Director, HNW Underwriting

Manulife Insurance Malaysia; Singapore; Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Director of HNW Underwriting to lead a high-performing team. This role involves managing complex underwriting projects, providing guidance to staff, and ensuring adherence to company standards. The ideal candidate will possess extensive underwriting experience, strong leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of insurance principles. Join a forward-thinking organization that values innovation and offers a supportive work environment, where you can thrive and make a significant impact on the business and its clients. If you're passionate about underwriting and want to drive excellence in a collaborative setting, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits

Flexible work policies

Professional development opportunities

Strong work-life balance

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of underwriting experience required.
• Expert knowledge of underwriting principles and practices essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage and lead a team focused on underwriting activities.
• Provide leadership in hiring and training underwriting professionals.
• Analyze medical and financial information for risk assessment.

Skills

Underwriting Expertise

Leadership Skills

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Project Management Skills

Customer Service Orientation

Organizational Skills

Education

Underwriting and Insurance Designations

Bachelor's Degree in a Relevant Field

Job description

Director, HNW Underwriting

Apply locations Singapore time type Full time posted on Posted Yesterday time left to apply End Date: June 30, 2025 (30+ days left to apply) job requisition id JR25040720

The opportunity

We are seeking a high performing individual to provide guidance and assist Underwriting Management with research and training of Underwriting Staff. Takes the lead role on the high scope and complexity Underwriting department projects.

Responsibilities:

• Manages a team focused on underwriting
• Provides leadership and direction in hiring, professional development and training of technical underwriting professionals
• Manage all aspects of potentially unlimited total line in close association with reinsurers.
• Select and classify risk according to company philosophy and standards.
• Participate in and provide a leadership resource for projects in the Underwriting Department.
• Be an information resource for underwriters at all levels.
• Combine appropriate attention to established standards of turnaround with higher level of service and professionalism.
• Analyze and interpret medical, non-medical, and financial information.
• Make decisions within approval limits.
• Ensure that complete and appropriate underwriting requirements are completed while at the same time practicing effective expense management.
• Management of reinsurance process to ensure maximum capacity while avoiding reinsurance “gridlock”.
• Management/control of diversification process as “lead” underwriter on very largest of cases.
• Manage referral/consultation process to ensure that timely and accurate decisions are provided.
• Manage mortality on preferred block of business, through flex guidelines to ensure pricing/mortality expectations are met.
• Ensure consistency and adherence to established departmental guidelines though referral process.
• Actively participate in the development, implementation and management of New Business initiatives.
• Actively participate in the ongoing training and professional development of underwriting team.
• Act as resource/mentor to other members of the underwriting team, particularly at the consultant level.
• Champion appeals and business decisions in concert with the Chief Underwriter.
• Maintain positive and effective relationships with internal and external partners.

What motivates you?

• You obsess about customers, listen, engage and act for their benefit.
• You think big, with curiosity to discover ways to use your agile approach and enable business outcomes.
• You thrive in teams and enjoy getting things done together.
• You take ownership and build solutions, focusing on what matters.
• You do what is right, work with integrity and speak up.
• You share your humanity, helping us build a diverse and inclusive work environment for everyone.

What we are looking for:

• Minimum 15 years underwriting experience
• Applicable underwriting and insurance designations preferred
• Expert knowledge and understanding of medical, non-medical and financial underwriting principles and practices
• In depth knowledge of unique estate, business and insurance planning tools and techniques
• In depth/current knowledge of political, economic, financial and legislative events which may impact client needs
• Expert knowledge of company’s insurance product portfolio and ability to marry that knowledge with an understanding of producer/client need
• Expert knowledge of reinsurance, market place treaties, agreements and available capacity
• Exceptional priority management with ability to work effectively under deadlines, balance published service times with an appropriate customer
• Strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Effective presentation skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong customer service orientation
• Knowledge of and ability to apply project management skills
• Expert knowledge of insurance contract law and state legislative requirements as they relate to the underwriting and issue of insurance contracts
• High level understanding of product pricing principals

What can we offer you?

• A competitive salary and benefits packages.
• A growth trajectory that extends upward and outward, encouraging you to follow your passions and learn new skills.
• A focus on growing your career path with us.
• Flexible work policies and strong work-life balance.
• Professional development and leadership opportunities.

Our commitment to you:

• Values-first culture: We lead with our Values every day and bring them to life together.
• Boundless opportunity: We create opportunities to learn and grow at every stage of your career.
• Continuous innovation: We invite you to help redefine the future of financial services.
• Delivering the promise of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: We foster an inclusive workplace where everyone thrives.
• Championing Corporate Citizenship: We build a business that benefits all stakeholders and has a positive social and environmental impact.

About Manulife and John Hancock:

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact [e-mail].

Working Arrangement: Hybrid

About Us

We're Manulife. And we’re on a mission to make decisions easier and lives better.

Better is what drives us. It’s what inspires us to find new ways to support customers and colleagues in living longer and healthier lives. It’s the reason we’re dedicated to investing in digital innovation and accelerating a sustainable and economically inclusive future.

Joining us means you’ll be empowered to learn and grow your career. We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words. And as part of our global team, you’ll help shape the future you want to see – and discover that better can take you anywhere you want to go.

We’re proud of our accomplishments and recognitions. Recent awards include:

2024 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Winner

Manulife Named one of Forbes World’s Best Employers 2023

Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2023

We’ve been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers (2024)

Manulife included in Bloomberg’s 2023 Gender-Equality Index

To receive our latest job opportunities directly to your inbox, create an account or sign in and navigate to the ‘Job Alerts’ section located in the top right corner of the page. From there, you can sign up to receive job alerts.

Our ambition is to be the most digital, customer-centric global company in our industry. Learn more at https://www.manulife.com/.