Group Benefits Re, Director of Underwriting

We’re determined to make a difference and are proud to be an insurance company that goes well beyond coverages and policies. Working here means having every opportunity to achieve your goals – and to help others accomplish theirs, too.

About the role

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Underwriting & Shared Services (GRP), the Director of Underwriting is accountable for leading a team of underwriters responsible for the profitable acquisition and retention of group life, disability, and supplemental health customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 5-6 underwriters responsible for providing underwriting services to our group life, disability, and supplemental health reinsurance clients, including presale, new business, and renewal underwriting.
• Build and retain a highly motivated and technically competent underwriting team by providing effective coaching, training, motivation, career development, and performance management.
• Ensure team and clients adhere to underwriting guidelines, rate development protocols, authority limits, documentation protocols, and achieve quality standards.
• Establish operating routines to maximize team collaboration, productivity, and engagement.
• Communicate effectively and persuasively with clients and business partners on underwriting issues, including decisions on declinations, terminations, exposure, and plan design concerns.
• Monitor key underwriting metrics and develop strategies to ensure profitability, pricing, persistency, and service objectives are met.
• Recommend changes in products, underwriting guidelines, and/or pricing protocols to ensure continued growth and sustained profitability for our organization and our reinsurance clients.
• Provide clear and consistent communication to employees regarding business goals, performance expectations, process, procedural, and organizational changes.
• Actively drive and participate in assigned project work geared toward helping the organization achieve financial performance, customer value, and employee engagement goals.
• Implement new clients as required with competent project management.
• Support strategic initiatives of the department and team.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• 7+ years of group benefits experience preferred with strong technical knowledge related to product, pricing, and risk selection.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to influence audiences with varying levels of expertise.
• Ability to think analytically about business problems, make recommendations, and propose solutions.
• Demonstrated success in developing and maintaining solid relationships with all internal and external business partners.
• Demonstrated organization and prioritization management skills, including project management and ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced work environment.
• Prior experience managing a team preferred.

Skills

• A customer-first mindset, putting our customers at the center of everything you do.
• A passion for making decisions through both analyzing data and employing critical thinking skills.
• A team spirit and desire to work collaboratively.
• A financial mindset to help make the best decisions.
• Ability to own your work and follow through on commitments.
• Ability to decipher and execute within a fluid and changing business environment.
• An understanding of how to build relationships and trust among diverse groups.

Schedule

This role will have a hybrid work schedule, with the expectation of working in our Hartford, CT office 3 days a week (Tuesday through Thursday).

Pay

The listed annualized base pay range is primarily based on analysis of similar positions in the external market. Actual base pay could vary and may be above or below the listed range based on factors including but not limited to performance, proficiency, and demonstration of competencies required for the role. The base pay is just one component of the total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include short-term or annual bonuses, long-term incentives, and on-the-spot recognition.

The annualized base pay range for this role is: $128,000 - $192,000.