Director, Group Underwriting

Prudential Annuities Distributors (PAD); Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 136,000 - 204,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with match

Pension plan

Wellness programs

Education benefits

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

Prudential Annuities Distributors (PAD) is seeking a Director of Group Underwriting in the Newark, NJ area. You will lead a regional underwriting team focused on Premier and National Accounts, driving profitability, retention, and risk management across a diverse client portfolio.

The role requires a strategic leader with deep underwriting expertise, strong stakeholder collaboration, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of Group Insurance underwriting experience with leadership responsibility.
• Proven ability to manage complex portfolios with profitability and growth.
• Strong understanding of underwriting principles, pricing, and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing underwriting team with a culture of accountability and continuous learning.
• Own underwriting results for a portfolio including profitability, retention, and risk management.
• Shape segment and enterprise-wide strategies; influence pricing and market approach.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Communication & influence

Tools

Excel

Job description

Job Classification: Operations - Insurance Operations At Prudential, we're committed to helping people achieve financial wellness and peace of mind. Our Group Insurance business delivers life, disability, absence, and supplemental health solutions that help employers support their workforce and employees protect what matters most. For more than a century, Prudential has been a trusted provider of employee benefits solutions. Today, our Group Insurance organization partners with employers across the United States, combining deep industry expertise, data-driven insights, and innovative risk management strategies to help clients attract, retain, and support their employees. Our underwriting teams play a critical role in driving profitable growth, delivering exceptional customer experiences, and helping businesses navigate an evolving benefits landscape. Prudential is seeking an experienced and strategic underwriting leader to join our Group Insurance organization as a Director, Group Underwriting. In this role, you will lead a regional team responsible for underwriting and risk management across our Premier and National Accounts segments. The Director will oversee a portfolio of complex group insurance business while driving profitable growth, retention, and risk management outcomes. This leader will partner closely with Distribution, Actuarial, Claims, Product, and other business stakeholders to develop market strategies, optimize underwriting performance, and ensure consistent execution across a diverse portfolio of clients. Success in this role requires a combination of strong technical underwriting expertise, strategic business leadership, talent development capabilities, and the ability to influence decisions across a dynamic and evolving marketplace.

What you'll do:

• Leadership & Talent Development Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of underwriting professionals. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. Drive talent management strategies, including recruitment, succession planning, employee development, and performance management. Serve as a visible leader and change champion, helping teams navigate evolving business priorities and organizational initiatives.
• Portfolio Management & Business Performance Own underwriting results for an assigned portfolio, including profitability, revenue growth, retention, and risk management outcomes. Monitor portfolio trends, emerging risks, and financial performance to identify opportunities and drive informed business decisions. Ensure consistent underwriting practices and sound risk selection across the team's book of business. Leverage market intelligence, experience data, and performance metrics to optimize portfolio results.
• Strategic Leadership Contribute to segment, region and enterprise-wide business planning initiatives. Help shape underwriting and pricing strategies that support long-term growth objectives. Influence business decisions through data-driven recommendations and industry expertise. Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, underwriting effectiveness, and customer outcomes.
• Client & Partner Engagement Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, brokers, consultants, and key customers. Partner closely with Distribution, Actuarial, Claims, Product, Finance, and other functional teams to deliver effective underwriting solutions. Participate in high-profile case consultations, negotiations, and client discussions as needed. Represent Underwriting in strategic business discussions and support market-facing initiatives.
• Governance & Operational Excellence Ensure adherence to underwriting guidelines, risk management standards, and regulatory requirements. Lead quality review activities and operational oversight efforts to maintain consistency and excellence across the team. Drive continuous process improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, transparency, and customer experience. Support the development, implementation, and ongoing refinement of underwriting policies and procedures.

