Job Information
MassMutual Head of Underwriting Technology in Springfield, Massachusetts
The Opportunity
The Head of Underwriting Technology will be responsible for a broad and critical technology portfolio that enables underwriting capabilities across diverse products and distribution channels. As part of the New Business & Underwriting Technology leadership team you will partner with your peers to deliver exceptional technology solutions for MassMutual. This individual will leverage their process-driven, analytical, technical, and financial management skills to create and maintain solutions, which include defining, designing, developing, implementing, and maintaining solutions, in a rapid, iterative delivery environment.
They will lead and scale a geographically dispersed team, along with vendor teams to deliver the capabilities. They will partner with business counterparts from different departments (Operations, Product, and Distribution) to understand the needs and drive forward innovative, scalable, and robust solutions.
As the head of this function, you will have the opportunity to:
Build and maintain roadmaps that link to the business strategy for underwriting capabilities
Drive continuous improvement and modernization of our underwriting systems
Design and deliver integrations that are part of the Underwriting application portfolio
Deliver digital solutions for the strategic initiatives driving our enterprise digital transformation goals
Foster an inclusive culture that values engineering excellence and innovation
The Team
The Underwriting Technology team consists of product owner/manager, developers, engineers, analysts, testers focused on delivering software solutions through waterfall and agile methodologies.
The Impact:
As the technology leader for Underwriting applications, you will be instrumental in driving the strategy, operations, and technical talent management. This role requires a deep understanding of MassMutual’s business objectives, combined with strategic thinking, technical expertise, and leadership skills to deliver impactful technology solutions.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership:
Develop and communicate a technology strategy aligned with MassMutual’s business goals for underwriting applications.
Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies relevant to the life insurance sector and assess their applicability to MassMutual’s underwriting needs.
Collaborate closely with business stakeholders to understand their requirements and translate them into actionable technology initiatives.
Define and prioritize the technology roadmap, ensuring alignment with MassMutual’s strategic priorities.
Operations Management:
Oversee the day-to-day operations of the technology team, ensuring the successful execution of work efforts.
Implement best practices for software development, quality assurance, and deployment processes, with a focus on delivering high-quality solutions.
Monitor application performance, scalability, and reliability, and take proactive measures to address any issues or bottlenecks.
Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure the effectiveness and efficiency of technology systems and processes.
Talent Management:
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of technical professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Identify skill gaps within the team and develop strategies for recruiting, training, and retaining top technical talent including our MM India and MM Romania partners.
Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback to team members to support their professional growth and development.
Promote diversity and inclusion within the team, creating an environment where every individual feels valued and empowered to contribute their best.
Collaboration and Stakeholder Management:
Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to deliver integrated technology solutions that meet MassMutual’s business objectives.
Build strong relationships with key stakeholders across the organization, ensuring alignment and support for technology initiatives.
Provide regular updates to executive leadership on the progress, challenges, and impact of technology initiatives, and solicit their input and guidance as needed.
Vendor Management:
Manage strong relationships with multiple vendors (tier 1 & 2) to deliver critical technology platform and solutions, serving as primary contact for vendor communications, and resolving any issues or disputes that arise
Monitor vendor performance against KPIs, identifying areas of improvement, implementing corrective actions when necessary
Assess and mitigate risks associated with vendor relationships, including compliance, data security, and business continuity
The Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
10+ years of related experience with at least 5+ years in a leadership role overseeing technology strategy and operations, preferably within the financial services or insurance industry.
Proven track record of leading and managing high-performing technical teams across time zones/geography with a focus on delivering innovative and impactful solutions.
Proven ability to manage large (Tier 1) vendor relationships to successful outcomes/delivery
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization.
Strategic thinker with the ability to align technology initiatives with business objectives and drive results in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Established track record of leading/driving key initiatives working with cross functional teams to successfully implement critical business projects, problem solutions and continuous improvement efforts.
The Ideal Qualifications
Deep understanding of the life insurance domain, including new business, underwriting processes, policy administration, and distribution channels.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
Strong technical background with expertise in software development methodologies and operations
What to Expect as Part of MassMutual and the Team
Regular meetings with the Head of New Business & Underwriting Technology
Focused one-on-one meetings with your manager
Access to mentorship opportunities
Networking opportunities including access to Asian, Hispanic/Latinx, African American, women, LGBTQ, veteran and disability-focused Business Resource Groups
Access to learning content on Degreed and other informational platforms
Your ethics and integrity will be valued by a company with a strong and stable ethical business with industry leading pay and benefits
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MassMutual is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer Minority/Female/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Individual with Disability/Protected Veteran. We welcome all persons to apply. Note: Veterans are welcome to apply, regardless of their discharge status.
If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us and share the specifics of the assistance you need.
Salary Range: $180,700.00-$237,100.00