Senior Associate, Underwriting Advisor

Business Unit Overview:

Group Benefit Solutions delivers comprehensive insurance and absence management solutions for mid-size and large companies. Our work fosters a healthier, happier and more secure workforce, contributing to New York Life’s legacy of being there when we’re needed most. Here, you’ll design, implement and support these solutions directly impacting customers’ lives. At our core, we provide financial security and peace of mind to people through our absence, accident, disability, voluntary benefits and life insurance solutions.

Role Overview:

The Group Benefit Solutions Underwriting organization partners with Sales, Client Management, Pricing, Risk Management, and other business partners to evaluate and manage risk across employer group business. The organization is responsible for analyzing employer group characteristics, plan designs, experience, market dynamics, and other relevant information to develop appropriate underwriting strategies and rates for Life, Accident, Disability, and Absence products.

As an Underwriter, you will independently evaluate and manage risk across an assigned portfolio, developing competitive and financially sound case strategies that support profitable growth, persistency, earnings, and long-term portfolio performance. You will combine technical underwriting expertise with sound business judgment to evaluate new business and renewal opportunities, recommend pricing and plan design strategies, and provide consultative guidance to Distribution and broker partners.

In addition to case-specific underwriting responsibilities, you will contribute to the overall effectiveness of the underwriting organization through disciplined desk management, strong collaboration, mentoring and knowledge sharing, continuous improvement, development of subject-matter expertise, and support of broader New York Life and Group Benefit Solutions initiatives.

What You’ll Do:

Excel at the Core: Risk Management/Assessment

• Perform case-specific risk analysis, primarily for accounts with 1,000+ lives, and develop pricing, renewal, plan design, and case strategies that appropriately balance risk, competitiveness, customer needs, and financial objectives.
• Evaluate and interpret information from multiple sources, including group demographics, claims and experience data, plan design, industry and market information, actuarial tools, and other internal and external risk indicators.
• Exercise independent underwriting judgment within established Levels of Authority, appropriately escalating cases that require additional review and presenting clear recommendations supported by relevant analysis and rationale.
• Develop strategic recommendations related to market competition, products, pricing, plan design, and case positioning to improve risk profile and support profitable growth, persistency, and earnings.
• Manage an assigned book of business with a focus on portfolio performance, identifying emerging risks, growth opportunities, and actions that support sustainable financial outcomes.
• Serve as a case reviewer or risk reviewer, as appropriate, providing feedback and coaching while identifying and escalating recurring risk or quality trends.

Excel at the Core/Help our People Thrive: Collaboration and Consultation

• Serve as a consultative underwriting partner to Sales, Client Management, brokers, and other business partners, clearly communicating underwriting positions and the rationale behind recommendations.
• Partner with Distribution to develop solutions that balance customer objectives, competitive considerations, and appropriate risk management, including plan design and case-positioning alternatives when the requested approach cannot be supported.
• Provide consultative value by identifying opportunities for growth, enrollment, product positioning, and improved case outcomes where appropriate.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships across Underwriting and matrix partner organizations, and provide underwriting support across teams or regions as business needs require.

Help our People Thrive/Support NYL & GBS Initiatives: Engagement, Development & Leadership

• Mentor and support less-tenured underwriters, interns, and peers as appropriate, helping strengthen technical knowledge, case strategy, underwriting judgment, and decision quality.
• Develop subject-matter expertise in designated strategic areas and serve as a trusted resource to underwriting, Distribution, and matrix partners.
• Actively contribute to team, underwriting, and cross-functional initiatives that support New York Life and Group Benefit Solutions priorities and improve organizational effectiveness.
• Participate in continuous-improvement forums, team huddles, problem-solving sessions, and cross-underwriting discussions; share best practices, lessons learned, and improvement opportunities.
• Identify and recommend process enhancements that improve efficiency, data quality, underwriting effectiveness, or customer experience, and contribute to underwriting guidelines, risk memos, and standard work as needed.
• Demonstrate adaptability as business needs, processes, tools, and technology evolve. Constructively raise questions, concerns, and alternative perspectives during decision-making and effectively support adopted solutions and new ways of working.
• Proactively pursue development opportunities, apply new knowledge to improve underwriting effectiveness, and share learning with others to support team and organizational success.

Excel at the Core: Technical Knowledge

• Apply technical knowledge to evaluate complex employer risks, interpret experience and financial information, assess plan design implications, and determine appropriate underwriting actions.
• Maintain awareness of market and competitive conditions, product capabilities, regulatory considerations, funding arrangements, and other external factors that may influence risk or case strategy.
• Act as a technical resource to team members and matrix partners and contribute to the development and refinement of underwriting best practices.
• Maintain strong underwriting quality and governance by ensuring decision rationale, rate development, file organization, and case documentation are accurate, complete, and consistent with departmental guidelines and Levels of Authority.
• Complete assigned underwriting audits or quality reviews in a timely and effective manner and address identified opportunities for improvement.

Excel at the Core: Desk Management

• Own an assigned book and desk, effectively prioritizing new business, renewals, inquiries, and presale activity to deliver timely, high-quality underwriting outcomes.
• Balance competing priorities and changing business needs while maintaining appropriate responsiveness to Distribution, customers, and internal partners.
• Maintain timely and accurate system data, case statuses, financial positions, and other required information to support operational, financial, and management reporting.
• Demonstrate strong organization, follow-through, and accountability for commitments, case outcomes, and portfolio responsibilities.

What You’ll Bring:

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required
• 5+ years of Group Life, Accident, Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability, and Absence underwriting, or other relevant experience required
• Demonstrated knowledge of large employer groups with multi-carrier product offerings and awareness of the drivers of a marketing outside of group insurance specific dynamics
• Thorough knowledge of risk factors that influence market and competitive conditions
• Ability to make effective decisions based on strong knowledge of all financial and risk levels, both internal and external
• Strong time management skills, highly organized, detail oriented
• Ability to foster strong working relationships
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to communicate complex ideas, persuade and negotiate effectively
• Ability to lead discussions and deliver external presentations and analysis to a diverse client base