Director, Underwriting Strategy – Governance

Penn Mutual

. Mentor and coach underwriters to strengthen technical expertise, judgment, and consistency .

Posted 10/5/2026full-timeRemote • United StatesLead💰 $175,000 - $190,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive expertise in life underwriting risk assessment and complex case evaluation, with a strong focus on mentoring and developing underwriters. Proficient in implementing underwriting training programs and governance standards while leveraging advanced technologies and analytics.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Life Underwriting ExperienceUnderwriting Signing AuthorityMentoring and Coaching SkillsUnderwriting Training DevelopmentAdvanced Underwriting Considerations

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Life Underwriting Risk AssessmentComplex Case EvaluationUnderwriting StandardsUnderwriting DocumentationGovernance DisciplineQuality ReviewsProcess ImprovementsAI Enabled CapabilitiesUnderwriting ToolsEvidence Sources

Soft Skills

JudgmentCommunicationInfluence

Certifications & Qualifications

ACSALUFLMIFALUCLU

Industry Keywords

Life Insurance ProductsTerm LifeWhole LifeIULVULUnderwriting GovernanceVendor Solution ImplementationAutomationEmerging TechnologiesQuality Controls

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Mentor and coach underwriters to strengthen technical expertise, judgment, and consistency
Develop, enhance, and deliver underwriting training programs
Reinforce underwriting standards, documentation expectations, and governance discipline
Support the Associate (VP) Chief Underwriter in executing underwriting strategy, governance standards, and policy changes
Participate in underwriting governance initiatives, forums, quality reviews, and audit activities
Review cases and outcomes to identify trends and improvement opportunities
Resolve complex underwriting issues and systemic challenges, escalating insights and recommendations
Participate in underwriting projects involving process improvements, technology adoption, and vendor solution implementation
Support modernization by helping underwriters adopt new tools, automation, and enhanced workflows
Collaborate with Medical, Actuarial, Product, Reinsurance, Distribution, Compliance, and Operations partners
Reinforce responsible use of AI and advanced analytics through training, documentation standards, and quality controls
Serve as a senior underwriting subject matter expert and escalation point for complex risk assessments
Review referrals and provide underwriting decisions and signatures within delegated authority, including large, complex, and jumbo cases
Provide limited production underwriting support without owning day-to-day case flow or operational queues

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent related work experience required
10+ years of life underwriting experience
Demonstrated underwriting signing authority of $20M, including experience with complex case design and advanced sales
Deep technical expertise in life underwriting risk assessment, complex case evaluation, and underwriting standards
Strong ability to mentor, coach, and develop underwriters’ technical judgment and consistency
Experience supporting underwriting training, quality reviews, and governance initiatives
Solid understanding of life insurance products (Term, Whole Life, IUL, VUL) and advanced underwriting considerations
Familiarity with underwriting tools, evidence sources, and emerging technologies, including AI enabled capabilities
Ability to partner effectively with senior underwriting leaders while operating without direct operational ownership
Strong judgment, communication, and influence skills
Professional designations ACS, ALU, FLMI, FALU, or CLU, or progress toward one or more designations, preferred
Master’s Degree or MBA preferred