Executive Director, Group Underwriting

Trustmark’s mission is to improve wellbeing – for everyone. It is a mission grounded in a belief in equality and born from our caring culture. It is a culture we can only realize by building trust. Trust established by ensuring associates feel respected, valued and heard. At Trustmark, you’ll work collaboratively to transform lives and help people, communities and businesses thrive. Flourish in a culture of diversity and inclusion where appreciation, mutual respect and trust are constants, not just for our customers but for ourselves. At Trustmark, we have a commitment to welcoming people, no matter their background, identity or experience, to a workplace where they feel safe being their whole, authentic selves. A workplace made up of diverse, empowered individuals that allows ideas to thrive and enables us to bring the best to our colleagues, clients and communities.

About the role

We are looking for an Executive Director, Group Underwriting to join us.

Provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Group Benefits underwriting organization, encompassing Group Life, Disability, Dental, and Vision products. Develops and executes underwriting strategies that balance growth, profitability, and risk management, ensuring the company maintains competitive, sustainable product offerings and delivers exceptional value to customers and distribution partners. Leads a team of underwriting professionals, drives modernization of underwriting practices and tools, and collaborates cross-functionally with actuarial, sales, product, and operations teams to support the company’s overall strategic goals.

Key Accountabilities:

Strategic Leadership & Management

• Build, develop and implement underwriting strategy aligned with corporate growth, profit, and risk management objectives for group products.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of underwriting leaders and professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with senior leadership to shape product and pricing strategy across Group Life, Disability, Dental, and Vision lines.
• Drive transformation and automation initiatives to enhance underwriting efficiency and accuracy.

Underwriting Oversight & Risk Management

• Oversee underwriting policies, practices, and risk selection standards to ensure compliance with corporate guidelines, regulatory requirements, and reinsurance agreements.
• Ensure underwriting practices are consistent, data-driven, and aligned with actuarial principles and corporate profitability goals.

Collaboration & Relationship Management

• Partner closely with Sales, Product, and Client Management teams to develop competitive proposals that meet client needs while maintaining profitability.

Operational Excellence & Innovation

• Lead the adoption of advanced analytics, AI, and automation to improve risk assessment and pricing precision.
• Continuously improve underwriting workflows, tools, and training programs to support scalability and consistency.
• Other duties as needed/assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Actuarial Science, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of progressive underwriting leadership experience in Group Benefits, with deep knowledge of Group Life, Disability, Dental, and Vision products.
• Proven experience leading underwriting teams, setting strategy, and managing large or complex portfolios.
• Strong financial and analytical acumen, with demonstrated success managing profitability and risk.
• Experience collaborating with actuarial, product, and sales teams to achieve growth and margin targets
• Expertise in leveraging data analytics and business intelligence tools to inform strategy and measure performance.
• Familiarity with modern product management tools and Agile development methodologies.
• Strong understanding of digital user experience (UX) and how to apply it to create an intuitive online insurance journey.

Preferred:

• Experience with automated underwriting systems and leveraging technology to streamline complex processes.

The compensation range for this role is (based on the corporate location in Lake Forest, Illinois):

$133,593 - $199,476 per year

The final salary offer will be determined based on factors such as location, qualifications, experience, skill set, and other relevant factors. This position may also be eligible for bonus. We understand that compensation is an important factor when considering a new opportunity, and we strive to provide a competitive salary within the market.

Brand: Trustmark

In addition to compensation, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes: Health/dental/vision, life insurance, FSA and HSA, 401(k) plan, Employee Assistant Program, Back-up Care for Children, Adults and Elders and many health and wellness initiatives. We also offer a Wellness program that enables employees to participate in health initiatives to reduce their insurance premiums.  For questions about compensation and benefits, please speak to the Recruiter if you decide to apply and are selected for an interview.

Trustmark is committed to leveraging the talent of a diverse workforce to create great opportunities for our people and our business.  We are an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status.