About The Role

Team – Adviser Service Life - Leadership Team

Working Pattern – Hybrid – 2 days per week in the Vitality Bournemouth or London (minimum of one day a week expected to work within our Bournemouth office) with regular travel to South Africa. Full-time hours.

We are happy to discuss flexible working!

Top 3 skills needed for this role:

• Underwriting experience in Life
• Transformational change delivery experience
• Driving operational excellence (processes/improvements/strategic steerage)

What this role is all about:

The Life Underwriting Director will play a pivotal role in managing and driving transformational change across our underwriting processes. This role will oversee the underwriting, nurses, concierge, and new business teams from quote to cover, ensuring the seamless integration and efficiency of operations. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in life underwriting and leading transformation change projects, along with strong leadership skills and a passion for innovation and continuous improvement.

The role will also drive the adviser service strategy and lead the delivery of world-class service to our Intermediaries across Vitality Life. This includes direct dealings with members and intermediaries and participation in the Life Exco, deputising for the Group Retention & Adviser Service Director in other key Excos.

Key Actions:

• Define the strategy and plan for Life Adviser Service Operations aligned with overall business goals.
• Mentor, guide, and develop team members.
• Create a high-performance culture fostering development and overachievement.
• Implement transformational change initiatives to optimize underwriting and service processes.
• Develop strategies to improve efficiency, accuracy, and customer experience.
• Deliver technology solutions to meet evolving broker, franchise, and employer needs.
• Engage with major change programmes and empower the team to identify improvements.
• Oversee end-to-end underwriting process, ensuring compliance with guidelines, risk assessment protocols, and regulations.
• Collaborate with other Operational Division Heads on innovation, efficiency, and customer experience.
• Establish KPIs and analyze data to improve operational effectiveness.
• Engage with stakeholders to understand needs and deliver exceptional service.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, brokers, and partners.
• Identify and implement innovative solutions for underwriting efficiency and accuracy.
• Achieve targets related to efficiency, automation, and customer experience.

What do you need to thrive?

• Experience at senior levels, including sales teams
• Private Medical, Life, or Insurance experience
• Strong leadership qualities
• Ability to motivate and develop call centre teams
• Excellent planning, organizational, communication, coaching, and feedback skills
• At least 5 years of leadership in life underwriting
• Proven experience managing transformational change
• Deep understanding of underwriting, risk assessment, and regulations
• Experience supporting large system change to enhance processes and customer benefits
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Insurance, or related field; advanced degree preferred
• Strategic thinking and innovation skills

What’s in it for you?

• Performance-based bonus schemes
• Up to 12% pension contribution, with company matching up to 6%
• Vitality health insurance with rewards and benefits
• Life Assurance – four times annual salary

These are just some of the many perks we offer! For the full range of benefits, please visit our careers page.

Our promise to you:

• Support your health and well-being
• Create an inclusive environment
• Offer flexible working arrangements
• Help you grow your career
• Empower your voice and contributions
• Encourage learning from successes and failures
• Provide a balanced mix of challenge and support
• Recognize and reward with competitive salary and benefits
• Support you when needed
• Offer opportunities to contribute positively to society

We aim for you to feel valued, supported, and part of our community.