Life Underwriting Sr Specialist - Remote - Northwestern Mutual

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:  

 Field & Client Experience  

• ​Responsible for credible and effective relations and communication with field and customer to include responding to case appeals/inquiries and assists with placing business.  

• Provides guidance and assistance to the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network and Financial Representatives regarding case underwriting and risk appraisal  

• Responsible for prescreen inquiries. 

Underwriting  

• Responsible for the analysis and appraisal of a broad range of insurance applications; approves, classifies, or declines applications for various ages and policy amounts with guidance, as needed.​ 

• Independently reviews applications and adheres to underwriting standards and demonstrates an intermediate level of experience with NM product types and changes.  ​ 

• Develops and demonstrates change agility while maintaining mortality and morbidity expectations. ​ 

• Demonstrates continuous learning through the early adoption of new ways of underwriting. ​ 

• Develops proficiency with Reinsurance programs and determining where to best place a case.  

• Underwrites applications, maintaining industry-leading mortality and morbidity giving the best possible offer that can be made. Provides active case and requirement management and provides customized service with guidance.  ​ 

• Communicates & negotiates with Field Partners to explain modified or declined decisions & assist in policy placement. ​ 

• Develops proficiency in financial, medical, and lay underwriting assessments and provides innovations solutions to keep Northwestern Mutual as the choice of our customers.  

• Actively utilizes the most effective means to obtain the necessary information, including digital health data, Internet searches, direct contact with the insured, and communication with third party advisors (Accountants, Attorneys, etc.) with limited guidance. 

• Discusses cases with peer reviewers with medical and technical staff, as needed. ​ 

• Understands and meets all quality, service, and production goals​.  

• Solves issues & escalations, with guidance as needed.  ​ 

• Partners with Underwriting Support for case management 

Cross-functional leadership  

• May serve as underwriting representative for improvement in product process w/collaboration w/functional partners. ​Participates in other projects as needed. 

Qualifications   

• A bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience. 

• 1.5 years of traditional underwriting experience.  

• Analytical skills with the ability to make independent decisions and apply sound judgment in the application of rules. 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to handle confidential information, exercise tact, diplomacy, and resourcefulness. 

• Proficient in computer skills and using various software packages. 

• Ability to work accurately while maintaining speed and flexibility in a team and independent production environment. 

• Highly organized with the ability to establish priorities and meet deadlines. 

• Displays agility to manage multiple tasks​ and adapt in a changing work environment.