AVP, Deputy Chief Underwriter

Summary

The AVP, Deputy Chief Underwriter provides strategic leadership and expert underwriting consultation in support of Symetra's Individual Life Underwriting department. Reporting to the Chief Underwriter, this role is charged with advancing underwriting excellence through leadership of Symetra's Large Case underwriting strategy and the underwriting activities supporting the High Net Worth Foreign National (HNWFN) program, oversight of underwriting quality, and consultation on the department's most complex underwriting decisions. This role serves as a senior underwriting leader and trusted advisor to the Chief Underwriter, supporting departmental strategic priorities, promoting consistent underwriting judgment, and strengthening Symetra's competitive position through exceptional underwriting expertise and market leadership. When delegated by the Chief Underwriter, this role provides leadership and representation for complex underwriting matters, strategic initiatives, and cross-functional partnerships. As a member of the Life Underwriting Leadership Team, this role collaborates with Underwriting leaders across the organization to strengthen underwriting capability, support profitable growth, and reinforce Symetra's Win Smart Underwriting philosophy. The Deputy Chief will have extensive leadership experience with demonstrated expertise in complex risk assessment, Large Case and HNWFN underwriting, underwriting quality, coaching, and strategic underwriting initiatives.

Responsibilities

✔ Underwriting Expertise & Risk Leadership: • Provide expert consultation on highly complex, high-face-amount, and escalated underwriting cases. • Support complex case decisions and co-signs within established authority and in partnership with the Chief Underwriter. • Promote consistent application of underwriting judgment across Individual Life Underwriting. • Provide guidance and consultation to Underwriting Managers, Senior Underwriters, and other Underwriting leaders on complex risk assessments. • Apply deep knowledge of mortality, financial underwriting, insurable interest, and emerging risks to complex underwriting decisions. • Serve as a senior resource for difficult or unusual underwriting situations and help develop solutions that balance competitiveness, mortality, and partner needs.
30%

✔ Large Case, High Net Worth Foreign National (HNWFN), & Advanced Markets Underwriting Leadership: • Lead the development and execution of Symetra's Large Case and Advanced Markets underwriting strategy in partnership with the Chief Underwriter. • Provide leadership and oversight for the Large Case & HNWFN team(s). • Provide underwriting oversight of Symetra's High Net Worth Foreign National (HNWFN) program, partnering with the program leader and Senior Underwriting Manager to ensure consistent application of specialized underwriting guidelines, risk selection practices, and partner support. • Partner with Distribution and other business leaders to identify and pursue opportunities in the Large Case and HNWFN markets. • Strengthen Symetra's competitive position in advanced markets through thoughtful, solution-oriented underwriting. • Support profitable growth while maintaining disciplined mortality management and sound financial underwriting practices.
30%

✔ Underwriting Excellence & Quality: • Provide leadership and direction to the Underwriting Auditor(s). • Monitor underwriting quality trends and identify opportunities to improve consistency, judgment, and risk assessment. • In partnership with the Underwriting Auditor, use audit and quality findings to identify opportunities for coaching, training, and process improvement. • Provide underwriting leadership for contestable claim reviews, partnering with the Claims team to evaluate underwriting decisions, identify lessons learned, and strengthen future underwriting practices. • Partner with Underwriting Training & Development and Underwriting Production leadership to address knowledge gaps and strengthen underwriting capability. • Promote continuous improvement and application of the Win Smart Underwriting philosophy across the department.
20%

✔ Strategic Partnership & Leadership: • Serve as a member of the Individual Life Underwriting Leadership Team. • Support execution of departmental strategic priorities in partnership with the Chief Underwriter. • Provide senior underwriting consultation on strategic initiatives, business opportunities, and cross-functional projects. • Partner with Underwriting Production, Digital Underwriting & Innovation, Medical, Vendor Management, Training & Development, Product, Actuarial, Distribution, Legal, and Compliance as appropriate. • Mentor and develop current and future Underwriting leaders while serving as a resource for technical and strategic underwriting questions. • Reinforce a culture of collaboration, sound judgment, continuous learning, and disciplined boldness consistent with Symetra's Win Smart philosophy.
20%

Skills

✔ Underwriting & Risk Assessment
5 - Expert

✔ Mortality & Financial Underwriting
5 - Expert

✔ Large Case Underwriting
5 - Expert

✔ HNWFN & Advanced Markets Underwriting
4 - Advanced

✔ Complex Case Consultation & Decision Making
5 - Expert

✔ Underwriting Quality & Audit
5 - Expert

✔ Strategic Leadership
5 - Expert

✔ Coaching & Mentoring
5 - Expert

✔ Collaboration & Relationship Management
5 - Expert

✔ Regulatory Compliance
4 - Advanced

Specialty Education Required

College degree or equivalent work experience.

