Manager, Underwriting

The Underwriting Manager, State Paid Leave (SPL) Center of Excellence (COE) & Select Underwriting is generally responsible for profitably growing our Northeast Region Select Market group benefits business for employer groups primarily with 2-100 employees and for the SPL COE team managing up to 2,000 employee groups. The responsibilities for this position will span our entire product portfolio (Dental, Vision, Life & AD&D, LTD, STD, and Supplemental Health) for the Select Market. The SPL COE Manager responsibilities involve Mandated Disability products including, but not limited to, New York DBL, New Jersey TDB, Hawaii TDI and multiple current and emerging State Paid Leave programs. Direct reports to this position will include a team of seven Select team underwriters and three State Paid Leave team underwriters.

The Select Underwriting Manager is responsible for all customer acquisition activities (pre-sales and new business) as well as customer retention activities (account management and renewal) for its assigned segment. The SPL UW COE Manager will partner with and act on behalf of all of Underwriting in collaborating with Pricing, Compliance, Product, Claims, and Underwriting Operations to ensure that Guardian’s capabilities and deliverables for these product lines are best in class. The Underwriting Manager will be part of the broader SPL COE, Premier and Select Underwriting Leadership team that collaborates with peers and Distribution partners to execute on Underwriting action plans needed to best meet our customer benefit needs in a cost-effective and timely manner. Lastly, the Underwriting Manager for the SPL COE and Northeast Select Market will be expected to meet with assigned market sales leaders, general agents, brokers and other key external business partners to maintain strong business relationships in those local markets.

You are

• A high-performing leader who:
  • Embraces and promotes Guardian’s purpose-driven culture
  • Continuously strives to provide superior products, services, and financial results
  • Delivers strong negotiation skills and organizational influence
  • Motivates peers and coworkers
  • Holds excellent strategic management capability
  • Possesses excellent presentation and communication skills
  • Possesses strong people skills that will facilitate productive relationships with external and internal partners
  • Supports career aspirations of team members, including development of future leaders in the division
• Able to communicate with brokers and external partners to meet customer expectations.
• Able to function in a fully integrated work team environment.
• Comfortable with challenging the status quo, understanding business issues, and an adept problem solver, especially as we continue to evolve the Premier & Select markets.

You will

• Run the assigned Underwriting Teams in the same way a profit and loss leader would run an overall segment. This work includes making recommendations on underwriting policy, making business decisions, oversight of and support to Distribution results, educating other areas of Group Benefits on the unique characteristics and needs of this market, being accountable for both top and bottom-line success, and assuring the long-term talent needs for the team are met.
• Work closely with products, pricing, operations, compliance and other departments in the development and roll out of new SPL products.
• Participate in projects designed to improve the customer experience. A close working relationship with Sales and Client Management is essential for success.
• Lead in support and enforcement of HR policies and programs.
• Attract, develop, and retain talent as required by our multi-year business plan. This leader will coach and motivate team members to achieve high levels of performance and to own their career development. With seasonality in our business patterns, planning, and support for peak season each year will also be critical to assure our service and financial metrics remain at needed levels.
• Develop, execute on, and monitor case underwriting strategies with support and approval of the Underwriting Lead and in collaboration with business partners to meet the financial objectives of the business and the needs of our customers.
• Increase efficiency and initiate operational improvements through process changes. Process management skills will enable this leader to enhance the customer experience while also reducing the turnaround time and "touch" required to deliver on customer needs.
• Effectively use management reporting and analytics to monitor results and drive actions required across the Underwriting and Sales teams.
• Build organizational capability. Through the above process changes and incentivizing behaviors that lead to success, this Manager will provide guidance to the Team to achieve needed outcomes.
• Motivate associates to deliver on Guardian's Purpose of Inspiring well-being by:
  • Wowing the Customer
  • Reimagining mutuality
  • Unleashing what is possible.

Fulfill the role objectives through the following anticipated distribution of efforts:

• Leadership (50%)
  • Achieve new sales at profitable pricing levels, meet/beat renewal rate and persistency targets against profitability measures for assigned local market(s)
  • Hold employees accountable to achieve objectives.
  • Drive process and change management is needed to best deliver a superior customer experience in a cost effective and timely manner for this segment.
  • Function as an active contributor to the extended Group Underwriting Management Team.
  • Execute strategies needed at the local market level.
  • Monitor, analyze, and report results.
  • Set and adjust course of action based on analysis.
• Staff Development (25%)
  • Oversee the underwriting skill growth of the team. Assure that each team member has a strong development plan, that progress towards development objectives is on track, and that we are meeting succession planning needs.
  • Actively attract, mentor, coach, develop, and retain staff consistent with the Group Underwriting Department’s goals and objectives and Guardian’s Purpose delivery.
  • Provide feedback to team members on a regular basis through case reviews and results.
• Relationship Development (15%)
  • Relationship Management. Build rapport with internal partners, including Products, Pricing, Sales and Client Management for regional markets.
  • Meet with producers in regional markets.
  • Communicate, present, and build relationships with Sales.
• Individual Development (10%)
  • Focus on personal development and own skill and career development.
  • Serve as Underwriting representative on business projects.
  • Participate in industry events to understand trends and information impacting our business and share those learnings back with Guardian team members.

