Executive Director, Underwriting

Reinsurance Group of America•Chesterfield, MO

1d•$126,710 - $188,840•Remote

About The Position

This role leads and manages a team comprised primarily of underwriters. With critical thinking, appraises and oversees the underwriting of large, complex and challenging life and disability cases. Acts as client contact on regional or functional basis as needed, as well as liaison between Underwriting, Business Development, Pricing and Claims/Treaty/ Account Management Administration departments as needed. Recommends and participates in the development and implementation of process improvements that may extend beyond the area of oversight. Responsibilities may also include leading and managing underwriting initiatives including, but not limited to, SUP/SUP at Scale operational management, sales and process enablement, and business execution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) or equivalent related work experience (minimum 8 years)
10+ Years of reinsurance underwriting experience OR 15+ Years of direct and/or brokerage underwriting experience
5+ Years marketing experience
Intermediate Word, SQL/Query and Excel skills
Highly advanced ability to comprehend and interpret insurance and contract documents.
Highly advanced oral and written communication skills, demonstrating the ability to convey business terminology that is meaningful and well received by all stakeholders, including customers and associates.
Advanced knowledge of broad business practices
Highly advanced persuasion skills when working with external customers to resolve issues/problems.
Highly advanced skills in implementing change, ensuring understanding, participation and ownership.
Highly advanced investigative, analytical and problem solving skills utilizing experience, research, guidelines and internal resources.
Highly advanced skills in managing multiple tasks, projects and/or sub-teams simultaneously, including the ability to handle changing priorities and ability to delegate key areas of responsibility.
Highly advanced skills in translating business needs and problems into viable and accepted solutions.
Demonstrates an ability to lead, mentor and develop associates
Expert ability to analyze and improve business processes
Highly advanced knowledge of insurance principles, underwriting policies and procedures and guidelines for dealing with risk analysis.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) Math, Finance or Business is preferred
ACS, ALU, FLMI, FALU, or CLU accreditation or progress towards accreditation is preferred.
11+ years reinsurance underwriting experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Appraises and underwrites risks for group life and disability insurance with approval authority ranging from $10,000,000 to $20,000,000. Assists other underwriters with caseload. Ensures underwriting quotes are sound, competitive and profitable to RGA Re. Makes exceptions within approval authority and RGA philosophy and practice, balancing attention to client relationships and profitable business.
Leads, manages, and develops a team of underwriters and value added service consultants. Ensures compliance with RGA Re philosophy, procedures and guidelines, and provides evaluation of underwriting and service quality and consistency.
Serves as lead client contact for a business development region as the underwriting subject matter expert – collaborating with Business Development, Pricing, Claims, Treaty/Account Management Administration and other departments as needed for all client requests related to pricing or changes to requirements/processes/procedures. Provides evaluations of client requests and ensures compliance with RGA Re underwriting philosophy, procedures and guidelines. Requires collaboration within the USIM team, actuaries, account management team, and others as needed.
Develops and manages client relationships by: providing underwriting solutions through partnering with them to identify unique, creative ways to solve their problems and improve their business results; effectively communicating, negotiating and selling underwriting decisions; developing, communicating, and developing programs for tracking client exceptions, special programs, and trends in risk selection.
Leads and manages work area activities including, but not limited to, team/department workflow; establishing and monitoring production and quality goals; periodic auditing of team’s underwriting to ensure adherence to RGA Re guidelines; co-signing underwriting risks over underwriter’s approval authority; and ensuring timeliness and quality of communication to senior RGA Re management and clients.
Performs data analysis for clients, senior management, sales/marketing and actuarial departments by summarizing data resulting in meaningful reports, comparison grids, scorecards, and result reports.
Performs management duties including, but not limited to, hiring, training, evaluating, coaching, and disciplining direct reports. Fosters a positive and engaged work environment. Mentors associates and gives guidance on associate development.
Leads and manages ongoing team/department special projects and organizes or participates in committee meetings as subject matter expert, leader, or team member; client audits and client presentations as required. Travels as required to regional or specialty meetings to represent RGA Re, to clients and prospective clients to write or renew business.
Contributes actively to and supports the leadership team in developing plans, coordinating activities and in assuring all departments are aware of key activities the department. Ensures work area goals contribute to accomplishing departmental and RGA Re objectives.