Underwriting Manager

IMS Legal Strategies is a trusted partner to law firms and corporations worldwide, providing the expertise and technology needed to solve dispute-related challenges and protect reputations. IMS delivers strategic solutions for the entire litigation lifecycle, including advisory and analytical support, specialized expert witness services, data-driven jury consulting, powerful trial graphics, and seamless presentation technology. Our integrated teams have decades of practical experience in more than 65,000 cases and 6,500 trials.

“Together, we win” is the IMS company motto and a genuine philosophy that guides our work with clients, experts, and one another. From entry-level to executives, we are driven by five core values: 1) Ownership Thinking, 2) Humble Confidence, 3) Quality and Excellence, 4) Honor the Relationship, and 5) Operate as One.

We invite you to join our thriving company, committed to shared success. Visit imslegal.com for more.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Underwriting Manager provides day-to-day leadership, subject matter expertise, and operational oversight for the underwriting team, helping ensure life care plans progress efficiently through the case lifecycle and are completed accurately and within established timelines. The role serves as a central liaison between Underwriters, physicians, the Director of Underwriting, Operations, Records, Peer-to-Peer, Sales, and other internal stakeholders, resolving questions and removing barriers that could delay case progression.

This is a people-management and workflow-leadership role rather than a working Underwriter position. The Underwriting Manager does not routinely write life care plans but must possess sufficient life care planning expertise to guide Underwriters through complex cases, make case-level judgments within their authority, and coach and develop team members.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Underwriting Operations & Case Oversight

• Oversee daily underwriting workflows and track case stages, deadlines, and team progress against established case and productivity expectations; coordinate priorities and provide support to keep work moving, particularly rush and time-sensitive cases.
• Serve as an escalation point and subject matter expert for Underwriters, providing guidance on life care planning questions, case viability, medical information, and appropriate next steps.
• Identify stalled or aging cases, investigate the cause of delays, coordinate with responsible internal teams, and help resolve issues.
• Track the team's progress against established case and productivity expectations and provide the guidance and support necessary to help Underwriters successfully progress their work.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Serve as a primary communication link between Underwriters and physicians, facilitating case-specific questions and relaying physician guidance and feedback to the appropriate Underwriter in a timely manner.
• Partner closely with Operations, Records, Peer-to-Peer, Sales, Quality Assurance/Editing, and other stakeholders to coordinate work, escalate questions to attorneys or clients, and resolve case-related issues.
• Review physician feedback and other case-related feedback for patterns or recurring issues and use those insights to coach individual Underwriters or identify broader process or training needs.

People Leadership

• Provide day-to-day leadership, support, coaching, and mentorship to assigned Underwriters, evaluating work quality and providing ongoing feedback and development to strengthen individual and team performance.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with employees to review workload, case concerns, development needs, priorities, and performance.
• Train and onboard new Underwriters on established case flows, processes, expectations, and quality standards, reviewing work and providing guidance as employees develop proficiency.
• Manage employee performance, including identifying and addressing performance concerns, completing performance reviews, establishing performance improvement plans when appropriate, and escalating significant performance matters or recommended employment actions to the Director of Underwriting and HR.
• Assess team capacity and workload and identify potential staffing or resource needs for discussion with the Director of Underwriting.
• Provides functional oversight of independent contractors supporting the team, including coordinating deliverables, monitoring quality and contractual expectations, providing feedback, and escalating performance or service concerns as appropriate.

Process & Performance Management

• Reinforce established underwriting processes, case-flow standards, service expectations, and departmental procedures.
• Proactively identify workflow bottlenecks and opportunities to improve coordination, efficiency, and case movement.
• Communicate process changes, operational updates, priorities, and expectations to the underwriting team.
• Participate in department and cross-functional forums to surface operational issues, contribute subject matter expertise, and support improvements to processes affecting the underwriting function.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• Advanced knowledge of life care planning principles, practices, medical terminology, and report-development processes.
• Ability to serve as a subject matter expert and provide sound guidance on complex or ambiguous life care planning cases.
• Strong critical-thinking, judgment, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated people-leadership capabilities, including coaching, mentoring, training, feedback, and performance management.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, and time-management skills, with the ability to monitor a high volume of work at multiple stages.
• Ability to balance competing priorities, respond to urgent needs, and maintain visibility across multiple cases and team members.
• Strong interpersonal skills, patience, professionalism, and the ability to build supportive working relationships with employees and cross-functional partners.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with physicians and business stakeholders.
• Ability to identify trends in work quality, case concerns, and feedback and translate those observations into coaching or process improvements.
• Technical aptitude and ability to work effectively across email, case-management systems, and standard business applications.

EDUCATION & TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Associate degree or higher in nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, rehabilitation, healthcare, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of relevant healthcare education and experience demonstrating proficiency in medical terminology and medical record interpretation.
• Current Life Care Planning certification required.
• Minimum three years of professional Life Care Planning experience required.
• Previous formal supervisory experience preferred.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• The essential physical and work environment requirements of this fully remote role must be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.
• This role is primarily sedentary and requires remaining in a stationary position for prolonged periods while performing computer-based work, participating in virtual meetings, and communicating through company systems.
• Must be able to operate a computer, keyboard, mouse, phone, and other standard office equipment necessary to perform the role.
• Requires frequent use of close vision, including reading information on a computer screen, reviewing documents, and working with digital tools for extended periods.
• Requires the ability to communicate and exchange accurate information by phone, video conferencing, email, chat, and other virtual communication tools.
• Must be able to maintain a remote work environment that allows for reliable internet access, effective virtual participation, confidentiality, and appropriate protection of company and client information.
• Occasional travel may be required for business meetings, team events, client meetings, or other company needs.

LOCATION:

• This position is 100% remote and supports east to west coast time zones

Our Employer Value Proposition Includes

• Competitive compensation package with 401K match
• Flexible PTO and 12 paid holidays
• Robust health and welfare benefits, including medical, dental, vision, HSA, short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance, all with generous company contributions
• Career development programs supported through an integrated Learning Platform
• Talent Identification Program to recognize and reward our high-performing, high-potential team members through career growth opportunities and unique development experiences
• Values-driven culture based on respect, care, growth, and excellence

IMS Legal Strategies is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.