What you’ll need:

• 10+ years of Group Insurance underwriting experience with expertise in Life and Disability products.
• Proven leadership experience managing and developing underwriting professionals.
• Demonstrated success managing complex portfolios while delivering strong profitability, growth, and retention results.
• Strong understanding of underwriting principles, pricing methodologies, and risk management practices.
• Excellent analytical, financial, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across multiple stakeholder groups and levels of leadership.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

It’d be a plus if you had:

• Supplemental Health underwriting experience.
• Experience working with Premier and/or National Accounts business segments.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and data analysis tools.
• Experience leading strategic initiatives, process improvements, or transformation efforts.
• Knowledge of industry trends, competitive market dynamics, and evolving regulatory environments within Group Insurance.

What You’ll Bring:

• Strategic mindset with a focus on driving business results.
• Strong leadership presence and executive-level influence skills.
• Customer-focused approach to decision-making and problem solving.
• Ability to balance growth, risk management, and client needs.
• Passion for developing talent and building high-performing teams.
• Continuous improvement mindset and willingness to challenge the status quo.

What we offer you:

Prudential is required by state specific laws to include the salary range for this role when hiring a resident in applicable locations. The salary range for this role is from $136,200.00 to $204,400.00. Specific pricing for the role may vary within the above range based on many factors including geographic location, candidate experience, and skills. Market competitive base salaries, with a yearly bonus potential at every level.

• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, Paid Time Off (PTO), and leave of absences, such as parental and military leave.
• 401(k) plan with company match (up to 4%).
• Company-funded pension plan.
• Wellness Programs including up to $1,600 a year for reimbursement of items purchased to support personal wellbeing needs.
• Work/Life Resources to help support topics such as parenting, housing, senior care, finances, pets, legal matters, education, emotional and mental health, and career development.
• Education Benefit to help finance traditional college enrollment toward obtaining an approved degree and many accredited certificate programs.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan: Shares can be purchased at 85% of the lower of two prices (Beginning or End of the purchase period).
• Eligibility to participate in a discretionary annual incentive program is subject to the rules governing the program, whereby an award, if any, depends on various factors including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance.

To find out more about our Total Rewards package, visit Work Life Balance | Prudential Careers. Some of the above benefits may not apply to part-time employees scheduled to work less than 20 hours per week.

Prudential Financial, Inc. of the United States is not affiliated with Prudential plc. which is headquartered in the United Kingdom.

Prudential is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetics, disability, marital status, age, veteran status, domestic partner status, medical condition or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please email [e-mail]. If you are experiencing a technical issue with your application or an assessment, please email [e-mail] to request assistance.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a global financial services leader and premier active global investment manager with approximately $1.4 trillion in assets under management as of Dec. 31, 2023, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees help make lives better and create financial opportunity for more people by expanding access to investing, insurance, and retirement security. Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for 150 years. For more information please visit news.prudential.com.

Our Commitment to an Inclusive Workplace Prudential Financial, Inc. serves its customers in more than 40 countries and territories, and we seek talented, creative individuals from a variety of backgrounds, worldviews, and life circumstances to work with us. We are focused on creating a fully inclusive culture, where all employees feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work. We don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, support it, and thrive on it. At Prudential, employees have a unique opportunity to build their career path by owning their development, their career, and their future. We encourage employees to hone their skills and explore continued opportunities within Prudential.

PGIM, the global asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), is a global investment manager with US $1.3 trillion in assets under management as of Dec. 31, 2023. With offices in 18 countries, PGIM’s businesses offer a range of investment solutions for retail and institutional investors around the world across a broad range of asset classes, including public fixed income, private fixed income, fundamental equity, quantitative equity, real estate, and alternatives.

For more information about PGIM, visit pgim.com.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (PFI) of the United States is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom or with Prudential Assurance Company, a subsidiary of M&G plc, incorporated in the United Kingdom.

Our Commitment to an Inclusive Workplace Prudential Financial, Inc. serves its customers in more than 40 countries and territories, and we seek talented, creative individuals from a variety of backgrounds, worldviews, and life circumstances to work with us. We are focused on creating a fully inclusive culture, where all employees feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work. We don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, support it, and thrive on it. At Prudential, employees have a unique opportunity to build their career path by owning their development, their career, and their future. We encourage employees to hone their skills and explore continued opportunities within Prudential.