AVP, Underwriting & Strategic Pricing

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina; Durham (NC); Hybrid; USD 231,000 - 370,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Cross NC is seeking a strategic AVP, Underwriting & Strategic Pricing in Durham, NC to lead commercial underwriting and pricing initiatives. You will partner with Sales, Actuarial, Finance and Product to drive profitable growth, manage governance, and shape enterprise pricing strategies.

Ideal candidates bring a decade-plus of underwriting or related healthcare leadership, strong executive presence, and a track record of delivering growth and efficiency improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 10 years of health insurance underwriting experience OR 12+ years of related underwriting, pricing, or healthcare business experience in lieu of a degree.
• Progressive leadership experience within underwriting, strategic pricing, actuarial partnership, or commercial insurance operations.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including experience supporting growth, profitability, and forecasting initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and translate complex data into business decisions.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and executive presence.

Responsibilities

• Lead underwriting and strategic pricing efforts for the Commercial Employer market.
• Partner with executive leaders to develop strategies that balance growth, competitiveness, customer retention, and financial performance.
• Provide thought leadership and market insights that influence business decisions and enterprise outcomes.
• Oversee risk assessment, rate development, underwriting governance, and pricing methodologies.
• Analyze market trends, business performance, and profitability drivers to inform strategic recommendations.
• Drive forecasting, financial planning, and performance management in partnership with Finance and Actuarial teams.
• Lead modernization efforts through process improvement, automation, analytics, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Develop and empower a high-performing team while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Business Acumen

Business Analysis

Consultation

Data Analysis

Financial Analysis

Insurance

Process Improvements

Project Management

Risk Management

Strategic Planning

Underwriting

Vendor Evaluations

Education

Bachelor's degree + 10 years underwriting experience

12+ years underwriting/pricing experience in lieu of degree

Job description

Accountable for the underwriting of group prospects and renewals for both fully-insured and self-funded health & ancillary products. Ensures equitable and consistent application of underwriting principles and strategic pricing practices to drive profitable membership growth across all applicable segments. Key responsibilities include setting performance standards relating to accuracy, timeliness, productivity, and customer satisfaction. Oversees Underwriting systems and technology. Provides strategic leadership for Stop Loss and National business. Due to an internal promotion, Blue Cross NC is seeking a strategic and influential leader to serve as our next AVP, Underwriting & Strategic Pricing. This is a highly visible leadership role at the intersection of growth, risk management, affordability, and financial performance. As a key member of the leadership team, you will shape underwriting and pricing strategy for our Commercial Employer business, helping Blue Cross NC remain competitive in the market while delivering sustainable value for customers, members, and the communities we serve. This leader will partner across Sales, Actuarial, Finance, Product, Network Management, and Operations to drive profitable growth, inform enterprise strategy, and lead a high-performing underwriting organization.

What You'll Do

• Lead underwriting and strategic pricing efforts for the Commercial Employer market.
• Partner with executive leaders to develop strategies that balance growth, competitiveness, customer retention, and financial performance.
• Provide thought leadership and market insights that influence business decisions and enterprise outcomes.
• Oversee risk assessment, rate development, underwriting governance, and pricing methodologies.
• Analyze market trends, business performance, and profitability drivers to inform strategic recommendations.
• Drive forecasting, financial planning, and performance management in partnership with Finance and Actuarial teams.
• Lead modernization efforts through process improvement, automation, analytics, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Develop and empower a high-performing team while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree and 10 years of health insurance underwriting experience. OR 12+ years of related underwriting, pricing, or healthcare business experience in lieu of a degree.
• Progressive leadership experience within underwriting, strategic pricing, actuarial partnership, or commercial insurance operations.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including experience supporting growth, profitability, and forecasting initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and translate complex data into business decisions.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and executive presence.
• Bonus Points MBA or other advanced degree.
• Experience supporting Large Group and Commercial Employer markets.
• Experience leading complex pricing, underwriting, or business transformation initiatives.
• Six Sigma, Lean, or process improvement certification or experience.
• Strong understanding of healthcare financing, risk management, and employer-sponsored health plans.

Why Blue Cross NC?

This role offers a unique opportunity to shape strategy at one of the nation's leading Blue plans. You'll help define how we compete, grow, and serve our customers while leading a critical function that directly impacts business performance and long-term success. If you're a strategic underwriting leader who thrives at the intersection of analytics, business strategy, and people leadership, we'd love to hear from you.

Salary Range

Salary Range At Blue Cross NC, we take great pride in a fair and equitable compensation package that reflects market-price and our starting salaries are typically planned near the middle of the range listed. Compensation decisions are driven by factors including experience and training, specialized skill sets, licensure and certifications and other business and organizational needs. Our base salary is part of a robust Total Rewards package that includes an Annual Incentive Bonus*, 401(k) with employer match, Paid Time Off (PTO), and competitive health benefits and wellness programs. *Based on annual corporate goal achievement and individual performance. $231,295.00 - $370,073.00

Skills

• Business Acumen
• Business Analysis
• Consultation
• Data Analysis
• Financial Analysis
• Insurance
• Process Improvements
• Project Management
• Risk Management
• Strategic Planning
• Underwriting
• Vendor Evaluations

About Us

It's an exciting time to work at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC). Health care is changing, and we're leading the way. We offer more than health insurance our customers can count on. We're committed to better health and better health care in our communities and beyond. Our employees bring energy and creativity to the workplace, and it shows in our innovative approach to improving the health and well‑being of North Carolinians. Blue Cross NC is a fully taxed, not-for-profit company headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. We serve more than 4.3 million members, and we employ more than 5,000 people across the country who are passionate about making health care better for all. Help us lead the charge for better health care by joining our awardwinning team. Discover tremendous opportunities with us to do challenging and rewarding work. Opportunities that can lead you to a fulfilling career, work that can help others lead healthier, happier lives.

Authorization to Work in the United States

Authorization to Work in the United States We use E-verify to confirm authorization to work in the United States. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify Overview for English or Visión General de E-Verify for Español.

Request Accommodations

Request Accommodations Blue Cross NC provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please notify HR at [e-mail].

Hybrid Flex Availability

Blue Cross NC is a Hybrid Flex company. Whether the role is Hybrid Flex or Remote Flex depends on the nature of the work and distance from our Durham headquarters. We welcome candidates from outside the local area and in any of our approved states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.