Chief Underwriter; Life Insurance

Chief Underwriter (Life Insurance)

The Knights of Columbus is a tax‑exempt Catholic fraternal benefit society that provides financial security to members and their families through life insurance, long‑term care insurance, disability income insurance, investment and annuity products. Charity is at the core of our mission: our profits are donated to help those in need and to support our faith. We support the pro‑life cause, oppose assisted suicide and euthanasia, evangelize the Catholic faith, and help Christians facing religious persecution.

Our foundation supports two million members who volunteer worldwide.

Develop and execute life insurance underwriting strategy for Knights of Columbus’s operations. The Chief Underwriter leads the underwriting team, recommends and implements changes to modernize platforms and risk assessment guidelines, enhances profitable growth, and ensures risk assumptions are met. The role maintains strong relationships internally and externally with distribution partners, reinsurers, and vendors, implements controls to protect against fraud and anti‑selection, and oversees mortality and morbidity results.

• Provides strong leadership, development, vision, and strategic direction to the underwriting function.
• Develops and implements procedures, practices, and processes to achieve operational excellence, exceptional customer service and appropriate business risk, mortality, and morbidity objectives.
• Drives efforts to modernize and transform procedures, controls, and technology within underwriting to enhance sales growth, efficiency, and customer experience.
• Provides direction and guidance on industry trends, best practices, and Underwriting perspective on division‑wide initiatives.
• Responsible for developing highly skilled professionals and overall performance of Underwriting operations; collaborates with the Medical Director on training underwriters.
• Performs second signature reviews on complex cases and audits underwriter decisions as part of performance evaluations.
• Establishes underwriting strategy and ensures consistent processes and standards across all teams.
• Partners with reinsurers and product team to identify underwriting niches and growth opportunities.
• Proactively identifies and determines impact of upcoming regulatory requirements; participates in internal/outside audits and collaborates on anti‑fraud and litigation compliance.

• Expert understanding of all risk factors related to mortality risk management.
• Ability to balance distribution needs with mortality results and demonstrate strong risk‑management skills.
• Strong influence and persuasion skills to gain support across the organization.
• Strategic thinking and creation of innovative approaches for the underwriting department and organization.
• Decisive, analytical, and judgment‑driven decision making.
• Ability to prioritize, negotiate, and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills; builds motivated teams.
• Strong communication skills tailored to diverse audiences.
• Team development, KPI/goal setting, performance management.
• Builds trust and open communication; effectively leads team through change.

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 10–15 years of experience with advanced underwriting acumen in the insurance industry required.
• Holds FALU, FLMI, and/or CLU industry designation.

Salary range: $126,100–$220,500 (Connecticut only).

This position requires lawful authorization to work in the United States and is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Must be able to remain in a stationary position for the majority of the workday.

Director

Full‑time

Finance and Sales

Employee benefits include:

• 13 paid holidays per year plus vacation and paid sick leave, and flexible workweek schedules.

• Professional development: certifications, designation, tuition reimbursement.

• 401(k) with company match and a fully funded cash balance plan.

• Health and wellness: short‑term disability and term life insurance, up to 12 weeks of childbirth leave, one week of fully paid parental leave for all new parents, various health insurance options, long‑term disability, dental, vision, health club reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program.