Underwriting Manager

Overview

At Banner Life Insurance Company, we lead with heart and ambition. Every day, we transform purpose into progress, guided by our unwavering commitment to be better for our customers, clients, and communities, not just today but long-term as well. Our people are the driving force behind everything we achieve. Their passion, purpose, and pursuit of innovation empower us to deliver cutting-edge solutions that support those we serve, ensuring we are here for you, here for good and striving for better.

We’re a forward-thinking company energized by our work and how we show up for one another. Our culture is built on meaningful impact and genuine enjoyment, because we believe great work and great experiences should go hand in hand.

By offering career development opportunities, comprehensive benefits, and programs that support your wellbeing, we help you thrive personally and professionally. We are here for you, here for good and here for better.

The Underwriting Manager will manage assigned underwriting staff to ensure prompt processing and underwriting of applications and adherence to underwriting guidelines, criteria, and company philosophy to produce expected mortality results, while maintaining a focus on continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Demand Management: Actively manage daily demand and resources to ensure service levels and quality are maintained at a team and department level.  Develop and implement action plans to address issues and recommend other solutions deemed necessary to achieve goals. Share goals and results with team.  Ensure tools needed to manage production and track results are used appropriately.
• Team/Associate Management: Regularly evaluate performance, providing regular feedback to associates.  Assist associates with proactive development plans, act as development coach and mentor to improve overall skills and knowledge of team.  Actively manage low performers to improve results or leverage progressive discipline if necessary.  Audit cases as necessary to provide qualitative feedback to associates.
• Key contact for customers. Proactively develop relationships and solicit feedback.  Ensure all complaints are handled appropriately and any accolades and lessons learned are shared with team and department as appropriate.  Travel as necessary to complete field visits to customers and provide underwriting presentations.
• Ensure appropriate case handling by providing referrals, appeal advice and second signoffs as needed while driving decision making by underwriting staff. Ensure compliance with department standards and individual state insurance regulations.  Provide case reviews for Claims as needed.
• Handle projects or underwriting specialties as needed.  Act as department expert for designated impairments, risks or processes.  May include working with Chief Underwriter to support changes to guidelines.  Accountable to ensure training and communication happen as needed.

Qualifications

Education  

BS/BA Degree preferred or applicable experience with industry coursework (LOMA, CLU, FALU)

Experience/Knowledge

• 10+ years of brokerage underwriting experience including large case underwriting, financial underwriting, and handling of complex medical substandard cases. 
• 5 years supervisory/team leader experience in metrics-based organization          

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written)
• Continuous Improvement mindset
• Ability to adapt in rapidly changing environment
• PC knowledge to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Reports To

AVP, BGA Underwriting

Staff

10-12 underwriters comprised of various levels of underwriting experience.

What’s in it for you?

The expected hiring compensation range for this position is $144,800 - $185,000 annually. This is a remote opportunity. 

The total compensation package for this position may include other elements, such as a sign-on bonus, long term incentives, and annual bonuses.  This role is eligible to participate in the Annual Incentive Plan. The current target payment for the position is 20% of base salary, modified for corporate and individual performance. Bonuses are pro-rated based on start date.  This role has 20 vacation days and 10 sick days that are accrued on a bi-weekly basis. Employees also have 9 paid holidays throughout the calendar year.

We have a competitive compensation and benefits package focused on your overall wellbeing.  Employee benefits include health, life, and dental insurance; 401K with company match up to 6% as well as a pension package; generous time off; and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year (we like doing fun stuff).  We’re big on professional development and we’ll support and mentor you in your career progression and expect you to help us pay it forward by helping us develop tomorrow's leaders and growth-focused professionals. We value our teams and our communities and believe in giving back. Enjoy time off to volunteer for those causes that matter most to you!

If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors. The Company reserves the right to change benefits plans at any time.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.