Job Description

Position Summary

The Group Underwriter IV is responsible for to provide pricing and plan design for companies with 1,000 or more lives utilizing prior claim experience and manual rates.  Products include Group Dental, Vision, FMLA, STD, LTD, Life, Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity insurance.  The underwriter will possess top technical competence, the ability to learn how to underwrite new lines of coverage and the ability to deeply analyze the key drivers of insurance plan performance.  The underwriter will be an excellent negotiator who builds collaborative relationships with Sales and other areas of Guardian in order to solve business issues and win.  The underwriter will be both a confident communicator and an independent decision-maker.

Candidate Responsibilities

Recommend competitively priced products, funding arrangements, and services to meet customer requirements. 
Determine pricing of new business and/or renewal business, including alternate plan of benefit options.
Communicate rate/fee development and plan design offered.  Assess contract comparisons for takeover business.
Negotiate with sales representatives or agents/brokers to resolve rate questions and risk related concerns.
Handles administrative processing of cases. Utilize underwriting systems and databases for quotes, sales, renewals to track results
Document case decisions and underwriting rationale.
Effectively works as part of a regional Underwriting Team.
Provide mentoring/coaching to help develop technical skills of others, support team growth and development initiatives. Conducts training for sales and/or underwriting staff as needed.
Participates in project work or on teams to develop or improve underwriting processes.

Reporting Relationship

This position reports to a Director of Large Market Underwriting.

Functional Skills

Ability to prioritize and efficiently handle multiple work items and due dates.
Command of Underwriting tools and systems.
Thorough knowledge of Group Insurance products/processes.
Knowledge of local market competition and strategy (e.g. impact on claim pricing and product choices.)
Excellent analytical and mathematical skills and ability to apply them to complex cases and issues.
Ability to make decisions, solve problems and meet challenges in completing work.
Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
Proven ability to work independently.
Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
Effective use of Word, Excel and Powerpoint applications.

Leadership Behaviors

Continuously strives to provide superior products and customer service
Takes ownership for meeting individual performance objectives.
Upholds Guardian's commitment to ethical business practices.

 Qualifications
 

Position Qualifications

5+ years of experience with Group Life, Disability and/or Dental underwriting. 
Background in experience based rating and risk assessment.

Travel

Minimal travel required for finalist and broker meetings