Senior Associate Underwriter

New York Life; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

New York Life is seeking a Senior Associate Underwriter in New York to evaluate life insurance applications and determine approvals, declines, or requests for more information. This role handles higher-complexity cases with TAAR up to $5 million and may involve Attending Physician Statements and complex impairments.

The Senior Associate Underwriter applies advanced medical knowledge and judgment, mentors junior underwriters, and collaborates with agents and internal partners to deliver timely

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years life underwriting experience with complex cases.
• Strong medical terminology knowledge.
• Analytical and independent decision-making.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Ability to manage a high-volume workload.
• Mentor junior underwriters.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate life insurance applications and classify mortality risk for high-complexity cases.
• Apply underwriting guidelines to determine outcomes.
• Manage a portfolio of higher-complexity cases.
• Provide guidance to peers on case consultations.
• Communicate requirements and decisions to agents and office staff.
• Collaborate with reinsurers on complex cases.
• Maintain understanding of underwriting systems and mortality trends.
• Contribute to training, mentorship, and process improvements.
• Support adoption of underwriting models and tools.

Skills

Life underwriting

Medical knowledge

Analytical thinking

Communication

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Rules engines

Decision tools

Job description

Location Designation

Hybrid - 1 day per quarter

Fully Remote with occasional travel - Our typical travel is about 4 days 2 times per year.

Role Overview

Reporting to a Managing Underwriter, the Senior Associate Underwriter is responsible for evaluating life insurance applications and determining whether applications should be approved, declined, or if additional information is required. This role is accountable for underwriting higher-complexity cases with a 2-Year Total Amount at Risk (TAAR) of up to $5 million and routinely handles applications that include Attending Physician Statements and multiple or complex impairments.

The Senior Associate Underwriter applies advanced underwriting expertise, medical knowledge, and sound judgment to assess overall mortality risk and make informed decisions on complex cases. This role serves as a resource to less experienced underwriters, provides guidance on difficult case scenarios, and works closely with agents, General Office personnel, and internal partners to support timely, accurate underwriting decisions while delivering a strong customer experience. The position also plays a key role in underwriting projects, process improvements, and training initiatives, contributing to continuous improvement and modernization efforts.

What You'll Do

• Evaluate life insurance applications and accurately classify mortality risk using medical and nonmedical information for cases with a 2-Year TAAR of up to $5 million, including cases involving Attending Physician Statements and complex medical histories.
• Apply advanced underwriting guidelines, clinical knowledge, and professional judgment to assess complex and nuanced risk factors and determine appropriate underwriting outcomes, including standard and substandard offers, exclusions, or declines.
• Independently manage a portfolio of higher-complexity cases, prioritizing workload to meet service and quality expectations.
• Serve as a subject matter resource for peers by providing guidance on case consultation, interpretation of medical impairments, and application of underwriting guidelines.
• Communicate underwriting requirements, application updates, reinsurance considerations, reconsideration requests, and final decisions to agents and General Office personnel through both written and verbal interactions with a high degree of professionalism and clarity.
• Collaborate with reinsurers on complex cases and effectively evaluate and incorporate facultative offers into final underwriting decisions.
• Maintain a strong understanding of underwriting systems, product rules, medical advances, and mortality trends to support accurate and consistent decision-making.
• Contribute to training initiatives, mentorship of junior underwriters, workflow enhancements, best practice discussions, and cross-functional projects that improve underwriting processes, consistency, and customer experience.
• Support adoption and effective use of underwriting models, rules engines, and emerging tools by applying judgment and ensuring alignment with guidelines and risk philosophy.

What You'll Bring

Required Skills

• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 5+ years of life underwriting experience with demonstrated expertise in underwriting principles and mortality assessment, including complex case handling.
• Strong knowledge of medical terminology and the ability to evaluate the impact of multiple and interacting impairments on mortality risk.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to assess complex risk profiles and make sound, independent underwriting decisions.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate decisions and influence stakeholders, including agents and internal partners.
• Proven ability to manage a high-volume workload of complex cases while maintaining accuracy, consistency, and service standards.
• Strong customer service orientation with the ability to manage relationships and deliver timely, professional support in more complex scenarios.

Preferred Skills

• Significant experience underwriting complex cases involving Attending Physician Statements, multiple impairments, and higher face amounts.
• Experience working with reinsurance partners and evaluating facultative offers on complex cases.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, or provide guidance to less experienced underwriters.
• Experience participating in or leading workflow improvement initiatives, training efforts, or cross-functional projects.
• Ability to balance risk assessment, operational efficiency, and customer experience expectations in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Strong working knowledge of underwriting models, rules engines, and automated decision tools, with the ability to interpret outputs, apply appropriate judgment, and ensure decisions align with underwriting guidelines and philosophy.
• Familiarity with broader technology tools (e.g., Copilot, ChatGPT, and underwriting automation tools) that enhance efficiency, decision support, and workflow effectiveness.
• Comfort operating in a more data- and AI-enabled underwriting environment, including supporting explainability and transparency of model-driven outputs to internal and external stakeholders.

Pay Transparency

• Salary Range: $90,000-$130,000
• Overtime eligible: Exempt
• Discretionary bonus eligible: Yes
• Sales bonus eligible: No

Actual base salary will be determined based on several factors but not limited to individual's experience, skills, qualifications, and job location. Additionally, employees are eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition to base salary, employees may also be eligible to participate in an incentive program.

Please note: This role requires FINRA licensed and/or FINRA Associated Person pre-hire fingerprinting.

Company Overview

At New York Life, our 180-year legacy of purpose and integrity fuels our future. As we evolve into a more technology-, data-, and AI-enabled organization, we remain grounded in the values that drive lasting impact.

Our diverse business portfolio creates opportunities to make a difference across industries and communities—inviting bold thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and purpose-driven innovation. Here, you'll find the rare balance of long-standing stability and forward momentum, supported by an inclusive team that honors tradition while embracing progress.

As a Fortune 100 mutual company, we offer a place to grow your skills, contribute to meaningful work, and deliver solutions that matter. Your ideas drive what's next, and your growth powers it.

Our Benefits

We provide a full package of benefits for employees – and have unique offerings for a modern workforce, including leave programs, adoption assistance, and student loan repayment programs. Based on feedback from our employees, we continue to refine and add benefits to our offering, so that you can flourish both inside and outside of work. Click here to discover more about our comprehensive benefit options or visit our NYL Benefits Site.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

At New York Life, fostering an inclusive workplace is fundamental to who we are and how we serve our communities. We have a longstanding commitment to creating an environment where individuals can contribute their best and succeed together. This foundation is rooted in our core values of humanity and integrity, ensuring that every employee feels valued and supported. By embracing a broad range of perspectives and experiences, we achieve greater success and fulfill our promise of providing financial security and peace of mind to families across all communities. Click here to learn more about New York Life's leadership in this space.

Recognized as one of Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies, New York Life is committed to improving local communities through a culture of employee giving and volunteerism, supported by the Foundation. We're proud that due to our mutuality, we operate in the best interests of our policy owners. To learn more about career opportunities at New York Life, please visit the Careers page of www.NewYorkLife.com.

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