Director, Underwriting Research Asia

About the role

Manulife is looking for an experienced, intellectually curious underwriting professional to support the modernization and ongoing maintenance of the Manulife Underwriting Manual (MUM). The role covers medical and mortality research, evaluation of emerging evidence and translation of findings into practical underwriting guidance for use across Asia. It suits a senior underwriter who enjoys research, evidence-based decision making and influencing underwriting philosophy.

Key responsibilities

• Review medical literature, epidemiological studies, clinical guidelines and mortality research, and assess emerging medical advances and their implications for life insurance underwriting.
• Evaluate the mortality impact of medical impairments and risk factors in retail and High Net Worth (HNW) underwriting, and develop evidence-based recommendations for requirements, classifications, ratings and exclusions.
• Support the review, enhancement and maintenance of the MUM, updating guidelines for priority impairments and documenting rationale, evidence, assumptions and references.
• Assist in localising underwriting guidance to reflect Asian populations, healthcare systems and mortality experience.
• Collaborate with actuarial teams on mortality assumptions and emerging experience studies, and help shape risk philosophies that balance competitiveness with profitable risk management.
• Work with Chief Underwriters, Medical Directors, Actuarial teams, Claims leaders and external experts, present findings to leadership and governance committees, and contribute to AI-enabled and digital underwriting knowledge assets.

Required profile

• Minimum 10 years of life insurance underwriting experience, including at least 2 years in High Net Worth (HNW) underwriting.
• Demonstrated expertise in mortality underwriting and medical risk assessment.
• Experience reviewing complex medical, financial and lifestyle risks.
• Ability to critically appraise scientific and medical research.

Required skills

• Understanding of medical impairments, mortality risk factors, evidence-based underwriting, mortality rating methodologies and underwriting philosophy.
• Working knowledge of mortality experience studies, basic actuarial concepts and pricing assumptions, adverse selection, and the impact of underwriting on profitability.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and excellent technical writing skills for clear underwriting documentation.
• Comfortable working with data, research databases, clinical publications and evidence reviews.

The working arrangement is hybrid. Manulife describes itself as an international financial services provider and an equal opportunity employer.