129,100.00
Pay Range Maximum: $214,500.00
Base pay is determined by a variety of factors including a candidate’s qualifications, experience, and expected contributions, as well as internal peer equity, market, and business considerations. The displayed salary range does not reflect any geographic differential Highmark may apply for certain locations based upon comparative markets.