Senior Underwriter

Position Summary

The Senior Underwriter is responsible for evaluating new business submissions and working closely with agents to write profitable commercial insurance business within the company's risk appetite and underwriting guidelines. In addition to underwriting duties, this role supports marketing initiatives, fosters agency relationships, and identifies growth opportunities. The Senior Underwriter also contributes to the development of team members through mentoring and training of staff. This position emphasizes profitability, sound risk selection, reinsurance coordination, and excellent service to appointed agents. The position follows a hybrid work schedule with three in-office days. Mondays and Tuesdays are mandatory, with the third day being flexible. Travel for marketing is required.

Key Responsibilities

Job Knowledge:

• Conduct front line underwriting of, based on level of authority, auto and property risks using broad knowledge of policy coverages, company guidelines, systems and philosophies while integrating portfolio management and analytics into underwriting actions.
• Ensure underwriting decisions align with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor business written and recommend strategies for profitability and growth.
• Promote self-learning, remains informed of competitive and industry trends. Actively shares knowledge across internal and external stakeholders.

Judgement:

• Evaluate new business submissions to determine eligibility, pricing, and terms based on risk quality and company guidelines.
• Demonstrate expert judgement in decision making and effectively conveys appropriate messaging based on the audience in a professional manner. Partners with leadership to analyze and handle emerging and more complex issues.
• Readily adapt to and effectively manage changing priorities and new inputs to situations and our business needs.

Communication, Relationship Building and Teamwork:

• Communicate effectively with agents to obtain required information, clarify underwriting decisions, and negotiate favorable terms.
• Collaborate with internal teams to support underwriting objectives and ensure consistency in decision-making.
• Engage in marketing efforts including attending agency visits, industry events, and contributing to the development of marketing materials and strategies.
• Participate in peer-to-peer underwriting quality review process.

Delivery and Productivity:

• Document underwriting rationale and maintain accurate records in underwriting systems.
• Support agency development by identifying opportunities for new or expanded business and serving as a liaison between underwriting and marketing teams.
• Execute strategically to identify and resolve threats, challenges and take advantage of opportunities.
• Provide excellent and responsive customer service to agents.

Analysis/Business Insight/Compliance:

• Manage reinsurance needs by identifying policies requiring support, coordinating facultative placements, and ensuring treaty compliance and documentation.
• Utilize available business data to identify opportunities to grow, improve profitability, and resolve challenges.
• Remain informed on competitor's market presence, regulatory changes, and gauge potential impact on our organization. Consider and propose changes to our products or platform to improve our competitive position and ease of doing business.
• Apply expert knowledge of key business drivers and utilizes available business intelligence to analyze and evaluate book metrics to identify opportunities or challenges. Consider potential strategies, prioritize underwriting actions, and achieve corporate goals.

Leadership:

• Mentor and train junior underwriters or team members to promote professional growth, ensure underwriting consistency, and support departmental goals.
• Assist other underwriters in analysis of more complex accounts.
• Effectively plan and conduct training based on the trainee’s experience and responsibilities and performs the appropriate follow-up to answer any outstanding questions or concerns.
• Work on projects and identify opportunities to improve product & service in the department and assist in the development of these plans.

Qualifications

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree required; CPCU designation preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

• 2–5 years of experience as an underwriter required, preferably in commercial lines, with some experience in marketing or agency relations strongly preferred.
• Experience or familiarity with reinsurance practices and placement processes is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of insurance principles and regulatory standards.

SKILLS:              

• Proficiency in underwriting software and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to represent the company in agency and marketing settings.
• Is professional, collaborative, and inclusive in all interactions.
• Approaches learning and change with open-mindedness
• Is resilient
• Ability to analyze applications and develop information to identify exposures, hazards, and controls
• Ability to analyze loss history to identify exposures or trends to apply to the acceptance, declination, and pricing decisions
• Ability to work with agencies in developing business relationships with courtesy, tact, and efficiency.
• Decision making skills in applying underwriting knowledge and company policy
• Oral and written communication skills in conversations and correspondence advising agents of underwriting decisions and company products.
• Recognizing workflow patterns and ability to identify downstream changes.
• Ability to work in a dynamic team environment.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None