The posting
Symetra is seeking an AVP, Deputy Chief Underwriter to provide strategic leadership and expert underwriting consultation in support of Symetra's Individual Life Underwriting department.
About the role
The AVP, Deputy Chief Underwriter serves as a trusted advisor to the Chief Underwriter and a key member of Symetra's Individual Life Underwriting Leadership Team. In this executive leadership role, you will help shape underwriting strategy, provide expert consultation on the organization's most complex and high-value cases, and drive excellence across underwriting quality, risk selection, and market competitiveness.
You will help develop and execute Symetra's Large Case underwriting strategy and provide oversight for the High Net Worth Foreign National (HNWFN) underwriting program, partnering across Distribution, Product, Actuarial, Legal, Compliance, Claims, and Operations to support profitable growth. As a respected underwriting leader, you will mentor future leaders, strengthen underwriting capabilities, and help advance Symetra's Win Smart Underwriting philosophy.
What You will Do
- Partner with other underwriting leaders to provide strategic leadership for Individual Life Underwriting.
- Serve as a senior consultant on highly complex, high-face-amount, and escalated underwriting cases.
- Lead and evolve Symetra's Large Case underwriting strategy to support growth and market competitiveness.
- Contribute to oversight of the High Net Worth Foreign National (HNWFN) underwriting program, ensuring disciplined risk selection and underwriting consistency.
- Promote underwriting excellence through quality oversight, audit governance, coaching, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Partner with leaders across Distribution, Product, Actuarial, Medical, Claims, Legal, Compliance, and Innovation to address complex underwriting and business challenges.
- Drive consistent underwriting practices that balance mortality management, financial risk assessment, customer experience, and profitable growth.
- Develop and mentor underwriting leaders, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
- Represent the underwriting organization on strategic initiatives and key business decisions.
What Success Looks Like
- Serves as a trusted advisor to the Chief Underwriter on the organization's most complex underwriting risks and opportunities.
- Strengthens underwriting quality, consistency, and decision-making across the department.
- Expands Symetra's capabilities and reputation in Large Case, Advanced Markets, and HNWFN underwriting.
- Successfully balances growth objectives with disciplined mortality and financial risk management.
- Develops and elevates future underwriting leaders while advancing strategic business priorities.
Why Work at Symetra
Here’s what some of our employees have to say about why they work at Symetra:
“I truly believe there’s something for everyone at Symetra. No matter what your passion is, if you enjoy being part of something bigger than yourself and want to make a meaningful difference, this is the place for you. We’re more than just an insurance company—we’re a community with purpose.” - Joanne S., AVP Compliance
“We're big enough to make an impact on the country, but small enough to care and know who you are and what you're contributing to the organization. All new ideas are welcome!” - Stephanie F., VP Customer Service & Operations
What we offer you
Benefits and Perks
We don’t take a “one-size-fits-all” approach when it comes to our employees. Our programs are designed to make your life better both at work and at home.
- Flexible full-time or hybrid telecommuting arrangements
- Plan for your future with our 401(k) plan and take advantage of immediate vesting and company matching up to 6%
- Paid time away including vacation and sick time, flex days and ten paid holidays
- Give back to your community and double your impact through our company matching
- Want more details? Check out our Symetra Benefits Overview
Compensation
Salary Range: $155,800 - $259,600 plus eligibility for annual bonus program and long-term incentive plan
Who You Are
- 15+ years of progressive life insurance underwriting experience, including significant expertise in complex and large-face-amount case underwriting required.
- Proven leadership experience developing underwriting talent and leading high-performing teams required.
- Recognized expert in mortality assessment, financial underwriting, insurable interest evaluation, and complex risk selection required.
- Demonstrated success making or influencing high-impact underwriting decisions in a competitive marketplace.
- Deep expertise in Large Case underwriting, with experience supporting advanced market solutions.
- Strong business acumen with the ability to balance risk management, customer experience, and profitable growth.
- Exceptional relationship-building and influencing skills, with experience partnering effectively across business functions and leadership levels.
- Passion for mentoring others and creating an environment focused on development, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Experience leading or supporting High Net Worth Foreign National (HNWFN) underwriting programs preferred.
- Professional designations such as FALU, CLU, and/or FLMI preferred.
- Experience leading underwriting quality, audit, governance, or risk review programs preferred.
- Track record of driving underwriting innovation, strategic initiatives, and organizational capability building preferred.
- Bachelor's degree preferred. High school diploma required.
- Ability to travel occasionally to meet the needs of the business.
Travel:
Required Training & Professional Development All newly hired people leaders with direct reports are required to complete a comprehensive leadership development program within their first year. This program includes both virtual and in-person training. The in-person sessions will take place at Symetra’s corporate headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. Symetra covers all travel and accommodation expenses.
Reasonable Accommodations Symetra is committed to providing equitable access to all job-related responsibilities, including required travel. If reasonable accommodations are needed for travel, Symetra’s HR department will work to provide appropriate solutions in alignment with individual needs and company policies.
We empower inclusion At Symetra, we aspire to be the most inclusive insurance company in the country. We're building a place where every employee feels valued, respected, and has opportunities to contribute.
Inclusion is about recognizing our assumptions, considering multiple perspective, and removing barriers. We accept and celebrate diverse experiences, identities, and perspectives, because lifting each other up fuels thought and builds a stronger, more innovative company. We invite you to learn more about our efforts here.
Creating a world where more people have access to financial freedom Symetra is a national financial services company dedicated to helping people achieve their financial goals and feel confident about the future. In our daily work, we're guided by the principles of Value, Transparency and Sustainability. This means we provide products and services people need at a competitive price, we communicate clearly and openly so people understand what they're buying, and we design products--and operate our company--to stand the test of time. We're committed to showing up for our communities, lifting up our employees, and standing up for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Join our team and help us create a world where more people have access to financial freedom.
For more information about our careers visit: https://symetra.eightfold.ai/careers
Work Authorization Employer work visa sponsorship and support are not provided for this role. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at hire and must maintain authorization to work in the United States throughout their employment with our company.
Please review Symetra's Remote Network Minimum Requirements:
As a remote-first organization with a cameras-on culture, reliable internet connectivity is important to how we connect, collaborate, and serve our customers. To support a positive experience for both employees and customers, Symetra has the following standards for employees' internet connection:
- Minimum Internet Speed:100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload, in alignment with the FCC's definition of "broadband."
- Internet Type:Fiber, Cable (e.g., Comcast, Spectrum), or DSL.
- Not Permissible:Satellite (e.g., Starlink), cellular broadband (hotspot or otherwise), any other wireless technology, or wired dial-up.
When applying to jobs at Symetra you'll be asked to test your internet speed and confirm that your internet connection meets or exceeds Symetra's standard as outlined above.
Identity Verification
Symetra is committed to fair and secure hiring practices. For all roles, candidates will be required (after the initial phone screen) to be on video for all interviews. Symetra will take affirmative steps at key points in the process to verify that a candidate is not seeking employment fraudulently, e.g. through use of a false identity.
Failure to comply with verification procedures may result in:
- Disqualification from the recruitment process
- Withdrawal of a job offer
- Termination of employment and other criminal and/or civil remedies, if fraud is discovered
