Senior Associate Underwriter

New York Life•New York, NY

2d•$90,000 - $128,700•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to a Managing Underwriter, the Senior Associate Underwriter is responsible for evaluating life insurance applications and determining whether applications should be approved, declined, or if additional information is required. This role is accountable for underwriting higher-complexity cases with a 2-Year Total Amount at Risk (TAAR) of up to $5 million and routinely handles applications that include Attending Physician Statements and multiple or complex impairments. The Senior Associate Underwriter applies advanced underwriting expertise, medical knowledge, and sound judgment to assess overall mortality risk and make informed decisions on complex cases. This role serves as a resource to less experienced underwriters, provides guidance on difficult case scenarios, and works closely with agents, General Office personnel, and internal partners to support timely, accurate underwriting decisions while delivering a strong customer experience. The position also plays a key role in underwriting projects, process improvements, and training initiatives, contributing to continuous improvement and modernization efforts.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
5+ years of life underwriting experience with demonstrated expertise in underwriting principles and mortality assessment, including complex case handling.
Strong knowledge of medical terminology and the ability to evaluate the impact of multiple and interacting impairments on mortality risk.
Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to assess complex risk profiles and make sound, independent underwriting decisions.
Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate decisions and influence stakeholders, including agents and internal partners.
Proven ability to manage a high-volume workload of complex cases while maintaining accuracy, consistency, and service standards.
Strong customer service orientation with the ability to manage relationships and deliver timely, professional support in more complex scenarios.

Nice To Haves

Significant experience underwriting complex cases involving Attending Physician Statements, multiple impairments, and higher face amounts.
Experience working with reinsurance partners and evaluating facultative offers on complex cases.
Demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, or provide guidance to less experienced underwriters.
Experience participating in or leading workflow improvement initiatives, training efforts, or cross-functional projects.
Ability to balance risk assessment, operational efficiency, and customer experience expectations in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
Strong working knowledge of underwriting models, rules engines, and automated decision tools, with the ability to interpret outputs, apply appropriate judgment, and ensure decisions align with underwriting guidelines and philosophy.
Familiarity with broader technology tools (e.g., Copilot, ChatGPT, and underwriting automation tools) that enhance efficiency, decision support, and workflow effectiveness.
Comfort operating in a more data- and AI-enabled underwriting environment, including supporting explainability and transparency of model-driven outputs to internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Evaluate life insurance applications and accurately classify mortality risk using medical and nonmedical information for cases with a 2-Year TAAR of up to $5 million, including cases involving Attending Physician Statements and complex medical histories.
Apply advanced underwriting guidelines, clinical knowledge, and professional judgment to assess complex and nuanced risk factors and determine appropriate underwriting outcomes, including standard and substandard offers, exclusions, or declines.
Independently manage a portfolio of higher-complexity cases, prioritizing workload to meet service and quality expectations.
Serve as a subject matter resource for peers by providing guidance on case consultation, interpretation of medical impairments, and application of underwriting guidelines.
Communicate underwriting requirements, application updates, reinsurance considerations, reconsideration requests, and final decisions to agents and General Office personnel through both written and verbal interactions with a high degree of professionalism and clarity.
Collaborate with reinsurers on complex cases and effectively evaluate and incorporate facultative offers into final underwriting decisions.
Maintain a strong understanding of underwriting systems, product rules, medical advances, and mortality trends to support accurate and consistent decision-making.
Contribute to training initiatives, mentorship of junior underwriters, workflow enhancements, best practice discussions, and cross-functional projects that improve underwriting processes, consistency, and customer experience.
Support adoption and effective use of underwriting models, rules engines, and emerging tools by applying judgment and ensuring alignment with guidelines and risk philosophy.