Director, Underwriting Strategy & Governance

Job Description:

Position Summary

The Director, Underwriting Strategy & Governance is a senior underwriting knowledge leader and implementation partner who supports the Associate (VP) Chief Underwriter, Underwriting Strategy & Governance in executing underwriting strategy, advancing quality and consistency, and strengthening underwriting capability across the organization.

This role combines limited production authority on complex and jumbo cases, deep technical mentorship, training leadership, and execution of underwriting initiatives. The Director serves as a subject matter expert (SME) and trusted escalation point, providing guidance on complex risk decisions while ensuring adherence to underwriting standards and governance frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Mentor and coach underwriters to strengthen technical expertise, judgment, and consistency in underwriting decisions.
• Develop, enhance, and deliver underwriting training programs in partnership with underwriting leadership and governance teams.
• Reinforce underwriting standards, documentation expectations, and governance discipline through coaching, feedback, and education.
• Support the Associate (VP) Chief Underwriter in executing underwriting strategy, governance standards, and policy changes.
• Participate in underwriting governance initiatives and forums by providing technical input, analysis, and implementation support.
• Participate in underwriting quality review and audit activities, including case reviews and outcomes analysis, to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Assist in resolving complex underwriting issues and systemic challenges, escalating insights and recommendations as appropriate.
• Participate in underwriting projects and initiatives supporting the business plan, including process improvements, technology adoption, and vendor solution implementation.
• Support underwriting modernization efforts by helping underwriters adopt new tools, automation, and enhanced workflows.
• Collaborate with internal partners (e.g., Medical, Actuarial, Product, Reinsurance, Distribution, Compliance, Operations) as needed, while not owning operational management.
• Reinforce the responsible use of AI and advanced analytics in underwriting through training support, documentation standards, and quality controls.
• Serve as a senior underwriting SME, providing guidance on complex risk assessments while ensuring adherence to underwriting standards and philosophy.
• Review referrals and provide underwriting decisions and signatures within delegated authority, including large, complex, and jumbo cases.
• Provide limited production underwriting support as needed, without ownership of day-to-day case flow or operational queues.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• 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.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent related work experience required.
• Master’s Degree or MBA preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of life underwriting experience.
• Demonstrated underwriting signing authority of $20M, including experience with complex case design and advanced sales.
• Prior experience mentoring underwriters or serving in a technical leadership role.

Certifications:

• Professional designations ACS, ALU, FLMI, FALU, or CLU (or progress toward one or more designations) preferred.

Base salary: $175,000 - $190,000

For over 175 years, Penn Mutual has empowered individuals, families and businesses on the journey to achieve their financial goals. Through our partnership with Financial Professionals across the U.S., we help instill the confidence and reliability that comes from a stronger financial future. Penn Mutual and its affiliates offer a comprehensive suite of competitive products and services to meet the unique needs of Financial Professionals and their clients, including life insurance, annuities, wealth management and institutional asset management. To learn more, including current financial strength ratings, visit www.pennmutual.com.

Penn Mutual is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO). We provide employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and associates, according to applicable laws. This is reflected in our practices for hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruitment, compensation, selection or training, and all other terms and conditions of employment. All employment-related decisions and practices are free from unlawful discrimination. This includes: race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship age, gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, domestic partnership or civil union status, marital status, genetic information, disability, religious observance or practice, liability, veteran status or any other classification protected under applicable law.