Disability Underwriting Research Consultant

MassMutual; Springfield (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

MassMutual is seeking a highly experienced Disability Income underwriter to lead modernization of medical and non-medical underwriting guidelines. The role requires translating complex clinical and industry information into practical guidance for underwriters and partnering with medical directors, claims, pricing, and leadership to balance risk objectives.

The ideal candidate will drive impairment-based frameworks, support digital underwriting initiatives, and contribute to training and change

Qualifications

• 8+ years of work experience in Individual Disability Income Insurance Underwriting or 8+ years as an Occupational Health Nurse.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in DI underwriting, including medical risk assessment, underwriting standards interpretation, and underwriting operations.
• 8+ years of experience evaluating medical evidence and applying underwriting guidelines to assess insurability and risk.
• 8+ years of experience conducting research and analysis of medical, claims, underwriting, and industry data, translating findings into underwriting recommendations and decisions.
• Individual Disability Income underwriting approval authority of at least $15,000

Responsibilities

• Support the modernization and ongoing evolution of MassMutual’s Disability Income medical and non-medical underwriting manuals.
• Research medical conditions, treatment advances, clinical outcomes, claims experience, and industry practices to support updated underwriting guidance.
• Draft, review, and refine medical underwriting guidelines that translate clinical and risk information into actionable direction for underwriters.
• Partner with the DI Head Underwriter, Lead Disability Underwriter, Medical Directors, Claims, Pricing, Compliance, Product, and underwriting leadership to ensure guideline recommendations are balanced.
• Contribute to impairment-based underwriting frameworks and support development of consistent risk stratification approaches.
• Support digital and automated underwriting initiatives by translating guidelines into rules-based decisioning, knowledge-base content, and future underwriting technology requirements.
• Assist with training, communication, and change management to promote adoption of updated underwriting guidance across underwriting teams.

Skills

Disability Income underwriting

Underwriting expertise

Medical risk assessment

Research and analysis

Guideline development

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

The Opportunity:

This role will support the modernization of MassMutual’s Disability Income underwriting manual, including the evaluation, redesign, development, and ongoing maintenance of evidence-based medical and non-medical underwriting guidelines. This is a high-impact opportunity to contribute to a strategic initiative that will help shape the future of DI underwriting at MassMutual and support the development of next-generation underwriting guidance aligned with digital transformation, underwriting quality, and long-term risk performance.

The ideal candidate will be a highly experienced Disability Income underwriter with strong technical expertise, sound judgment, and the ability to translate complex medical, underwriting, claims, and industry information into clear, practical guidance for underwriters.

The Team:

You’ll join a collaborative and forward-thinking team of underwriters from various backgrounds and product expertise, who are motivated to shape the underwriting landscape at MassMutual. As a team, we demonstrate accountability, agility, a dedication to being inclusive, strong business acumen, and the courage and professionalism to advocate for meaningful change while constructively challenging the status quo.

The Impact:

• Support the modernization and ongoing evolution of MassMutual’s Disability Income medical and non-medical underwriting manuals, helping ensure guidelines are evidence-based, practical, consistent, and aligned with business objectives.
• Research medical conditions, treatment advances, clinical outcomes, claims experience, and industry practices to support the development of updated underwriting guidance.
• Draft, review, and refine medical underwriting guidelines that translate complex clinical and risk information into clear, actionable direction for underwriters.
• Partner with the DI Head Underwriter, Lead Disability Underwriter, Medical Directors, Claims, Pricing, Compliance, Product, and underwriting leadership to ensure guideline recommendations are balanced, competitive, and appropriately aligned with risk objectives.
• Contribute to impairment-based underwriting frameworks and support the development of consistent approaches to clinical risk stratification.
• Support digital and automated underwriting initiatives by helping translate guidelines into rules-based decisioning logic, knowledge-base content, and future underwriting technology requirements.
• Assist with training, communication, and change management efforts to promote adoption of updated underwriting guidance across underwriting teams.

The Minimum Qualifications:

• 8+ years of work experience in Individual Disability Income Insurance UnderwritingOR8+ years as an Occupational Health Nurse
• 8+ years of progressive experiencein DI underwriting, including medical risk assessment, underwriting standards interpretation, and underwriting operations.
• 8+ years of experienceevaluating medical evidence and applying underwriting guidelines to assess insurability and risk.
• 8+ years of experienceconducting research and analysis of medical, claims, underwriting, and industry data, translating findings into underwriting recommendations and decisions.
• Individual Disability Income underwriting approval authority of at least $15,000

The Ideal Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Industry exams/designations completed or in progress, e.g., ALU 101, 201, 202, LOMA, ALMI, FMLI, ALU, FALU, DIA, DIF, RHU, CLU
• Advanced knowledge of individual DI insurance practices, underwriting standards, risk selection, and operations.
• Experience developing, updating, or maintaining medical underwriting guidelines, manuals, job aids, or formal underwriting frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to translate medical literature, clinical trends, and risk insights into practical underwriting guidance.
• Familiarity with impairment-based underwriting frameworks and clinical risk stratification.
• Exposure to automated or digital underwriting tools, rules-based decisioning, or underwriting knowledge-base development.
• Strong written communication skills with the ability to create clear, concise, and actionable technical guidance.
• Ability to collaborate across functions and influence through expertise, credibility, and sound judgment.

What You Can Expect at MassMutual

MassMutual offers the opportunity to do meaningful work within a purpose-driven organization that values long-term impact over short-term outcomes. In this role, you can expect:

Clear areas of ownership and accountability, with work that connects directly to company and customer outcomes

A collaborative environment where perspectives are welcomed

Access to learning, development, and internal networks that support continuous growth and skill-building over time

Employee-led communities and forums that foster connection, learning, and inclusion across the organization

A culture grounded in integrity, responsibility, and stewardship—supported by a company with a strong legacy and a future-focusedmindset

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MassMutual is an equal employment opportunity employer. We welcome all persons to apply.

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