AVP, Digital Underwriting & Innovation - Life - Remote

About this role

At Symetra, we're continuing to transform the future of life insurance underwriting through innovation, technology, and data-driven decision making. As AVP, Digital Underwriting & Innovation, you'll play a key leadership role in shaping our underwriting strategy, advancing digital capabilities, and driving initiatives that deliver a faster, easier, smarter experience for customers, partners, and employees.
About the role
In this role, you will be responsible for driving the strategy, development, and execution of digital underwriting capabilities across the life insurance business. You will drive innovation through automation, AI, underwriting technology, and data analytics while partnering across Underwriting, Product, Actuarial, Technology, Operations, and Compliance. Success in this role requires a blend of underwriting expertise, strategic thinking, and people leadership to modernize the underwriting experience, improve operational effectiveness, and support Symetra's long-term growth objectives.
What You will Do

• Help define and execute Symetra's digital underwriting strategy, advancing automation, accelerated underwriting, and decisioning capabilities.

• Own and evolve underwriting rules engines, digital workflows, and underwriting technology platforms to improve efficiency, accuracy, and partner experience.

• Identify and implement innovative solutions leveraging AI, predictive analytics, emerging data sources, and automation technologies.

• Lead underwriting research, pilot programs, and experimentation efforts to evaluate new approaches to risk assessment and customer experience.

• Partner across Product, Actuarial, Technology, Distribution, Operations, Legal, and Compliance to deliver strategic underwriting initiatives.

• Lead and develop a team of life underwriting professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Build relationships with key industry partners, vendors, and reinsurers while staying informed on market trends and emerging capabilities.

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Chief Underwriter, helping shape the future of Symetra's underwriting philosophy, strategy, and competitive position.

What Success Looks Like

• Accelerated underwriting adoption increases while maintaining sound mortality outcomes.

• Digital underwriting capabilities deliver a faster, more seamless partner and customer experience.

• Underwriting automation and decisioning tools drive measurable improvements in efficiency and scalability.

• Innovation initiatives translate into practical solutions that strengthen Symetra's competitive position.

• Teams are engaged, growing, and recognized as leaders in underwriting transformation.

Why Work at Symetra

Here’s what some of our employees have to say about why they work at Symetra:
“If you're looking for a place to call home, grow professionally and personally and most importantly, be yourself, Symetra is the right fit.” - Daniel P., Director Underwriting
“I feel welcome and included at Symetra every day and I really believe you can be you at Symetra." - Megan H., Deputy Chief Compliance Officer
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 ourSymetra Benefits Overview

Compensation

Salary Range: $128,700 - $214,600 plus eligibility for annual bonus program and long-term incentive plan
Who You Are

• 15+ years of progressive experience in life insurance underwriting, including leadership of underwriting operations, strategy, and innovation initiatives.

• Deep expertise in underwriting, digital underwriting strategy, and underwriting technology transformation.

• Proven experience developing and optimizing automated underwriting frameworks, rules engines, and decisioning platforms.

• Demonstrated success leveraging emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, to improve underwriting efficiency, accuracy, and customer experience.

• Strong strategic mindset with the ability to develop and execute departmental and business strategies aligned to organizational objectives.

• Experience leading large-scale change initiatives and driving adoption across teams and business functions.

• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to distill complex information into clear recommendations for senior and executive leadership.

• Strong collaboration and relationship management skills, with a track record of partnering effectively across operations, technology, product, risk, and compliance teams.

• Thorough understanding of regulatory and compliance considerations within the life insurance industry.

• Proven people leadership experience, including leading leaders, developing talent, succession planning, coaching, and organizational development.

• Professional designations such as FALU, CLU, and/or FLMI preferred.

• Experience engaging with external industry partners, vendors, reinsurers, and distribution organizations.

• Recognized as a thought leader in underwriting innovation, digital transformation, and operational excellence.

• 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…