Consultant II, Underwriting Life

Nationwide Insurance; Grandview Heights (OH); Remote; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance provider is seeking a Life Underwriting Consultant to analyze and classify life insurance applications, coordinate underwriting practices, and educate internal partners. The role requires at least ten years of experience in life underwriting and significant decision-making skills. This position allows for remote work and offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and a pension plan.

Benefits

Medical/dental/vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Pension plan

Paid time off

Holidays

Qualifications

• Ten years life underwriting experience.
• AALU designation; pursuit or attainment of CLU and FLMI; EKG certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Analyze, select, and classify applications for life insurance.
• Coordinate life selection standards according to underwriting practices.
• Consult with other underwriters on the team.
• Educate internal and external partners on underwriting process.

Skills

Medical underwriting expertise

Financial underwriting expertise

Negotiation skills

Leadership skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Undergraduate studies in medical related discipline, marketing, insurance, risk management, economics, finance or business management

Job description

Job Description Summary

Our underwriters work hard to provide the exceptional customer experience for which Nationwide is known. Actively engaging with our firms and financial professionals to get to know their clients and their needs builds our understanding of the market, what is needed to win business and put our best offer out first.

If you thrive working autonomously, making decisions on a variety of impactful issues and continuing to learn and adapt to grow, we want to know more about you!

Overview

As a Life Underwriting Consultant, you’ll analyze, select and classify applications for life insurance, of considerable technical complexity and exposure, to ensure underwriting quality according to established underwriting policies, practices and standards. You’ll review and make decisions on larger, more sophisticated, or unusual business. You will coordinate life selection standards according to underwriting practices and procedures to achieve satisfactory mortality experience and acceptable administrative results. You’ll have opportunities to provide leadership on projects, departmental committees and on the team by identifying problems and potential solutions and be serving as a referral point for less experienced underwriters. You’ll work with latitude for independent judgment based on your underwriting authority and company underwriting standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Receives, evaluates and underwrites, on a medical or non-medical basis more complex applications for life insurance up to their maximum handling limit as approved by the Chief Underwriter. Protects the confidentiality of documentation and information acquired throughout the underwriting process. Works within broad limits and authority on highly sophisticated assignments requiring niche knowledge in area of expertise.

• Maintains in-depth knowledge of manuals, underwriting materials, rules, regulations, procedures medical factors and practices impacting mortality and morbidity underwriting. Maintains solid understanding of all underwriting administrative systems to conduct business and provides outstanding service to all internal and external customers and field partners.

• Evaluates and assesses applications requiring additional evidence of insurability. Determines the need for and authorizes the ordering of underwriting requirements including medical examinations, blood profiles, home office specimens, attending physician reports, inspection reports, client direct interviews, and other essential information.

• Develops a strong understanding of the accelerated underwriting process and applies risk-based decision-making to determine appropriate requirements and risk class. This may include making fluid-less underwriting decisions and utilizing alternative sources of medical information while maintaining appropriate tolerance for accepting risk.

• Evaluates, appraises and quantifies data from personal or business financial information and establishes insurable interest in keeping with indemnification. Handles complex financial underwriting applications and often assists others through referrals and training on financial underwriting.

• Reaches terms on, coordinates, and negotiates both automatic and facultative reinsurance within the contractual terms and conditions of Nationwide's reinsurance treaties and product and market practices.

• Consults with other underwriters on the team and accepts referred cases when designated. Suggests innovative solutions, motivates team performance and facilitates open communication to achieve results. Supervises the handling of unusual or challenging cases.

• Educates internal and external partners on underwriting process, practice and tools. Helps train less experienced underwriting staff. Coordinates, participates and leads training development and delivery for issues or initiatives requiring technical expertise.

• Works on special projects as assigned, with little to no direction and develops project plans, requirements, timelines, etc.

• Meets and presents with field partners as needed and acquires input to build a better understanding of partner needs and expectations.

• Interprets electrocardiogram tracings as evidence for life insurance applications. Consults with Medical Director for cases requiring physician input.

• Determines eligibility for temporary insurance and authorizes disbursement of policy refunds if the temporary insurance eligibility is not met. Issues reimbursements and fees for required medical records or other evidence requests.

• Consults with Chief Underwriter, Staff Underwriting, Senior Underwriting Consultants, and the Medical Director as needed.

• Supports and assists in meeting goals and objectives for varying territories, special agent programs and contests.

• Resolves challenges with effective solutions while focusing on improving time to service, quality of submissions and underwriting quality.

• Handling up to $10,000,000 for life, up to $1,000,000 sign-off for morbidity underwriting, and sign-off authority for exceptions on Intelligent Underwriting.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships

Reports to Underwriting Manager or Director.

Typical Skills and Experiences

• Education: Undergraduate studies in medical related discipline, marketing, insurance, risk management, economics, finance or business management.

• License/Certification/Designation: AALU designation; pursuit or attainment of CLU and FLMI; EKG certification preferred.

• Experience: Ten years life underwriting experience.

• Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Medical and financial underwriting expertise, strong negotiation, leadership, mentoring, and analytical skills; ability to make high-complexity decisions with minimal direction; excellent communication and collaboration abilities.

Values and Job Conditions

Values: Regularly demonstrates Nationwide values and an inclusive culture. The role may require non-standard hours and travel. Working conditions include a normal office environment with remote work options where applicable. Overtime eligibility is exempt.

Note: This position could be filled within the lower 48 states. We anticipate accepting applications until 10/17/2025; however, submissions are encouraged earlier if a strong candidate slate is identified.

Benefits: Nationwide offers medical/dental/vision, life insurance, disability coverage, paid time off, holidays, 401(k) with company match, pension plan, and more. This description is not a guarantee of employment or benefits and is subject to change.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to an inclusive culture with equal employment opportunities for all applicants and associates.