Role: Senior Underwriter

Location: Austin, TX or Remote

Reports To: Director, Technical Underwriting

About Hippo:

Our mission is to deliver intuitive and proactive protection for homeowners, combining the power of technology with a human touch. 

Hippo built the world’s first home protection platform. We believe that insurance should protect your home and the things you treasure with policies designed for modern lives and proactive protection that helps you care for your home. Our aim is to help you avoid issues before they become costly problems because the best claims experience is the one you don’t have. Simply put, Hippo exists to protect the joy of homeownership. 

About This Role:

Responsible for driving profitable growth of the $300M homeowners portfolio across 40 states. Performs a wide range of risk analysis and underwriting responsibilities both at the policy and portfolio levels. Support underwriting team’s learning and execution.

About You:

• Possesses extensive knowledge of ISO homeowners policies, various supplemental products, coverages, and endorsements
• Applies advanced risk assessment, eligibility, coverage, and rating analysis skills on a case-by-case basis to contribute to profitable growth
• Effectively communicates with various distribution partners and leadership to resolve referrals
• Relies on underwriting expertise and analysis to identify underwriting trends
• Applies state-specific/geographic knowledge and exposure understanding to resolve unique underwriting exposures or challenges
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite as well as other business-related software required
• Knowledge and proficiency with technical issues, compliance, coverage, products and pricing strategies expected
• Strong analytical skills to provide data driven conclusions and recommendations
• Self-motivated with the ability to inspire and motivate others
• Works independently, with minimal supervision
• Adaptability to changes in a high-paced environment
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Relationship building across various partners, both internal and external

What You’ll Do:

• Guides and supports personal lines property underwriting execution in compliance with state, product and pricing strategies
• Decides on the most challenging referrals that aren’t clearly defined by the existing guidelines where critical underwriting judgement and knowledge is key
• Develops underwriting job aids, resources, training and tools to support consistency in underwriting team practices and execution
• Observes and communicates underwriting trends and recommendations to the leadership team
• Prepares DOI, BBB, and related complaint responses. Collaborates with compliance to provide timely response and resolution to complaint activity
• Assists with documentation and response to internal, reinsurer, and market conduct exams or audits
• Reviews underwriter delegated authority level requests
• Assists with special claims handling requests by participating in conferences with claims litigation and leadership
• Completes team audits and reviews property underwriter work product to measure consistency, productivity, and quality of risk decisions

Must Haves: 

• Candidate should have a minimum of 5 years of personal lines property underwriting experience
• Experience in underwriting in CA and TX markets strongly preferred
• Wildfire and catastrophic underwriting experience preferred
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. Degree in finance, accounting, business, or risk management is preferred
• Professional insurance coursework/designations preferred (CPCU, CLU, ChFC) are preferred
• Producer licenses are preferred

Benefits and Perks: 

Hippo treats its team members with the same level of dedication and care as we do our customers, which is why we’re fortunate to provide all of our Hippos with: 

• Healthy Hippos Benefits - 100% Employer paid medical, dental & vision plan options for our team members AND their families (yes, you read that correctly). As well as 401(k), long & short-term disability, employer-paid life insurance, flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 
• Training and Career Growth - Paid training opportunities and countless internal career growth opportunities 
• Award-Winning Culture - Recognized by BuiltIn and Inc. Magazine as a top place to work - we value integrity, inclusiveness, empathy, and being proactive and dedicated  
• Flexible Time Off - You know when and how you should recharge 
• Little Hippos Program - We offer 12 weeks of parental leave for primary and secondary caregivers. 

Hippo is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to building a team culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion. 

Hippo’s applicants are considered solely based on their qualifications, without regard to an applicant’s disability or need for accommodation. Any Hippo applicant who requires reasonable accommodations during the application process should contact the Hippo’s People Team to make the need for an accommodation known. 

All Hippo employees who are required to report to a Hippo office or voluntarily enter a Hippo office must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, unless a reasonable accommodation is approved. Employees in Office Based and Hybrid roles are required to report to a Hippo office. Fully vaccinated is defined as 2 weeks after receiving the second dose of a 2 dose vaccine and two weeks after receiving a single dose vaccine. Please acknowledge you have read and understand this requirement.