ABOUT US
National Healthcare Solutions Group (NHSG), a certified "Great Place to Work," is an enterprise of specialized healthcare administration and insurance services companies. Our portfolio includes domestic companies spanning third-party employee benefits administration, pharmacy benefits management, stop loss underwriting, and PPO network solutions. With decades of industry experience, our team is united by a single mission: standing with members through every moment and milestone in their healthcare journey.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Senior Director Underwriting for Level-Funded & Ancillary provides executive leadership and strategic oversight for all underwriting activities supporting level-funded medical plans and ancillary insurance products. This role is responsible for underwriting governance, pricing strategy, carrier alignment, risk management, and scalable underwriting operations across the MGU platform. The Senior Director partners closely with Sales, Actuarial, Operations, Stop Loss, Compliance, and Carrier partners to ensure profitable growth, underwriting discipline, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency while supporting enterprise revenue objectives.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:
Underwriting Leadership & Strategy
- Establish and maintain underwriting strategy, pricing discipline, and risk tolerance for traditional and non-traditional (level funded) product lines.
- Approve underwriting guidelines, authority matrices, and escalation protocols.
- Ensure underwriting decisions align with carrier agreements, actuarial assumptions, and enterprise financial targets.
- Serve as a “player-coach” leader balancing strategic oversight with hands-on underwriting support during high-volume periods, complex case escalation, or team capacity constraints.
- Lead a unified underwriting function across traditional and non-traditional (level-funded) products, with the ability to flex resources and approach based on business needs.
Financial & Risk Management
- Oversee pricing models, rate development, and underwriting assumptions to ensure sustainable profitability.
- Monitor loss ratios, block performance, and risk trends; implement corrective actions as needed.
- Partner with Actuarial and Stop Loss teams to manage aggregate and specific risk exposure.
- Align underwriting decisions and portfolio performance with broader enterprise P&L objectives, balancing growth, margin, and risk.
Carrier & Partner Management
- Serve as executive underwriting liaison with carrier partners.
- Ensure underwriting practices align with carrier requirements, reinsurance structures, and contractual obligations.
- Support carrier negotiations related to underwriting authority, pricing models, and program performance.
- Proactively manage external stakeholder relationships (carriers, reinsurers, partners) to enhance underwriting effectiveness and market competitiveness.
Operational Excellence
- Design and optimize underwriting workflows to support scalability, efficiency, and turnaround time targets.
- Implement underwriting automation, controls, and reporting to improve accuracy and throughput.
- Collaborate with Operations and Technology teams to enhance underwriting systems and data integrity.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives, including workflow optimization, prioritization frameworks, and operational standardization across underwriting teams.
- Operate effectively in an evolving environment—adapting processes, structure, and priorities as enterprise go-to-market and product strategies evolve.
Sales & Distribution Support
- Partner with Sales leadership to support growth strategies while maintaining underwriting discipline.
- Provide underwriting guidance on complex cases, non-standard risks, and escalated opportunities.
- Support RFPs, product development, and market expansion initiatives.
- Act as a key partner to Sales and Growth leaders, balancing responsiveness with disciplined underwriting to support profitable growth.
- Navigate competing priorities from Sales and internal stakeholders, ensuring alignment with underwriting capacity, risk tolerance, and turnaround expectations.
Compliance & Governance
- Ensure underwriting practices comply with federal, state, and carrier regulatory requirements.
- Maintain audit-ready underwriting documentation and controls.
- Partner with Compliance and Legal teams on regulatory filings, audits, and policy updates.
People Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and develop underwriting leadership and team.
- Establish performance expectations, training standards, and succession planning for underwriting teams.
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Build and lead a high-performing, adaptable team capable of operating across multiple underwriting disciplines (traditional and level-funded).
- Provide clear prioritization, direction, and coaching to ensure alignment with business goals, service expectations, and evolving organizational needs.
Other job duties include, but are not limited to the following:
- May perform other duties as assigned.
LEADERSHIP ALIGNMENT – NHSG CAPABILITY MODEL
This role is expected to demonstrate the organization’s six core leadership capabilities in all areas of responsibility:
- Cultivate Belonging– Create inclusive and equitable hiring experiences where every candidate and employee feels valued.
- Drive Innovation– Introduce creative sourcing methods, leverage technology, and refine processes to strengthen talent acquisition outcomes.
- Execute with Excellence– Deliver measurable results in hiring velocity, quality, and retention with precision and accountability.
- Client-Focused Leadership– Partner with internal clients (hiring managers and leaders) to anticipate needs and exceed expectations.
- Navigate Strategic Change– Respond agilely to shifting business priorities, hiring demands, and market trends.
- Grow Talent– Serve as a talent steward who identifies, advocates for, and develops high-performing individuals across the organization.
These capabilities define the behavioral foundation expected of all company leaders and directly influence success in this position.
KEY ATTRIBUTES FOR SUCCESS
- Strategic & Hands-On Execution: Balances tactical recruiting delivery with long-term workforce planning.
- Analytical & Data-Oriented: Uses insights and metrics to inform recruiting strategy and drive performance.
- Relationship Builder: Builds trust and credibility across leadership, departments, and candidates.
- Resourceful & Self-Directed: Operates autonomously and effectively in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment.
- Brand Advocate: Embodies professionalism, integrity, and service excellence in every interaction.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES)
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Risk Management, Actuarial Science, or related field required.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive underwriting experience, including senior leadership within level-funded medical plans, ancillary products, or MGU environments.
- Demonstrated expertise in underwriting strategy, pricing, and risk management.
- Strong understanding of stop-loss structures, carrier contracts, and reinsurance models.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence executive stakeholders.
- Excellent analytical, financial, and decision-making skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey complex underwriting concepts clearly.