Assistant General Manager

We are seeking a technically proficient and experienced life insurance underwriting professional to join our team as Assistant General Manager – Underwriting, specializing in Individual Life and Group Benefits, based in Karachi. The ideal candidate will have the ability to lead underwriting functions independently while fostering strong relationships with business teams. This role requires balancing customer needs and growth opportunities with disciplined underwriting practices to ensure sound risk management and business profitability.

Key Responsibilities

Lead Individual Life Underwriting: Oversee the assessment of medical, non-medical, and financial risks. Provide guidance on complex cases, exceptions, and appeals, ensuring underwriting decisions comply with approved policies and delegated authority.

Manage Group Life Business: Lead underwriting activities for new business and renewals, including pricing and quotations. Align terms with profitability goals, risk retention strategies, and reinsurance arrangements. Oversee Group Life policy administration and account servicing to maintain high service standards.

Strengthen Risk and Reinsurance Practices: Maintain and update underwriting guidelines and standards. Coordinate treaty and facultative reinsurance requirements, offering clear recommendations on complex risks and retention decisions.

Partner for Business Growth: Collaborate closely with sales teams, distribution partners, and brokers to facilitate business placement. Support field underwriting training, client engagement, and Group Life business development initiatives. Work alongside the Actuarial team on product development and quotation processes.

Uphold Governance and Service Quality: Ensure underwriting and onboarding processes comply with all applicable regulatory requirements. Work with Compliance, Internal Audit, and Actuarial departments to maintain effective controls and implement continuous improvements.

Improve Operations and Build Capability: Drive process automation and ensure timely underwriting decisions. Foster effective communication with sales teams. Manage departmental resources and budgets efficiently. Coach and mentor the underwriting team, encouraging professional qualifications and developing succession plans.

Required Qualifications

Experience: A minimum of 15 years in Individual Life underwriting, including expertise in medical, non-medical, and financial risk assessment. Relevant experience in Group Life underwriting, pricing, and renewals is essential.

Education: A bachelor’s degree is required, with a preference for a master’s degree. Professional qualification such as FLMI (Fellow, Life Management Institute) is highly desirable.

Breadth Across Business Areas: Strong expertise in Individual Life underwriting combined with relevant experience in Group Life new business, renewals, pricing, quotations, and policy servicing.

Technical and Commercial Judgment: Demonstrated ability to interpret complex financial information, assess medical and financial risks accurately, manage high-impact cases, and work effectively with reinsurance arrangements.

Leadership and Stakeholder Influence: Proven experience in coaching underwriting teams, negotiating sensitive decisions, and engaging with senior management, sales leaders, brokers, and technical specialists.

Governance and Improvement: Solid understanding of insurance regulations and underwriting controls. Ability to enhance workflows, service delivery, and team productivity.

Additional Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, excellent prioritization and delegation abilities, and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

This role offers the opportunity to lead a critical underwriting function within a dynamic insurance environment, contributing directly to business growth and operational excellence. Candidates with a strong technical background and leadership capabilities are encouraged to apply.