Health Underwriting Director jobs in Virginia

Position Summary: 

Directs all essential dental and vision plan underwriting functions for the company.  Oversees the underwriting, renewing, and related reporting for all experience rated large group risk and ASC accounts.  Supports setting and executing of strategic plans in support of department and company goals.  Directs underwriting staff in three key functional areas: renewal underwriting, new group proposals and proposal support, and related data reporting and analysis. Manages the financial risk to meet defined pricing targets, margin goals and subscriber growth objectives.  Assists the Vice President, Actuarial in determination and management of financial goals in support of DDVA, Stryden, and Corvesta strategy.

 Essential Functions:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Other duties may be assigned.

• Direct and oversee the large group proposal pricing process for Underwriting Staff.
• Direct and oversee the large group renewal process to meet monthly and annual schedules and individual and cumulative pricing targets.
• Work closely with the VP Actuarial and Sr. Director of Actuarial to support implementation and achievement of pricing targets.
• Oversee the Underwriting staff in renewal negotiations and pricing margin management.
• Work closely with the Actuarial Team on rate development, pricing methods and models, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Supports the ongoing development of internal IT systems supporting underwriting (Keyspring, Qlik, KSEDW) in regard to Actuarial and Underwriting business requirements and emerging best practices.
• Direct the use of, and engage in development of, our data warehouse and/or BI systems to support the underwriting functions. Support Marketing and Account Management in supplying clients with accurate, timely and complete data reporting.
• Work with Vice President, Actuarial to define strategic and tactical goals for the department annually and support strategic planning process.
• Work closely with Directors of Sales, Account Management and Marketing to ensure renewal of group clients, achievement of sales goals, and overall loss ratio management. 
• Negotiate key account pricing with Pricing Committee, key clients and consultants to ensure placement and retention of key accounts per Underwriting Authority limits.
• Make key business decisions to balance financial goals with market conditions, client demands and consultant /broker requirements. Manage staff to execute overall strategy while considering appropriate exceptions and alternative strategies.

Qualifications/ Education/ Experience: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Mathematics, Actuarial Services, Economics or related field with a minimum of fifteen years’ related health or dental plan underwriting experience with progressive managerial responsibilities.
• MBA, actuarial certification, or related advanced degree required; related industry health insurance designations a plus.
• Technical and software skills required:  proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook a must. Access, VB, SQL, and BI data management tools and experience with data mining and query tools preferred.
• Ability to relate underwriting processes to the financial performance of the company through the use of internal financial reporting, renewal pricing metrics, and market feedback to optimize outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage staff to execute multiple financial, growth and strategic goals. Effective ability to communicate orally or in written form effectively with internal and external customers, including all levels of company management.
• Demonstrated ability to manage underwriting staff of varying experience levels and to mentor them to grow in responsibility levels and personal development.
• Ability to anticipate and solve practical problems or resolve business issues.  Demonstrated comfort level working to solve business challenges where rules or standard guidelines may not apply. 
• Demonstrated success in creating new processes or solutions when external markets or competitors actions create roadblocks to our strategy. 
• Ability to represent Department in management, strategy, project or client meetings when Vice President is not available.
• Proven record of team building, motivating staff and goal attainment.