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About the Role

The Senior Associate Underwriter evaluates life insurance applications, determines approval status, and handles complex cases up to $5 million in 2-Year Total Amount at Risk. This role requires advanced underwriting expertise, medical knowledge, and sound judgment to assess mortality risk. The position also involves mentoring junior underwriters, contributing to process improvements, and supporting modernization efforts.

Responsibilities

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.

Requirements

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.
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.
Requires FINRA licensed and/or FINRA Associated Person pre-hire fingerprinting.

Skills

Underwriting expertise
Medical knowledge
Risk assessment
Analytical skills
Problem-solving
Communication skills
Customer service
Mentoring
Project management
Data analysis

Location

Hybrid

Work Type

Hybrid - 1 day per quarter

Experience Level

Senior
5+ years of life underwriting experience

Education Level

Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Salary/Compensations

$77,200-$154,400
$80,000 - $130,000

Benefits

Full package of benefits
Leave programs
Adoption assistance
Student loan repayment programs

About the Company

New York Life is recognized as one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies.
Committed to improving local communities through a culture of employee giving and volunteerism, supported by the Foundation.
Operates in the best interests of its policy owners due to its mutuality.
To learn more about career opportunities at New York Life, please visit the Careers page of www.NewYorkLife.com.

Equal Opportunity

Fostering an inclusive workplace is fundamental to who we are and how we serve our communities.
Longstanding commitment to creating an environment where individuals can contribute their best and succeed together.
Foundation rooted in core values of humanity and integrity, ensuring every employee feels valued and supported.
Embracing a broad range of perspectives and experiences achieves greater success and fulfills the promise of providing financial security and peace of mind to families across all communities.