Commercial Underwriting Manager

Job Summary

• Directs and controls the operations of the Commercial Underwriting Team for a region that includes various state-specific guidelines.
• Responsible for the growth and profitability of an assigned book of business and/or territory.
• Evaluates and manages commercial risk acceptance, improvement, rejection or modification to support designated territorial or industry goals.
• Identifies areas of profitable commercial growth, retention and market penetration while ensuring exceptional customer service is provided to agents and policyholders.
• Provides back up for other leadership team members, when needed.

Essential Job Functions

• Guides team of underwriters who support complex or irregular cases. Manages the risk selection process, primarily in Core and Expanded Core industries, by providing leadership and direction to the underwriting staff that encourages independent and creative thinking. Develops decision making, negotiation skills and promotes flexibility in handling complex transactions requiring exception processing. Manages the book of existing business (Core, Expanded Core) for appropriate underwriter evaluation. Reviews and exercises approval of risks within designated authority levels, and refers risks above authority level to senior leadership and/or Home Office team with recommendations for approval, pricing and coverage to be provided.
• Evaluates large losses, loss trends, and other financial reports reflective of performance in relation to goals. Develops strategies to correct deterioration in combined ratio figures. Creates strategies to optimize efficient utilization of resources by managing operating costs and applies understanding of the economic impact of decisions made. Reviews work processes and procedures in order to implement efficiencies.
• Formulates and approves responses to customer and agency complaints to assure resolution and to prevent similar future complaints. Identifies and escalates technology issues to the appropriate department for resolution. Evaluates the capability of agents to write large premium or complex accounts and makes recommendations to the senior leadership team. Promotes collaboration between other teams, departments, home office and the agency force. Maintains superior customer experience and promotes business growth by regularly meeting with individual agents. Builds relationships with various agency segments along with developing agency- specific plans to increase their underwriting expertise with the goal of increasing profitable commercial production.
• Participates in commercial sales clinics and commercial career schools. Manages the quantity and quality of work performed within the Service Team to ensure business unit processing standards and performance objectives are met. Places focus on accurate, timely and service-oriented underwriting for proposals, new business, endorsements and renewals. Conducts monthly audits and enforces underwriting authority levels coupled with related work profiles.
• Takes a leadership role in staff development efforts by coaching, mentoring, and review of job results. Ensures underwriter team has the knowledge and skills to provide a superior level of technical support to agents. Influences the corporate culture by acquiring results-driven talent. Performs other duties as assigned.

Physical Actions

• Job is performed in-person at a Farmers office or virtually at an approved alternative work location. The physical work environment is indoors and climate-controlled with adequate lighting and ventilation. Normal and customary distractions include background noise produced by office equipment and chatter among people, as well as interruptions. Frequently sits for prolonged periods of time, up to a full shift. Occasionally moves about the workplace including, navigating stairs, ramps, and level or uneven surfaces. Occasionally moves, pushes, pulls, lifts, carries, and/or places objects or materials weighing up to 25 pounds without assistance. Frequently uses shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers to manipulate equipment, tools, and objects necessary to perform job duties. Frequently performs fine motor tasks such as typing, mousing, or writing, up to a full shift. Rarely performs movements such as bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, twisting, and reaching overhead or below the knees. Possesses clear vision, with or without correction, to visually read and verify information. Relies on depth perception and peripheral vision to navigate the work environment visually by identifying barriers, changes in terrain and locating objects. Possesses adequate hearing, with or without correction, to communicate with co-workers, respond promptly to auditory signals or alarms, and discern sounds essential for maintaining safety and productivity in the workplace. Jobs in this category require rare, if any, travel.

Education Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelors degree preferred.
• Insurance industry designation achieved, or completion of three sections from CPCU courses 500/510, 520 or 551, 552.

Experience Requirements

• Five or more years commercial multi-line underwriting experience. Prior leadership experience.

Additional Qualification

• Possesses strong technical aptitude. Knowledge of management information and business systems (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access). Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure. Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment. Demonstrated analytical skills. Strong verbal communication and listening skills. Demonstrated written communication skills.
• Possesses strong product knowledge. Working broad-based knowledge of relevant insurance laws and statutes; the contract issue process, competitor products and marketing practices. Ability to read and interpret policy contract language. Technical expertise in commercial risk selection and pricing. Develops and delivers effective presentations. Ability to influence internal and/or external constituents.
• Ability to successfully interact with the agency force to grow business while maintaining underwriting discipline. Effectively coaches and delivers constructive feedback. Experience in a regulated environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of relevant insurance laws and statutes, contract issue process, competitor products and marketing practices.