Underwriting Director

At EMC, we’re all about working together to make an impact. As part of our team, you’ll have the opportunity to grow, contribute, and gain experience that matters. We strive to be caring leaders, close partners, and responsive experts—always supporting each other to do our best work. Join us, and let’s improve lives together.

**Position is eligible for candidates who reside in or around the greater Lansing area**

Essential Functions:

• Leads and directs the branch underwriting process.

• Enforces guidelines and procedures established by Corporate Office Underwriting. 

• Develops and enforces underwriting guidelines and procedures specific to their branch territory. 

• Models smart and effective underwriting practices for individual accounts, all lines of business, and different classes. 

•  Sets and implements strategies to address challenges to profit and communicates strategies throughout the underwriting department. 

• Answers questions, shares recommendations for complex situations, such as difficult accounts, communication strategies or problematic agency relationships and explains the rationale for recommendations.

• Monitors business results to ensure that underwriters operate within authority limits, guidelines, and branch service directives while matching price to quality across the book of business and meeting rate goals.

• Serves as the subject matter expert for the branch and makes final decisions on complex or high-risk accounts.

• Reviews updates received from Corporate Office Underwriting and communicates changes to team.

• Oversees and directs the underwriting department team, focusing on both long-term and short-term success.  

• Collaborates with team members to establish performance goals and monitors status, conducts reviews, and provides coaching. 

• Interviews, hires, and recommends salary adjustments for team members. 

• Resolves disciplinary issues, reviews results, action plans, and progress. 

• Organizes and plans educational opportunities for the underwriting team, including presenting out on results of trainings. 

• Develops team expertise and completes succession planning, including identifying talent and implementing development plans for critical positions. 

• Supports diversity and inclusion initiatives. 

• Fosters an innovative culture, including supporting new ideas and providing guidance on potential changes.  

• Partners closely with the Branch Human Resources Business Partner

• Manager to identify training needs for the department and individuals and ensure that it is delivered. 

• Partners with Underwriting Supervisors oversee workloads and workflow processes to ensure that branch objectives can be met.

• Directs existing and develops and fosters new agency relationships to grow profitable relationships and rehabilitate unprofitable and low growth relationships.

• Meets with and educates agents to develop their understanding of on EMC products, underwriting appetite, systems and services to help generate a flow of quality new business opportunities.

• Delivers effective presentations to existing and potential new agents as well as agent associations to develop and strengthen EMC’s brand in the marketplace and agents impression of EMC.

• Monitors progress of underwriters’ assigned agents and guides underwriters and agents in achieving annual goals.

• Seeks feedback from agents and takes action to improve their experience and underwriting responsiveness and grow profitable books of business.

• Collaborates with Branch Vice President to determine underwriting strategy and practices and establishes short-term and long-term underwriting goals. Participates in the branch’s 3-year plan, including leading the discussion on underwriting trends and implications on profitability. 

• Analyzes insurance trends in the operating area and industry with respect to general coverages, rates and market conditions in order to help find profitable segments to grow in.

• Coordinates with other branch teams, including claims, marketing, premium audit and risk improvement, to identify and address opportunities for improvement and to drive profitable growth, and offset threats to profit. 

• Preforms audits on new business and renewals for compliance with Sarbanes Oxley, letters of authority, and quality and completeness of the underwriting being done in the branch.

• Analyzes company reports and experience data to determine and implement necessary changes in branch underwriting policies and practices.

• Coordinates with underwriters, marketing and branch management in the agency management process including planning and agency review meetings.

• Identifies opportunities and potential barriers within agency relationships.

• Develops strategies and delegates tasks to team members to address problem agencies and grow profitable business at high-performing agencies. 

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in insurance or business administration or equivalent relevant experience

• Ten years of commercial lines underwriting experience preferred

• Previous supervisory/leadership experience

• CPCU designation or other underwriting-related designation(s) preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Superior knowledge of underwriting and risk analysis

• Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to make sound decisions

• Strong computer skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Office and social media

• Ability to oversee multiple projects at one time and make decisions under challenging circumstances

• Excellent ability to translate technical ideas into more general terms for business customers

• Ability to explore new and different processes, services, technologies, and partnerships to enhance EMC’s business

• Superior written and verbal communication skills

• Excellent leadership skills and ability to motivate team

• Excellent ability to effectively communicate products, procedures, business planning and system information

• Exceptional customer service skills

• Ability to speak effectively before groups

• Occasional travel; a valid driver’s license with an acceptable motor vehicle report per company standards will be required if driving

The hiring salary range for this position will vary based on geographic location, falling within either of the following:

$118,603 - $170,001 or $130,774 - $187,434

A hiring range represents a subset of the full salary range. The actual salary will depend on several factors, including relevant education, skills, and experience of an applicant, geographic location, and business needs.

For information relating to the benefits EMC Team Members receive as part of a comprehensive rewards package, please visit www.emcins.com/careers.

Our employment practices are in accordance with the laws that prohibit discrimination due to race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, active military status, citizenship status, marital status or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

All of our locations are tobacco free including in company vehicles.