Executive Director, Head of Fac Underwriting & Claims

You desire impactful work.
 

You’re RGA ready

RGA is a purpose-driven organization working to solve today’s challenges through innovation and collaboration. A Fortune 200 Company and listed among its World’s Most Admired Companies, we’re the only global reinsurance company to focus primarily on life- and health-related solutions. Join our multinational team of intelligent, motivated, and collaborative people, and help us make financial protection accessible to all.

Overview

The Executive Director, Head of Facultative Underwriting & Claims leads RGA Japan’s Underwriting and Claims activities, with primary emphasis on Underwriting. The role is accountable for technical governance, client service, operational performance, people leadership and continuous improvement.

Working closely with Japan leadership and front office teams, the role supports profitable growth, strengthens client relationships and ensures Underwriting and Claims capabilities respond to business and market needs. The role does not own Underwriting Solutions but may provide technical support when requested.

Responsibilities

Underwriting Leadership

• Lead and oversee Japan’s Underwriting function, ensuring technical quality, risk management, operational performance, and effective management of facultative and automatic underwriting activities
• Establish and maintain underwriting governance and standards, including policies, quality assurance, remediation processes, management of complex cases, monitoring of portfolio performance and emerging risks, and alignment with regional and global underwriting practices

Claims Leadership

• Lead and oversee Japan’s Claims function, ensuring accurate, timely, and consistent claims management, governance, quality assurance, and compliance with applicable authorities, treaties, policies, and service standards
• Provide strategic oversight of complex and high-impact claims, while driving continuous improvement through monitoring claims quality, turnaround times, operational trends, client reviews, audits, and alignment with regional and global Claims teams

Front Office, Client and Market Partnership

• Partner with Business Development, Pricing, and other front-office teams to support profitable growth, client retention, and business strategy by integrating Underwriting and Claims expertise into client and portfolio decisions
• Build and maintain senior client and market relationships, represent RGA Japan in key external engagements, and provide technical leadership and advisory support to clients and internal stakeholders

Operational Management and Change

• Lead operational strategy and performance management for the Underwriting and Claims functions, setting priorities, performance measures, and using data-driven insights to identify and address service, quality, capacity, and risk issues
• Drive operational excellence and compliance through process improvement, workflow optimization, technology enablement, and robust governance aligned with RGA, audit, and regulatory requirements

Leadership and People Management

• Lead and develop the Underwriting and Claims organization, overseeing talent acquisition, performance management, employee engagement, capability building, succession planning, and leadership development across a team of approximately 18 employees
• Build a high-performing and accountable culture by establishing clear roles, expectations, and decision authorities, while promoting collaboration, sound judgment, resilience, and alignment with RGA values

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant professional experience
• At least 15 years of relevant life insurance or life reinsurance experience, including substantial life underwriting experience
• Business-level Japanese and English; relevant advanced insurance, Underwriting or Claims qualification preferred
• Sufficient Claims knowledge and experience to provide credible leadership and oversight of the Claims function
• Significant experience leading managers, technical professionals and client-facing teams of comparable scope or complexity
• Experience supporting business growth, strategic client relationships and operational improvement in a multinational or matrixed environment
• Deep knowledge of life underwriting principles, risk assessment, delegated authorities and relevant medical, financial and legal considerations
• Sound judgment in complex technical, operational and organizational matters
• Strong commercial awareness, client orientation and ability to influence senior internal and external stakeholders
• Effective leadership, delegation, communication and people-development skills
• Ability to interpret portfolio and operational information and translate it into action

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What you can expect from RGA:

• Gain valuable knowledge from and experience with diverse, caring colleagues around the world.

• Enjoy a respectful, welcoming environment that fosters individuality and encourages pioneering thought.

• Join the bright and creative minds of RGA, and experience vast, endless career potential.

We’re excited to get to know you and connect your unique skills with our global opportunities. To create a modern and seamless experience, we use artificial intelligence (AI) in parts of our preliminary screening process. This technology helps us personalize job recommendations, automate interview scheduling, evaluate candidates based solely on experience—without considering name, gender, or other personal details—and provide real-time answers through our chatbot. AI is used only during early screening and never makes hiring decisions. Your RGA recruiter will work closely with you every step of the way to ensure the process feels personal, thoughtful, and focused on you.