Job Description

Our client, a prominent insurance company is looking for a Head Underwriter - Life , to join their executive leadership team.

The Head Underwriter is responsible for leading the underwriting strategy, governance, and execution for the organization's life insurance portfolio. This role ensures the consistent application of underwriting principles, risk assessment, and policy issuance in alignment with corporate objectives, regulatory requirements, and profitability targets. The Head Underwriter will oversee a team of underwriters to ensure standards are followed and work closely with actuarial, product development, and distribution functions to support growth while maintaining sound risk selection. This role will report to the CRO or equivalent, focusing on profitability, reserve adequacy, and actuarial soundness in underwriting decisions.

RELOCATION PACKAGE TO THE MIAMI, FL AREA INCLUDED IN THE OFFER IF NECESSARY.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Strategic

• Define and implement underwriting strategy and risk appetite for the life division.
• Ensure underwriting practices align with business goals and regulatory standards.
• Provide technical expertise to executive leadership on underwriting trends, mortality experience, and market competitiveness.
• Partner with Product, Actuarial, and Distribution teams to design and launch competitive life insurance products.

Operational Oversight

• Lead and mentor a team of life underwriters and underwriting managers.
• Establish underwriting authorities, guidelines, and quality control processes.
• Review and approve high-value or complex life applications exceeding underwriter authority limits.
• Recommend and implement automation, digital tools, and data analytics to improve efficiency and decision accuracy.

Risk and Compliance Management

• Ensure compliance with local and international underwriting regulations, company policies, and anti-money laundering standards.
• Encourage strong governance, audit alignment, and risk control culture.
• Monitor portfolio performance, identifying emerging risks and recommending corrective actions.
• Maintain close coordination with reinsurance partners to ensure proper treaty utilization and adherence to guidelines.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Management

• Work with Claims, Finance, and Actuarial departments to assess experience studies and refine underwriting assumptions.
• Represent underwriting in internal committees and external industry forums.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Actuarial Science, or related field (Master’s preferred)18.

Experience

Minimum 7+ years of progressive life underwriting experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.

Technical Knowledge

Advanced knowledge of life underwriting principles, mortality risk assessment, and reinsurance practices.

Preferred Designations

Professional designations such as FALU, FLMI, CLU, or equivalent preferred.

Core Skills

Strong analytical, decision-making, and people management skills. Demonstrated ability to lead underwriting transformation and automation initiatives.

Languages

Fluent in English and Spanish required.

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