Senior Associate Underwriter

New York Life•New York, NY

7d•$73,000 - $124,900•Remote

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 cases with a 2-Year Total Amount at Risk (TAAR) of $2.5 million or less and primarily handles applications that include Attending Physician Statements. The Senior Associate Underwriter applies underwriting guidelines, medical knowledge, and sound judgment to assess overall mortality risk and make informed recommendations on complex cases. This role works closely with agents, General Office personnel, and internal partners to support timely, accurate underwriting decisions while delivering strong customer experience. The position also contributes to underwriting projects, process improvements, and ongoing training initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
3+ years of life underwriting experience with demonstrated knowledge of underwriting principles and mortality assessment.
Working knowledge of medical terminology and the ability to evaluate the impact of medical impairments on mortality risk.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to assess complex risk profiles and make sound underwriting recommendations.
Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with agents, General Office personnel, and internal stakeholders.
Strong customer service orientation with the ability to manage relationships and provide timely, professional support.

Nice To Haves

Experience underwriting cases involving Attending Physician Statements and higher complexity medical impairments.
Familiarity with reinsurance processes, underwriting systems, and insurance product rules.
Experience participating in workflow improvement initiatives, training efforts, or cross-functional projects.
Ability to balance accuracy, risk assessment, and service expectations in a fast-paced environment.
Working knowledge of underwriting models, rules engines, and automated decision tools with the ability to interpret model outputs, apply appropriate judgement, and ensure decisions align with underwriting guidelines.
Familiarity with broader technology tools e.g. CoPilot, ChatGPT, and underwriting automation tools, that enhance efficiency, decision support, and workflow effectiveness.

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 $2.5 million, including cases involving Attending Physician Statements.
Apply underwriting guidelines, medical knowledge, and professional judgment to assess complex risk factors and determine appropriate underwriting outcomes, including approvals, substandard ratings, or declines.
Communicate underwriting requirements, application updates, reinsurance offers, reconsideration requests, and final decisions to agents and General Office personnel through both written and verbal interactions.
Maintain a strong understanding of underwriting systems, product rules, medical terminology, and mortality factors to support accurate and efficient decision-making.
Participate in training initiatives, workflow enhancements, best practice discussions, and cross-functional projects that improve underwriting processes and customer experience.