Underwriting Intelligent Automation Lead

The Opportunity

As an Underwriting Intelligent Automation Lead, you'll join a dynamic environment supporting the Office of the Corporate Chief Underwriter (OCCU). In this role, you'll dive into shaping automation techniques that modernize life insurance operations. There will be a focus on machine learning and artificial intelligence while working in conjunction with our new, modernized workbench and rules engine.  Providing ideation for new AI projects and deep SME guidance on building and testing new programs will be central for this role.  Your work will be impactful, including supporting efforts to improve cycle time, create a better Advisor and Client experience and improve workflows for increased automation.  The Underwriting Intelligent Automation Lead will partner with members of the OCCU policy and innovation arms, as well as cross-functionally with the Data Science, IT, Legal/Compliance and Underwriting Operations teams.

The Team

You'll join a collaborative and forward-thinking team of underwriters from various backgrounds and product expertise, who are motivated to shape the underwriting landscape at MassMutual. As a team, we demonstrate accountability, agility, a dedication to being inclusive, a strong business acumen, and show courage and professionalism when advocating for a particular project or presenting a healthy challenge to the status quo. Outside of the OCCU team, you can expect to work with colleagues from Data Science, Actuarial, Product, Competitive Intelligence, Legal and IT.   

The Impact

As the Underwriting Intelligent Automation Lead, you will:

• Coordinate with team members for maximal impact on systems and automation.
• Partner with leadership across the enterprise to champion changes that improve processes, while maintaining mortality expectations.
• Be a champion for data-driven underwriting practices.
• Lead the effort and provide recommendations around new technologies and methodologies for automation and process efficiency.
• Provide guidance on the development, testing and implementation of new AI tools and predictive models.
• Business lead for identifying areas that require a solution and giving direction to the type of solution needed. 
• Develop workflows.
• Create pilot plans.
• Establish roll out plans for new solutions.
• Create monitoring metrics plan for new solutions.
• Work with Competitive Intelligence by keeping an eye on industry/carrier developments around AI initiatives.

Key Stakeholders:

• Data Science – our partner with building new predictive models and AI tools. 
• IT – our partner with implementing new technology, and testing new technology. 
• Underwriting Platform Team – our partner for enhancing the overall ecosystem of user interface, rules engine, models and AI tools.
• Production Underwriting Teams – a critical stakeholder that will benefit from efficiency gains, and a partner that can help to define pain points that are in need of a solution.

Key Success Measures:

• Building a strong network and exemplary communication with key stakeholders listed above.
• AI tools going live in production mode within an underwriting ecosystem that consists of a new underwriting user interface, rules engine, predictive models and AI functionality.
• Demonstrable iterations for early AI tools while also enabling the development of additional tools.
• The ultimate goal is to resolve at least six obstacles to automation/efficiency with AI tools within 12 months.
• Propose enhancements and updates to predictive models currently in production, and propose new predictive modeling solutions as pain points arise where a predictive model would be an appropriate solution.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree
• 10+ years of relevant work experience in Life Underwriting
• Experience leading special projects, including underwriting automation systems
• Confident communication skills, both written and verbal
• Experience developing content and presenting to executive leadership team
• Ability to develop strategy plan and execution plan
• Ability to partner effectively with internal teams and external partners
• Strong understanding of life insurance products, underwriting processes and regulatory environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience / continuing education related to machine learning and artificial intelligence

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