You have:

• 5+ years of Underwriting Experience at a minimum, prior people leadership experience is a plus
• Process development and execution experience
• Facilitate productive relationships
• Excellent presentation and communication skills
• As we continue to evolve the State Paid Leave and Select markets, candidates must be comfortable with challenging the status quo, understanding business issues, and be an adept problem solver Comfort with challenging the status quo, understanding business issues, and be an adept problem solver
• Ability to manage remote staff in multiple locations
• Continuously strives to provide superior products, services, and financial results
• Expresses oneself in an open and honest manner
• Demonstrates self-awareness and embraces feedback
• Competencies:
  • Customer focus
  • Respect for diversity
  • Adapting to change
  • Analytical thinking
  • Collaborating with others
  • Drive toward improvement
  • Holding people accountable
  • Impact and influence
  • Team facilitation
  • Knowledge of Salesforce and GI Sales Process preferred
  • Understanding of fast paced Sales environment, dealing with Brokers, General Agents, Home Office Departments, Underwriting and Product
  • Knowledge of:
    • The products, benefits, and pricing structures of the Group business
    • The Legislative and State New Business, Renewal, and Medical Underwriting rules, regulations, and practices for all product lines
    • Group Operations' policy and procedures
    • Group contract and benefit provisions for all product lines
    • Industry trends and competitive pricing practices, product offerings, and strategic positioning
    • MS Office software, the Rate Formula System, Consolidated Proposal System, New Business Discount system, Simon system, and Microsoft Outlook/Teams
    • Other Group key systems and applications (e.g., Phoenix, Zeus, Salesforce, CPS, GCRS)
    • Health Insurance Association of America, LOMA, and/or CEBS designations are a plus.

Business travel is expected to occur 10% to 15% of the time. Candidates must also be accessible during nontraditional business hours for ad hoc business issues.

Location:

Hybrid role - 2 days in the office, 3 days WFH - Preferred locations- Guardian home offices located in Bethlehem, PA, New York NY, Stamford CT, Holmdel, NJ - or in a Guardian sales offices located in Atlanta, Chicago, Boston, Newport Beach, or Piano/Dallas. We will consider candidates outside of preferred locations, offering flexible work arrangements if aligned.

Salary Range

$82,660.00 - $135,805.00

The salary range reflected above is a good faith estimate of base pay for the primary location of the position. The salary for this position ultimately will be determined based on the education, experience, knowledge, and abilities of the successful candidate. In addition to salary, this role may also be eligible for annual, sales, or other incentive compensation.

Our Promise

At Guardian, you’ll have the support and flexibility to achieve your professional and personal goals. Through skill-building, leadership development and philanthropic opportunities, we provide opportunities to build communities and grow your career, surrounded by diverse colleagues with high ethical standards.

Inspire Well-Being

As part of Guardian’s Purpose – to inspire well-being – we are committed to offering contemporary, supportive, flexible, and inclusive benefits and resources to our colleagues.

Health Care

• Choice of [high deductible/copay] medical plans* with prescription drugs, including coverage for fertility and transgender inclusive benefits
• Dental plan
• Vision plan
• Health care accounts – flexible spending, health reimbursement, and health savings accounts
• Critical illness insurance

Life and Disability Insurance

• Company-paid Life and Disability insurance plus voluntary supplemental coverage
• Accident insurance

Retirement and Financial

• 401(k) retirement plan with a company match, plus an annual age/service-based Company contribution and an annual profit-sharing contribution, if applicable
• Complimentary 1:1 financial guidance with a licensed Fidelity representative

Time Off and Remote Work

• Flexible work arrangements (part in-person/part remote)
• Unlimited paid time off for most roles plus time off for volunteering, jury duty, voting, and bereavement
• Personal holidays for colleagues to use in recognition of religious, cultural, or civic days
• Paid parental leave and paid family and medical leave policies

Emotional Well-being and Work-Life

• Emotional well-being, mental health, and work/life resources powered by Spring Health
• Wellness programs, including fitness program and equipment reimbursement
• Child, adult, and elder back-up care support through Bright Horizons
• Adoption assistance
• College planning
• Tuition reimbursement
• Student loan assistance
• Commuter benefits in select metropolitan areas

Equity & Inclusion

Opportunities to build inclusive and meaningful connections through involvement in colleague-led affinity groups:

• Employee Resource Groups:
• Colleague Connection Committees
• Community Involvement Committees

A culture that encourages colleagues to bring their authentic selves to work

• Voluntary self-ID
• Pronunciation and phonetic spelling of names

Benefits apply to full-time eligible employees. Interns are not eligible for most Company benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Guardian is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, or any other classification protected by applicable law.

Accommodations

Guardian is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. Guardian also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants (and employees) to accommodate the individual's known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact applicant_accommodation@glic.com.

Current Guardian Colleagues: Please apply through the internal Jobs Hub in Workday.