Designations and/or Certifications Required

Preferred: FALU, CLU, FLMI

Licensing Required

 

Typical Years of Experience

15-20 years of cumulative, relevant experience

Impact

Viewed as an emerging Executive by both management and peers. Focus is on operations during the current year, but may participate in establishing multiyear (1-3) strategies and business plans. Small to moderate impact to the business results of the company. Small to moderate decision-making authority pertaining to agreements. Has visibility with Executive management. Able to take complex information and synthesize for Executive management use. Gets others to follow their lead and work with them successfully. Consistently requested to be at the table for critical business decisions.

Job Complexity

Able to articulate potential risks and related mitigation strategies for business plans to staff and senior leaders. Understands the drivers of our business and how metrics link to strategic direction. Adapts and executes functional or departmental business plans and contributes to the development of departmental or business unit strategies. Responsible for the overall operations of the department.

Skills And Knowledge

Fully proficient work and management experience in multiple business functions. Has technical knowledge from past experiences and developing knowledge of operations outside of business unit or functional area. Sets strategies and understands industry trends.

Reporting Structure

Provides leadership and direction through director(s), senior managers, and managers. May report to VP, SVP or EVP in select circumstances.

Leadership

Is a change agent. Defines and/or leads action planning for business initiative activities. Regularly assesses talent; provides active management coaching to managers and develops team with succession planning in mind. Mentors others. Able to effectively collaborate cross-functionally.

Contact with Others

Internal various ILD and cross-functional/divisional key stakeholders at all levels including Sr. leadership. External: Partners, Vendors and industry conference key stakeholders

We empower inclusion
At Symetra, we aspire to be the most inclusive insurance company in the country. We're building a place where every employee feels valued, respected, and has opportunities to contribute.

Inclusion is about recognizing our assumptions, considering multiple perspective, and removing barriers. We accept and celebrate diverse experiences, identities, and perspectives, because lifting each other up fuels thought and builds a stronger, more innovative company. We invite you to learn more about our efforts here.

 

Creating a world where more people have access to financial freedom
Symetra is a national financial services company dedicated to helping people achieve their financial goals and feel confident about the future. In our daily work, we're guided by the principles of Value, Transparency and Sustainability. This means we provide products and services people need at a competitive price, we communicate clearly and openly so people understand what they're buying, and we design products--and operate our company--to stand the test of time. We're committed to showing up for our communities, lifting up our employees, and standing up for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Join our team and help us create a world where more people have access to financial freedom.

For more information about our careers visit: https://symetra.eightfold.ai/careers

 

Work Authorization
Employer work visa sponsorship and support are not provided for this role. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at hire and must maintain authorization to work in the United States throughout their employment with our company.

 

Please review Symetra's Remote Network Minimum Requirements:

As a remote-first organization committed to providing a positive experience for both employees and customers, Symetra has the following standards for employees' internet connection:

• Minimum Internet Speed:100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, in alignment with the FCC's definition of "broadband."
• Internet Type:Fiber, Cable (e.g., Comcast, Spectrum), or DSL.
• Not Permissible:Satellite (e.g., Starlink), cellular broadband (hotspot or otherwise), any other wireless technology, or wired dial-up.

When applying to jobs at Symetra you'll be asked to test your internet speed and confirm that your internet connection meets or exceeds Symetra's standard as outlined above.

 

Identity Verification

Symetra is committed to fair and secure hiring practices. For all roles, candidates will be required (after the initial phone screen) to be on video for all interviews. Symetra will take affirmative steps at key points in the process to verify that a candidate is not seeking employment fraudulently, e.g. through use of a false identity.

 

Failure to comply with verification procedures may result in:

• Disqualification from the recruitment process
• Withdrawal of a job offer
• Termination of employment and other criminal and/or civil remedies, if fraud is discovered