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.

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.