Manager, Life Underwriting

$84,320 - $138,523/Yr

Guardian Life - Lansing, MI

Full-time - Manager

Hybrid - Lansing, MI

Insurance Carriers and Related Activities

About the position

The Manager, Life Underwriting at Guardian is responsible for supervising a traditional underwriting team, evaluating risk on insurance applications, and ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction. This role involves coaching and developing underwriters, managing workflow, and making critical decisions on large individual life cases. The position emphasizes building relationships with internal and external stakeholders and participating in industry initiatives to enhance underwriting practices.

Responsibilities

• Supervise the evaluation of risk on insurance applications processed by the underwriting team.
• Mentor, coach, and develop underwriting staff, facilitating knowledge transfer among team members.
• Manage production and workflow activities in collaboration with Underwriting and Administrative Support areas.
• Provide service and support to internal and external customers, building rapport with field partners and business associates.
• Serve as the Underwriting representative on departmental and corporate projects and initiatives.
• Evaluate applications for individual life insurance and render decisions on issuance or declination.
• Lead the underwriting unit by establishing performance goals and methods of self-improvement.
• Analyze workload and anticipate future business and staffing needs.
• Identify opportunities for team practice improvements and provide feedback to management.
• Negotiate appeals using professional judgment and industry knowledge.
• Evaluate medical, financial, and non-medical information to determine risk classification.
• Consult with Medical Director and senior underwriting staff on complex cases.
• Work with reinsurance outlets to negotiate risk classification for business exceeding mortality standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent working experience in underwriting.
• Ten years plus of Individual Life Underwriting experience.
• Two years plus of Underwriting Life Consultant experience.
• Extensive knowledge of individual life insurance products and processes.
• Working medical knowledge including Medical Terminology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Medical Conditions.
• Strong interpersonal skills for effective communication with internal and external contacts.
• Exceptional analytical and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Prior management or supervisory experience is strongly preferred.

Nice-to-haves

• Industry-related education (i.e., LOMA, ALU, CLU) is desired.
• Computer proficiency is required.

Benefits

• 401(k) retirement plan with company match and profit-sharing contributions.
• Flexible work arrangements (part in-person/part remote).
• Unlimited paid time off for most roles, plus time off for volunteering, jury duty, voting, and bereavement.
• Choice of medical plans with prescription drugs, including coverage for fertility and transgender-inclusive benefits.
• Dental and vision plans.
• Health care accounts - flexible spending, health reimbursement, and health savings accounts.
• Company-paid life and disability insurance plus voluntary supplemental coverage.
• Accident insurance.