AVP, Underwriting

Please note that we do not offer visa sponsorship for this position.

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Underwriting leader to be head of our dynamic and growing core markets team. This senior leadership role requires a data-driven, forward-thinking leader who can provide strategic oversight, drive innovation, and focus on the development of our team. The ideal candidate will balance top and bottom-line objectives, ensuring our underwriting practices are both competitive and compliant while fostering a culture of excellence and growth.

• Develop and articulate a clear, forward-looking underwriting strategy that aligns with our corporate goals.   Work across our department and enterprise to ensure that underwriting strategy deepens the value chain and competitive edge that we offer to our customers.
• Foster a solution-oriented mindset within the core market Underwriting department, promoting innovation and continuous process and workflow management improvement.

• Elevate National Life brand by actively participating in industry events, committees, advisory boards, and vendor meetings.  Establish our organization as a Center of Excellence in underwriting, setting industry standards and driving thought leadership.

• Collaborate with field and key distribution leaders to recruit and educate producers on our underwriting practices and target demographics.  Cultivate strong relationships with field leadership and producers, integrating their feedback into the underwriting process and directly addressing complex issues when necessary.

• Uses data insights and innovative tools to assess current staffing models and, based on projections, make recommendations on ways to support the growing business. 
• Lead a high-performing underwriting team, focusing on hiring, development, succession planning, and career growth.
• Provide mentorship and strategic guidance on managing a diverse portfolio of cases, including large and complex cases.
• Inspire and motivate the team to achieve our business growth plans, while effectively managing the underwriting budget.

• Champion innovative underwriting practices that enhance our competitive edge, focusing on improving quality, speed, and agent satisfaction.

• Influence product development by providing insights based on field feedback, competitive intelligence, and market analysis.
• Continuously refine risk selection criteria to maintain a competitive position in the market.

• Drive productivity and service standards to ensure National Life remains competitively differentiated, safeguarding profitability through high-quality risk selection.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant insurance regulations and laws, partnering with the legal team to address and resolve disputes.

• Bachelor’s degree required. A master’s degree and significant industry certifications (FALU, FLMI, and/or CLU) are strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in the life underwriting industry, marked by strong business relationships, skilled leadership, and proven business results.
• Recognized as an industry leader with a strong external reputation, capable of attracting and engaging new distribution groups to National Life Group.

• Extensive knowledge in complex case underwriting, and living benefits.
• Broad experience across affiliated, independent, and brokerage channels.
• Understanding of product development, illustrations, and pricing.
• Ability to work with advanced sales and specialty risks, including foreign national, executive bonus, large case, and premium finance niches.
• Experience with COLI, small group, and critical or chronic cases is a plus.
• Deposition experience is desirable.

Bachelor’s degree required. A master’s degree and significant industry certifications (FALU, FLMI, and/or CLU) are strongly preferred.

This position is presently onsite/hybrid with the expectation of being in the office four days per week with current campus days being Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (subject to change with advance notification and manager discretion).