Senior Associate, Underwriter

Locations: Philadelphia, PA; Bloomfield, CT; Chattanooga, TN; Overland Park, KS; and Phoenix, AZ.

Work Schedule: This position primarily involves a hybrid work schedule - working remotely: Monday & Friday / on site: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Business Unit Overview

Group Benefit Solutions delivers comprehensive insurance and absence management solutions for mid-size and large companies. Our work fosters a healthier, happier and more secure workforce, contributing to New York Life’s legacy of being there when we’re needed most. Here, you’ll design, implement and support these solutions directly impacting customers’ lives. At our core, we provide financial security and peace of mind to people through our absence, accident, disability, voluntary benefits and life insurance solutions.

Role Overview

The Group Benefit Solutions Underwriting Organization partners with Sales, Client Management, Pricing, Risk Management, and other business partners to evaluate and manage risk. We are responsible for analyzing employer group characteristics and plan designs to determine the appropriate rates for Life, Accident, Disability and Absence products. One of our key priorities is to manage the growth and profitability of our portfolio, through new business sales and persistency of our inforce book of business. Our team also includes the Medical Underwriting organization that evaluates the risk of individual applications for Life and Disability coverage, as well as our UW Operations organization that helps to drive efficiency and productivity in our process.

As an Underwriter, you will use your knowledge and expertise to determine plan designs and rates for our employer group clients minimizing risk and optimizing profit in the process.

You will evaluate and interpret data from numerous sources, including group demographics, industry research, and other actuarial tools, to develop a risk analysis of each employer group.

You will consult with sales reps and brokers to explain your analysis and work together with them to balance risk and profits.

You will have opportunities for other projects outside the risk assessment portion of your job, such as processes for efficiency or acting as a trainer or mentor to other underwriters.

What You’ll Do

• Perform case specific risk analysis to develop appropriate premium rates for a given risk to support the market’s growth and profitability goals

• Responsible for account level rate development and conducting customer negotiations with Sales on a more complex book of business

• Develop strategic recommendations related to market competition, products, and pricing

• Manage an assigned book of business, focused on attaining profitable growth, persistency, and earnings

• Partner with sales department and brokers to deliver customer presentations and acts as financial consultant on case-specific issues

• Influence underwriting best practice and provides input to matrix partners on product development and pricing

• Mentor and train less tenured underwriters. Help increase their understanding of risk management & underwriting, maintaining focus on technical knowledge and competency skill development

• Act as a trusted resource and technical expert to team and matrix partners

What You’ll Bring

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required

• 5+ years of Group Life, Accident, Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability, and Absence underwriting, or other relevant experience required

• Demonstrated knowledge of large employer groups with multi-carrier product offerings and awareness of the drivers of a marketing outside of group insurance specific dynamics

• Thorough knowledge of risk factors that influence market and competitive conditions

• Ability to make effective decisions based on strong knowledge of all financial and risk levels, both internal and external

• Strong time management skills, highly organized, detail oriented

• Ability to foster strong working relationships

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills

• Ability to communicate complex ideas, persuade and negotiate effectively

• Ability to lead discussions and deliver external presentations and analysis to a diverse client base

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.