Lead Disability Underwriter

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) • $163K — $215K *
Springfield, MA 01109In-Person
Finance & Insurance
8 - 10 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of relevant work experience in Disability Income Insurance Underwriting
  • Experience with research and writing guidelines
  • Mastery knowledge of individual DI insurance practices, underwriting standards, and operations
  • Demonstrated ability to research and interpret medical literature and translate into underwriting action
  • Must have an established approval limit without second signature

Responsibilities

  • Lead the modernization and evolution of the Disability Income medical underwriting manual
  • Develop and maintain medical underwriting guidelines based on clinical research and industry best practices
  • Partner with various teams to ensure competitive and effective underwriting guidance
  • Translate complex medical insights into clear underwriting guidance
  • Assess current frameworks to improve guideline structure and usability
  • Support the development of digital underwriting capabilities and decisioning tools
  • Champion new underwriting practices through training and engagement

Benefits

  • Clear areas of ownership with direct impact on outcomes
  • Collaborative environment that values diverse perspectives
  • Access to continuous growth and skill-building opportunities
  • Employee-led communities fostering connection and inclusion
  • Culture of integrity and responsibility with a strong legacy
Full Job Description
The Opportunity:

This role will primarily lead and support the modernization of MassMutual's Disability Income underwriting manual, including evaluation, redesign, and ongoing maintenance of evidence-based medical underwriting guidelines. This is a high-impact, strategic role shaping the future of DI underwriting at MassMutual and an opportunity to build next-generation underwriting guidelines that will support digital transformation and long-term risk performance. Ideal candidate will be a highly experienced Disability Underwriter.

This position is not generally attainable by all incumbents.

The Impact:
  • Lead the modernization and ongoing evolution of MassMutual's Disability Income medical underwriting manual, ensuring it remains innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with business objectives.
  • Develop and maintain medical underwriting guidelines using clinical research, claims experience, emerging trends, and industry best practices.
  • Partner with Claims, Pricing, Medical Directors, Compliance, and Product teams to ensure underwriting guidance is competitive, effective, and appropriately aligned with risk objectives.
  • Translate complex medical, actuarial, and claims insights into clear, actionable underwriting guidance that promotes consistent risk assessment and decision-making.
  • Assess current underwriting frameworks and identify opportunities to improve guideline structure, usability, consistency, and scalability.
  • Support the development of digital and automated underwriting capabilities, including rules-based decisioning tools, knowledge bases, and future underwriting technologies.
  • Champion the adoption of new underwriting practices through training, change management, and ongoing engagement with underwriting teams.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert and strategic partner to underwriting leadership, helping strengthen risk governance, underwriting quality, and profitable growth.


The Minimum Qualifications
  • 10+ years of relevant work experience in DI Insurance Underwriting
  • Experience with research and writing guidelines
  • Mastery knowledge of individual DI insurance practices, underwriting standards, and operations
  • Demonstrated ability to research and interpret medical literature and translate into underwriting action
  • Must have an established approval limit without second signature


The Ideal Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Have an established approval limit
  • Industry exams/designations completed, e.g., ALU 101, 201, 202, LOMA, ALMI, FMLI, ALU, FALU, DIA, DIF, RHU, CLU
  • Direct experience developing or maintaining medical underwriting manuals or formal guideline frameworks
  • Familiarity with impairment-based underwriting frameworks and clinical risk stratification
  • Experience supporting automated / digital underwriting rule implementation


What You Can Expect at MassMutual

MassMutual offers the opportunity to do meaningful work within a purpose-driven organization that values long-term impact over short-term outcomes. In this role, you can expect:
  • Clear areas of ownership and accountability, with work that connects directly to company and customer outcomes
  • A collaborative environment where perspectives are welcomed
  • Access to learning, development, and internal networks that support continuous growth and skill-building over time
  • Employee-led communities and forums that foster connection, learning, and inclusion across the organization
  • A culture grounded in integrity, responsibility, and stewardship-supported by a company with a strong legacy and a future-focused mindset


#LI-MC1

Salary Range:
$163,900-$215,000

At MassMutual, we focus on ensuring fair equitable pay, by providing competitive salaries, along with incentive and bonus opportunities for all employees. Your total compensation package includes either a bonus target or in a sales-focused role a Variable Incentive Compensation component.

About Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual)

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) Careers

Joining the team at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) offers more than just a job; it opens the door to a world of job opportunities where professional growth and personal development are encouraged and nurtured. Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) stands as a beacon of innovation, leadership, and diversity in the insurance industry.

Explore Career Opportunities

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) is actively hiring and offers a variety of positions that cater to different skills and career aspirations. From entry-level roles to leadership positions, the company seeks passionate, creative, and solution-driven team players. Explore the numerous job opportunities at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) to find a position that matches your skills and interests.

Internship Programs

Kickstart your career with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual)'s internship programs. These opportunities provide invaluable industry experience, networking prospects, and a chance to work on real projects that impact the company and its clients. Internships at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) are a stepping stone to full-time employment and offer a deep dive into the culture and operations of a leading insurance provider.

Employee Benefits and Culture

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) is committed to supporting its team members not only in their professional lives but also in their personal growth. The company offers comprehensive benefits designed to nurture the well-being of its employees and their families. The culture at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) is built on a foundation of respect, integrity, and diversity, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.

Professional Development and Growth

Career growth at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) is propelled by continuous learning and development opportunities. The company invests in diversity training, leadership programs, and innovation workshops to ensure that every team member has the resources to advance their career. Employees are encouraged to expand their knowledge base and acquire new skills through various training and development programs.

Networking and Innovation

At Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), networking and innovation go hand in hand. Employees are encouraged to connect with colleagues and industry professionals, enhancing their career prospects and contributing to the company's leadership in the market. The collaborative environment ensures that innovative ideas are shared and celebrated.

Join the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) Team

Search open positions that align with your career goals at Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). Prepare your resume, hone your interview skills, and get ready to join a team that values leadership and professional growth. Discover how Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) can transform your career aspirations into reality.

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Learn more about Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual)
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Finance & Insurance
* Ladders Estimates

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