Executive Director, Underwriting

You desire impactful work.
 

You’re RGA ready

RGA is a purpose-driven organization working to solve today’s challenges through innovation and collaboration. A Fortune 200 Company and listed among its World’s Most Admired Companies, we’re the only global reinsurance company to focus primarily on life- and health-related solutions. Join our multinational team of intelligent, motivated, and collaborative people, and help us make financial protection accessible to all.

Position Overview

Under the direction of the VP, Underwriting and Chief UW, this role leads and manages a team comprised primarily of underwriters.  With critical thinking, appraises and oversees the underwriting of large, complex and challenging individual life insurance 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.

Responsibilities

• Appraises and underwrites risks for individual life 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.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) or equivalent related work experience (minimum 8 years)
• Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) Math, Finance or Business is preferred
• 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.
• ACS, ALU, FLMI, FALU, or CLU accreditation or progress towards accreditation is preferred.
• 11+ years reinsurance underwriting experience is preferred.

#LI-SP2 #LI-REMOTE

What you can expect from RGA:

• Gain valuable knowledge from and experience with diverse, caring colleagues around the world.

• Enjoy a respectful, welcoming environment that fosters individuality and encourages pioneering thought.

• Join the bright and creative minds of RGA, and experience vast, endless career potential.

We’re excited to get to know you and connect your unique skills with our global opportunities. To create a modern and seamless experience, we use artificial intelligence (AI) in parts of our preliminary screening process. This technology helps us personalize job recommendations, automate interview scheduling, evaluate candidates based solely on experience—without considering name, gender, or other personal details—and provide real-time answers through our chatbot. AI is used only during early screening and never makes hiring decisions. Your RGA recruiter will work closely with you every step of the way to ensure the process feels personal, thoughtful, and focused on you.

Compensation Range:

Base pay varies depending on job-related knowledge, skills, experience and market location. In addition, RGA provides an annual bonus plan that includes all roles and some positions are eligible for participation in our long-term equity incentive plan. RGA also maintains a full range of health, retirement, and other employee benefits.

RGA is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, gender identity or expression, sex, disability, veteran status, religion, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.