Vice President, Underwriting

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts•Boston, MA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, the Vice President of Underwriting will lead and oversee the underwriting function, ensuring strategic alignment with business goals and risk management objectives. The successful candidate will be a results-oriented leader who can effectively lead underwriting teams to strategically support and manage risk effectively, develop and maintain underwriting guidelines, policies and procedures, and establish pricing models and methodologies based on risk assessment and market conditions. The successful candidate, who will lead a 60-person team, will have proven experience in recruiting, managing, and mentoring highly effective, innovative and collaborative teams. The successful candidate will work closely and collaboratively with the Chief Financial Officer and key peer stakeholders across actuarial, treasury, finance, sales and legal departments to optimize risk selection and policy pricing strategies, while serving a wide range of internal clients including the Chief Executive Officer and other members of the executive team, business and functional unit leaders. This role requires a dynamic leader with proven expertise in underwriting strategy, team leadership and collaboration across organizational levels.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required (healthcare, business, mathematics or statistics preferred)
10+ years in underwriting experience, with significant leadership roles
Deep expertise in health insurance underwriting principles and practices – particularly in medical, pharma and stop loss (FI and ASC)
Strong analytical skills and proficiency in underwriting tools and data analysis
Proven success in leading high-performing teams in dynamic environments
Agile and nimble with an ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines
Healthcare experience is required
Ability to develop, manage and implement thoughtful underwriting strategies to achieve business goals, with a proven track record of providing strategic analysis and counsel to executive leaders in complex environments.
Demonstrated ability to execute effectively for high-impact and demonstrated outcomes.
Strong track record of leading, managing, and inspiring teams, including recruiting, developing, and retaining top talent.
Exceptional ability to influence and engage internal and external stakeholders.
Strong commitment to the Company’s mission and values
Strong attention to detail and ability to deliver high-quality results
“Player-coach” mindset, with the ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on support
Strong interpersonal skills to build healthy, collaborative, and trusting relationships across the Company.
Self-motivated problem-solver and a curious thinker
Strong executive presence with excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee the underwriting process for individual and group health plans
Review complex medical applications, analyzing medical history, and assessing risk factors to determine coverage eligibility and premium levels
Ensure adherence to all state and federal regulation requirements regarding health insurance underwriting
Conduct and monitor audits to maintain underwriting quality and accuracy
Monitor industry trends and adapt underwriting practices to evolving regulations
Identify and address potential compliance issues
Partner closely with actuarial teams to assess risk and establish competitive pricing
Collaborate with sales teams to provide underwriting support that address customer needs and support growth initiatives
Communicate underwriting decisions effectively to brokers and policyholders