AVP, Deputy Chief Underwriter - Life – Remote

Symetra • ,

25d • $155,800 - $259,600 • Remote

About The Position

Symetra is seeking an AVP, Deputy Chief Underwriter to provide strategic leadership and expert underwriting consultation in support of Symetra's Individual Life Underwriting department. The AVP, Deputy Chief Underwriter serves as a trusted advisor to the Chief Underwriter and a key member of Symetra's Individual Life Underwriting Leadership Team. In this executive leadership role, you will help shape underwriting strategy, provide expert consultation on the organization's most complex and high-value cases, and drive excellence across underwriting quality, risk selection, and market competitiveness. You will help develop and execute Symetra's Large Case underwriting strategy and provide oversight for the High Net Worth Foreign National (HNWFN) underwriting program, partnering across Distribution, Product, Actuarial, Legal, Compliance, Claims, and Operations to support profitable growth. As a respected underwriting leader, you will mentor future leaders, strengthen underwriting capabilities, and help advance Symetra's Win Smart Underwriting philosophy.

Requirements

• 15+ years of progressive life insurance underwriting experience, including significant expertise in complex and large-face-amount case underwriting required.
• Proven leadership experience developing underwriting talent and leading high-performing teams required.
• Recognized expert in mortality assessment, financial underwriting, insurable interest evaluation, and complex risk selection required.
• Demonstrated success making or influencing high-impact underwriting decisions in a competitive marketplace.
• Deep expertise in Large Case underwriting, with experience supporting advanced market solutions.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance risk management, customer experience, and profitable growth.
• Exceptional relationship-building and influencing skills, with experience partnering effectively across business functions and leadership levels.
• Passion for mentoring others and creating an environment focused on development, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Bachelor's degree preferred. High school diploma required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading or supporting High Net Worth Foreign National (HNWFN) underwriting programs preferred.
• Professional designations such as FALU, CLU, and/or FLMI preferred.
• Experience leading underwriting quality, audit, governance, or risk review programs preferred.
• Track record of driving underwriting innovation, strategic initiatives, and organizational capability building preferred.

Responsibilities

• Partner with other underwriting leaders to provide strategic leadership for Individual Life Underwriting.
• Serve as a senior consultant on highly complex, high-face-amount, and escalated underwriting cases.
• Lead and evolve Symetra's Large Case underwriting strategy to support growth and market competitiveness.
• Contribute to oversight of the High Net Worth Foreign National (HNWFN) underwriting program, ensuring disciplined risk selection and underwriting consistency.
• Promote underwriting excellence through quality oversight, audit governance, coaching, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Partner with leaders across Distribution, Product, Actuarial, Medical, Claims, Legal, Compliance, and Innovation to address complex underwriting and business challenges.
• Drive consistent underwriting practices that balance mortality management, financial risk assessment, customer experience, and profitable growth.
• Develop and mentor underwriting leaders, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Represent the underwriting organization on strategic initiatives and key business decisions.

Benefits

• Flexible full-time or hybrid telecommuting arrangements
• 401(k) plan with immediate vesting and company matching up to 6%
• Paid time away including vacation and sick time, flex days and ten paid holidays
• Company matching for community contributions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED