Asst Dir Life Underwriting

northwesternmutual; Franklin (WI); On-site; USD 131,000 - 196,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Mutual is seeking a senior underwriting leader in Wisconsin to guide a team of professionals in risk assessment, policy terms, and performance initiatives. The role focuses on driving high-performance operations, stakeholder collaboration, and strategic planning to sustain client-focused outcomes.

The position emphasizes people leadership, process improvements, and cross-functional alignment with internal departments and field managers, ensuring consistent underwriting standards and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or advanced degree in business or related field.
• 5-8 years of progressively responsible management level experience emphasizing decision making, team building, communication, personnel development, analytical thinking and project management.
• Prior people leadership experience required with preferred experience of 3-5 years.
• Preferred prior Underwriter experience.
• Ability to lead in an active continuous and learning value stream that engages employees while delivering results with a voice of the client focus.
• Demonstrated ability to manage, develop and motivate a diverse staff in a continually changing environment.
• Proven ability to anticipate client needs and business issues while developing and implementing innovative solutions to achieve desired results.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to build rapport, negotiate and gain acceptance at all levels in the Home Office and Field.
• Preferred experience of 3 to 5 years of people leadership either in underwriting or another operational area.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership through managers of traditional underwriting professional teams that evaluate the risk and exposure to determine acceptable business.
• Accountable for determining premiums terms, and conditions based on established rules, rates and guidelines.
• Develop divisional plans, including business, production, operational and/ or organizational priorities.
• Control resources and policy formation in area of responsibility.
• Manage multiple relationships with other internal departments to facilitate processing of applications, as well as manage relationships with the field to ensure high client satisfaction.
• Serve as communication liaison/resource providing problem resolution with field management, financial representatives, company management, other companies and insurance departments regarding underwriting concerns and issues.
• Provide input to all aspects of these systems and process improvements including workflow, process changes, and systems development initiatives.
• Act as a liaison to other insurance operations departments when implementing initiatives.
• Help drive high performance across Underwriting Production; establishing metrics, reports, operation workflow changes, etc.
• Help integrate Underwriting transform efforts across operations, being a lead in change advocacy.

Skills

Leadership

Decision making

Communication

Project management

Analytical thinking

People development

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Job description

Summary

Accountable for leading a team of Underwriters and project leadership to drive high-performing teams and operations across Underwriting.

Responsibilities include performance management of team , driving performance management across Underwriting Production, and career development of Underwriters .

Ensure consistent application of risk appraisal standards to achieve Company mortality goals and ensure that customer service level agreements are met.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide leadership through managers of traditional underwriting professional teams that evaluate the risk and exposure to determine acceptable business.
• Accountable for determining premiums terms, and conditions based on established rules, rates and guidelines.
• Develop divisional plans, including business, production, operational and/ or organizational priorities.
• Control resources and policy formation in area of responsibility.
• Manage multiple relationships with other internal departments to facilitate processing of applications, as well as manage relationships with the field to ensure high client satisfaction.
• Serve as communication liaison/resource providing problem resolution with field management, financial representatives, company management, other companies and insurance departments regarding underwriting concerns and issues.
• Provide input to all aspects of these systems and process improvements including workflow, process changes, and systems development initiatives.
• Act as a liaison to other insurance operations departments when implementing initiatives.
• Help drive high performance across Underwriting Production; establishing metrics, reports, operation workflow changes, etc.
• Help integrate Underwriting transform efforts across operations, being a lead in change advocacy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or advanced degree in business or related field.
• 5-8 years of progressively responsible management level experience emphasizing decision making, team building, communication, personnel development, analytical thinking and project management.
• Prior people leadership experience required with preferred experience of 3-5 years.
• Preferred prior Underwriter experience.
• Ability to lead in an active continuous and learning value stream that engages employees while delivering results with a voice of the client focus.
• Demonstrated ability to manage, develop and motivate a diverse staff in a continually changing environment.
• Proven ability to anticipate client needs and business issues while developing and implementing innovative solutions to achieve desired results.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to build rapport, negotiate and gain acceptance at all levels in the Home Office and Field.
• Preferred experience of 3 to 5 years of people leadership either in underwriting or another operational area.

Compensation Range

Pay Range - Start:

$130,800.00

Pay Range - End:

$196,200.00

Geographic Specific Pay Structure

Structure 110: $143,920.00 USD - $215,880.00 USD

Structure 115: $150,400.00 USD - $225,600.00 USD

We believe in fairness and transparency. It's why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you're living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable,

Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our clients' interests at the center of all we do.

Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.