Director, Underwriting

The Director, Underwriting role is offered by a partner company managing all applications and next steps. This position is based in the United States and involves leading underwriting strategy and operations within a fast-growing, technology-driven insurance environment. Key responsibilities include:

1. Leading the underwriting organization while driving operational excellence, innovation, and alignment with business objectives.
2. Managing and developing multiple underwriting teams, including production underwriting, audit underwriting, and project-focused underwriting functions.
3. Establishing and evolving underwriting strategies, guidelines, and programs that support business growth while maintaining strong risk standards.
4. Overseeing manual underwriting decisions by analyzing medical, non-medical, and financial information to assess, modify, or decline applications.
5. Leading underwriting audits and improvement initiatives to strengthen processes, quality, and product performance.
6. Identifying, evaluating, and implementing new third-party data solutions and tools to enhance underwriting capabilities.
7. Collaborating with insurance partners, actuarial teams, product leaders, and engineering teams to support innovation and new product development.
8. Monitoring mortality performance and providing insights to support risk management decisions.
9. Acting as a subject matter expert on underwriting practices, helping guide technology and product teams in building effective insurance solutions.

Requirements

• Experienced underwriting leader with strong people management skills, strategic thinking abilities, and a passion for innovation in the insurance industry.
• 10+ years of life insurance underwriting experience within a leading carrier or reinsurance organization.
• 6+ years of experience managing and developing high-performing teams.
• Proven experience creating and improving underwriting guidelines, programs, and operational frameworks.
• A strong understanding of accelerated underwriting processes and third-party evidence providers is preferred.
• Comfortable working with data, identifying trends, and translating insights into actionable business decisions.
• A strategic and structured thinker with the ability to balance risk management, customer experience, and business goals.
• Strong leadership skills with a focus on empowerment, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across technical, business, and insurance stakeholders.
• A growth mindset and enthusiasm for learning, experimentation, and building better customer experiences.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary range of $100,000 to $230,000, depending on market location, experience, skills, and qualifications.
• Equity opportunities to participate in the company’s long-term success.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and families.
• Flexible paid time off, including a company-wide winter holiday closure.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions up to 4%.
• Monthly wellness reimbursement through a health and fitness support program.
• Paid parental leave offering 10 weeks of baby bonding time for all parents.
• Remote work flexibility with home office support, including an initial office stipend and ongoing work-from-home expense support.
• Collaborative culture with virtual and in-person company events.
• Opportunity to contribute to the future of digital insurance and modern underwriting practices.