AVP, Underwriting

Come join one of America’s fastest-growing insurance companies. Since 1848, National Life Group has aimed to keep our promises, providing families with stability in good times and in bad. Throughout that history, we have provided peace of mind to those families as they plan their futures.

Our mission extends beyond the insurance and annuities policies that we offer. We strive to make the world a better place through our grants from our charitable foundation, paid volunteer time for our employees, environmentally sustainable and healthy workplaces, and events that promote the work of nonprofits in our own backyard.

We foster a collaborative environment with opportunities for growth and encourage our associates to live our values:
Do good. Be good. Make good.

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.

Strategic Leadership and Vision:

• 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.

Industry Leadership and Presence:

• 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.

Field Engagement and Relationship Building:

• 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.

Team Development and Leadership:

• 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.

Innovation and Competitive Advantage:

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

Product Development and Enhancement:

• 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.

Standards, Compliance, and Quality Assurance:

• 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…