Jobs › Northwestern Mutual

Asst Dir Life Underwriting

Northwestern Mutual · Franklin, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 20, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you developed an underwriter into a stronger decision-maker or leader.

What they are checking: Whether they invest in career development, which the posting names as a core responsibility.

How do you handle a manager on your team whose underwriters are consistently slower or less accurate than others?

What they are checking: Whether they lead through managers and address performance problems directly.

Tell me about a time you worked with another department to fix a problem slowing applications down.

What they are checking: Whether they can manage cross-department relationships to improve the application process.

How do you keep morale up on a team handling heavy caseloads and complex medical files?

What they are checking: Whether they pay attention to the wellbeing and engagement of a high-volume professional team.

What would you do

Walk me through how you'd handle an underwriting decision that a financial representative strongly disputes.

What they are checking: Whether they can explain and defend risk decisions to the field while keeping the relationship strong.

How do you balance service level agreements against careful risk assessment when volume spikes?

What they are checking: Whether they can protect turnaround times without letting underwriting quality slip.

An insurance department contacts the company about an underwriting complaint. What's your role?

What they are checking: Whether they can handle regulator inquiries carefully, accurately and on time.

About the work

How do you make sure risk appraisal standards are applied consistently across underwriting teams?

What they are checking: Whether they can protect mortality results by keeping decisions consistent across many underwriters and managers.

How do accelerated underwriting programs and new data sources change the risk picture?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how evidence-light underwriting affects mortality and where it needs guardrails.

What metrics would you watch to know your area is meeting the company's mortality goals?

What they are checking: Whether they connect daily underwriting work to long-term mortality experience.

How would you build a divisional plan for the coming year?

What they are checking: Whether they can set production, operational and people priorities with clear goals.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Mutual.

Summary Accountable for leading a team of Underwriters and project leadership to drive high-performing teams and operations across Underwriting. R esponsibilities include performance management of team , driving performance management across Underwriting Production, and career development of Underwriters . Ensure consistent application of risk appraisal standards to achieve Company mortality goals and ensure that customer service level agreements are met. Primary Duties & Responsibilities • Provide leadership through managers of traditional underwriting professional teams that evaluate the risk and exposure to determine acceptable business. • Accountable for determining premiums terms, and conditions based on established rules, rates and guidelines. • Develop divisional plans, including business, production, operational and/ or organizational priorities. • Control resources and policy formation in area of responsibility. • Manage multiple relationships with other internal departments to facilitate processing of applications, as well as manage relationships with the field to ensure high client satisfaction. • Serve as communication liaison/resource providing problem resolution with field management, financial representatives, company management, other companies and insurance departments regarding underwriting concerns and issues. • Provide input to all aspects of these systems and process improvements including workflow, process changes, and systems development initiatives. • Act as a liaison to other insurance operations departments when implementing initiatives. • Help drive high performance across Underwriting Production; establishing metrics, reports, operation workflow changes, etc. • Help integrate Underwriting transform efforts across operations, being a lead in change advocacy. Qualifications • Bachelor's degree or advanced degree in business or related field. • 5-8 years of progressively responsible management level experience emphasizing decision making, team building, communication, personnel development, analytical thinking and project management. • Prior people leadership experience required with preferred experience of 3-5 years. • Preferred prior Underwriter experience. • Ability to lead in an active continuous and learning value stream that engages employees while delivering results with a voice of the client focus. • Demonstrated ability to manage, develop and motivate a diverse staff in a continually changing environment. • Proven ability to anticipate client needs and business issues while developing and implementing innovative solutions to achieve desired results. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to build rapport, negotiate and gain acceptance at all levels in the Home Office and Field. • Preferred experience of 3 to 5 years of people leadership either in underwriting or another operational area. Compensation Range: Pay Range - Start: $130,800.00 Pay Range - End: $196,200.00 Geographic Specific Pay Structure: Structure 110: Structure 115: We believe in fairness and transparency. It’s why we share the salary range for most of our roles. However, final salaries are based on a number of factors, including the skills and experience of the candidate; the current market; location of the candidate; and other factors uncovered in the hiring process. The standard pay structure is listed but if you’re living in California, New York City or other eligible location, geographic specific pay structures, compensation and benefits could be applicable, click here to learn more. Grow your career with a best-in-class company that puts our clients' interests at the center of all we do. Get started now! Northwestern Mutual is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes talented individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating and maintaining an environment in which each employee can contribute creative ideas, seek challenges, assume leadership and continue to focus on meeting and exceeding business and personal objectives.

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