Personal Lines Underwriting Manager

Description

Who are we?

Western National Insurance Group is a private mutual insurance company with over 120 years of experience serving customers' property-and-casualty insurance needs in the Midwestern, Northwestern, and Southwestern United States. Known as “The Relationship Company®,” we define success as a measure of the relationships we’ve built over time. In everything that we do, we know that delivering a friendly and helpful interaction makes for a better experience for everyone involved. That’s the power of “nice”. At Western National, nice is something we work to bring to every person and organization with whom we partner and serve.

Does this opportunity interest you?

Western National is seeking a Personal Lines Underwriting Manager to join our team!

The individual in this role will have the opportunity to develop and oversee the underwriting staff to ensure growth and profitability, supporting organizational objectives. They will work collaboratively with other departments to develop and execute solutions in the interest of achieving long-term personal lines plans. 

What are the responsibilities and opportunities of this role?

• Develops and manages strategies and underwriting team to identify and pursue new opportunities to achieve a balanced, profitable, and quality book of business while protecting company assets. 
• Selects, coaches, develops, and retains staff to achieve individual, departmental, and company goals.
• Creates opportunities for synergy and integration of workflow and drives efficiencies in systems and processes. 
• Acts as a referral underwriter for underwriting staff; provides feedback and technical guidance to underwriters, as needed. 
• Actively seeks opportunities to promote company’s products and services; networking within insurance community to stay abreast of marketplace changes and emerging industry issues.  
• Participates in initiatives to develop and implement processes and policies.
• Develops and maintains highly effective business relationships with agents as well as internal and external customers.
• Ensures processes are followed and underwriting decisions are made in accordance with underwriting guidelines and within service standard requirements.
• Makes decisions that have a significant impact on results for a major portion of the company. 
• Interprets and executes policies and guidelines. 
• Assigns and approves authority levels for their team members.
• Executes policies within assigned authority levels. 
• Applies knowledge to help solve problems of multifaceted scope and complexity.
• Finds solutions by identifying and analyzing patterns from partial and / or conflicting data.
• Consistently acts according to our customer experience standards, including responding quickly, maintaining a positive attitude, building rapport, demonstrating empathy, managing the customer’s expectations, using the proper communication channel for the situation, and taking ownership to ensure the customer’s issue is resolved. 
• Performs special projects and other duties as assigned

Requirements

What are the must-have qualifications for a candidate?

• Experience managing a team of insurance professionals.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of industry best practices, standards, and multiple discipline underwriting concepts.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, direct, and develop individuals. 
• Valid and unrestricted driver’s license with acceptable driving record. 
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills. 
• Demonstrated ability to multitask and solve problems. 
• Demonstrated time management skills with ability to meet deadlines and show initiative.
• Bachelor’s degree in insurance or finance, or equivalent related experience. 
• CPCU, AU, or CIC certification.  
• Intermediate-to-advanced skills working with Microsoft programs (e.g., Excel, Word, and PowerPoint). 
• Proficient use of various core systems, office and computer equipment, and software packages. 

Compensation overview

The full hiring range for this role is $102,200 - $140,470, annually. However, the base pay offered may vary depending on the job-related knowledge, skills, credentials, and experience of each candidate as well as other factors such as the scope and location of the role. Candidates looking for compensation outside of the posted range are encouraged to apply and will be considered based on their individual qualifications and / or may be considered for other positions.

Western National Insurance Group reserves the right to fill this position at a level above or below the level included in this posting.

Culture and Total Rewards

Western National has long been known as “The Relationship Company®” and caring for our employees is part of that relationship commitment. We value connectiveness, empowerment, and accountability, and we believe that our employees are our biggest asset. 

Currently ranked as the 41st largest private company by revenue in Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal), Western National has earned accolades year-over-year as an employer of choice and garnered multiple awards for wellness in the workplace. Western National has also been named a Top Workplace by the Star Tribune for the past four consecutive years. In addition, the Group is consistently recognized as a Ward’s 50 property-and-casualty insurance company for its outstanding financial results.

Western National offers full-time employees a significant Total Rewards Package, including:

• Medical insurance plan options and other standard employee benefits, including dental insurance, vision benefits, life insurance, disability insurance, and more!
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) Plan (participants are eligible for 100% matching on the first 6% of their contributions)
• Wellbeing Program, including onsite fitness studio
• Paid Time Off – including holiday, vacation, and volunteer
• 100% company-paid tuition reimbursement for approved job-relevant coursework and access to The Institutes (Risk and insurance education)
• Paid parental leave
• Bonus opportunities

Western National believes in supporting balance between work and life by providing a flexible work environment, which includes a variety of hybrid and remote work arrangements designed to balance individual, job, department, and company needs. 

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Western National provides employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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