Underwriting Automation Lead

Partners Life Limited; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive training and ongoing;

Discretionary bonus after 12 months

Life insurance and income protection

Birthday leave

Long service leave

Parental leave salary top-up andflexi‑

Modern Takapuna office

Job summary

Partners Life Limited is seeking an experienced Underwriting Automation Lead to join our Service Enablement team in Operations. You will drive automation, design smarter digital journeys and rules-based decision pathways across key systems, translating operational insights into practical solutions that improve straight-through processing.

Working across Operations, Technology and Service Design, you’ll deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, controls and customer outcomes, while

Qualifications

• Experience in underwriting, claims, insurance operations or digital design within insurance.
• Ability to translate complex requirements into clear business solutions and system specs.
• Experience with rules engines, workflow design and operational process improvement.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Identify and shape opportunities to improve outcomes and efficiency through tech-enabled solutions.
• Design digital journeys, workflows, rules and decision pathways for underwriting.
• Collaborate with Underwriting, Claims, Customer Solutions, Operations and Technology teams.
• Support design, testing, implementation and optimization of new digital capabilities.
• Drive initiatives to increase STP/STA, automation and service consistency.
• Monitor performance and use insights for continuous improvement.

Skills

Underwriting knowledge

Process improvement

Digital solutions

Stakeholder management

Tools

Rules engines

Workflow automation

BPM platforms

Job description

• Develop the future of insurance operations through automation and digital innovation
• Use your underwriting expertise to design smarter customer journeys and rules-engine decision pathways

Partners Life is one of New Zealand's largest life and health insurance companies. As part of the Daiichi Life Group, a leading global insurance provider, we are writing our next chapter of growth and opportunity.

We're committed to challenging traditional ways of working, improving customer outcomes, and creating innovative solutions that make insurance easier, faster and more accessible for New Zealanders.

To help us achieve this, we're looking for an experienced Underwriting Automation Lead to join our Service Enablement team within Operations.

About the opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with a strong background in underwriting, insurance operations, business rules, or digital process design who wants to influence how insurance is delivered in the future.

Working at the intersection of Operations, Technology and Service Design, you'll identify opportunities to improve customer and adviser experiences by designing smarter digital journeys, decision pathways, workflows and automation solutions within key systems including rules engines.

You'll translate operational knowledge, customer needs and business strategy into practical digital solutions that improve straight-through processing, reduce manual effort, strengthen controls and create better outcomes for customers.

Whether you're an experienced Underwriter looking to move into a broader transformation role, or you've already worked across operational design, digital solutions or automation initiatives, this role offers the chance to make a meaningful impact on how we work.

What you'll be doing

As our Underwriting Automation Lead, you will:

• Identify and shape opportunities to improve customer outcomes, operational performance and efficiency through technology-enabled solutions.
• Design and continuously improve digital journeys, workflows, business rules, question sets, decision pathways, referrals and exception handling processes.
• Partner closely with Underwriting, Claims, Customer Solutions, Operations and Technology teams to translate business requirements into effective operational solutions.
• Support the design, testing, implementation and optimisation of new digital capabilities and workflow enhancements.
• Drive initiatives that increase straight-through processing (STP), straight-through acceptance (STA), automation and service consistency.
• Monitor solution performance and use operational insights to identify opportunities for ongoing improvement.
• Contribute to business acceptance testing, implementation readiness and successful adoption of new solutions.
• Ensure solutions incorporate appropriate controls, compliance obligations, auditability and risk management requirements.

About you

We're looking for someone who combines strong insurance knowledge with a passion for solving problems and improving customer outcomes.

You’ll likely bring:

• Experience in underwriting, claims, insurance operations, business analysis, process improvement or digital solution design within insurance or financial services.
• Strong understanding of underwriting decision-making, referral frameworks, business rules, risk assessment and customer journeys.
• Experience designing or improving workflows, automation solutions, digital forms, rules engines or operational processes.
• Ability to translate complex operational requirements into clear business solutions and functional requirements.
• Experience working with operational, technology and delivery teams through solution design, testing and implementation.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, facilitation and relationship-building skills.
• A curious and analytical mindset with a passion for continuous improvement.
• Understanding of operational risk, compliance and governance requirements within regulated environments.

You’ll stand out if you have:

• Life insurance underwriting experience.
• Experience working with underwriting or claims rules engines.
• Exposure to workflow automation, BPM platforms or digital transformation initiatives.
• Experience improving STP, automation and operational efficiency outcomes.

What we offer

At Partners Life, we believe our people are our greatest asset and are proud to invest in their growth, wellbeing and success. As part of our team, you’ll have access to a range of benefits, with eligibility varying by benefit and employment type:

• Comprehensive training and ongoing support
• Genuine learning and development opportunities
• Participation in our discretionary bonus scheme after 12 months’ service (permanent employees only)
• Life insurance and income protection cover at our cost, plus discounted medical insurance (permanent employees only)
• Birthday leave (where eligible)
• Long service leave (permanent employees only)
• Parental leave salary top-up, reduced hours options and secondary parental leave (permanent employees only)
• A modern office with stunning views in the heart of Takapuna