Underwriting Specialist

If you’re passionate about helping people protect what matters most to them at a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales, as well as innovating and simplifying processes and operations to provide the best customer value, then Nationwide’s Property and Casualty team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers and partners are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

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Job Description Summary

Are you a critical thinker who can analyze complex risk and find insurance solutions that balance customer needs with business goals? If you can take initiative, use both your analytical and creative abilities to make sound decisions and have a desire to help people solve real challenges, we want to hear from you!

Our Excess & Surplus/Specialty (E&S/S) lines allow us to provide insurance that other carriers may not offer. It’s a fast-paced environment in a collaborative, team-oriented culture, working in an always-changing, growing industry.

As an Underwriting Specialist in Brokerage Casualty you determine individual risk acceptability, pricing, coverage, terms and conditions, by developing, analyzing and evaluating information and exposures on risks of a complex technical nature for the Primary Casualty line of business. In addition, you’ll achieve production and loss ratio goals with assigned brokers or program managers by reviewing and analyzing claims, loss history and taking appropriate action on accounts. Broker assignments are more complex in terms of coverage and broker relationships. You will work independently with a high level of authority and judgment. Determining appropriate reinsurance placement, if any, on individual accounts is an important element of this role. We will count on you to foster positive business relationships with co-workers, brokers and reinsurers. You will also assist with research, development and presentation of new products, forms and manuals and have opportunities to assist in the training and mentoring of Underwriters and Underwriting Assistants.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities: 

• In partnership with Consultant/Manager researches market trends, competition and market viability as well as develops an active working partnership with Actuarial, Finance and Claims as appropriate.

• Reviews individual risks with assigned brokers and either declines or accepts business based upon information necessary to make the decision. The underwriter analyzes, with a high level of technical expertise, exposures to loss, develops an adequate premium charge for the exposure, determines appropriate endorsements and exclusions to address loss exposures for the insurance contract.  Within department guidelines, places reinsurance, if any, for the account.

• Achieves team/individual production and loss ratio goals with assigned brokers through sound management and marketing.  Works with more complex issues concerning coverage. The underwriter continually analyzes premium and loss results of assigned brokers by agency, state, major class of business, etc.  Continually assess quality of broker submissions and makes corrective action recommendations.

• Handles policy maintenance items and other mid-term requests.  Reviews endorsement requests and processes necessary changes to the policy.  Reviews loss control reports and makes recommendations to the broker and/or changes to the policy. Follows up on outstanding information as required. Reviews claim activity and takes appropriate action.

• Places reinsurance per department guidelines based upon the appropriate use of all reinsurance facilities used by the department, including various treaty, semiautomatic and facultative reinsurance.  Maintains good working relationship with re-insurers.

• Fosters positive business relationships with brokers, through frequent contact. Develops and maintains good rapport and resolves broker conflicts.   Travels to broker offices as required for training or marketing visits. Entertains brokers visiting the Company as required. Assists with development of marketing ideas and strategies for underwriting events and other marketing campaigns.

• Proactively develops technical and business knowledge through internal and external venues.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships:  Reports to Underwriting Manager. No direct reports.  Indirect reports not typically assigned.

Typical Skills and Experiences: 

Education:  Undergraduate degree preferred. Equivalent work experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.

License/Certification/Designation:  Completion of general insurance courses such as CPCU, CIC, AU, ARM, CPIW, CWIS, or ASLI is preferred.

Experience:  Five years as a CL underwriter, excess & surplus lines experience preferred.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills:  Knowledge of CL underwriting policies, practices and procedures, insurance law and underwriting marketing principles and techniques.  Knowledge of Rating plans and plan concepts.  Knowledge of Treaty & Cultivate reinsurance concepts.  Knowledge of the wholesale broker system and company operations.  Knowledge of regulatory issues, the general agency system, market conditions and company operations.  Ability to communicate effectively, verbally, and in writing, inter personally with individuals and groups via telephone, video conference fax, e-mail and in person. Demonstrates negotiation skills.  Ability to manage the assigned line or lines of business, which may include monitoring of aggregates.  Ability to analyze insurance risks to determine acceptability including policy language, various commercial rating plans and methodologies, reinsurance. Ability to use/learn job related computer software. Ability to devise business solutions to problems, implement the most appropriate, and monitor its effectiveness.  Ability to make decisions with minimal supervision.  

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and HR Business Partner.

Values:  Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions: 

Overtime Eligibility:  Exempt (Not Eligible)

Working Conditions:  Normal office environment. Limited travel out of state may be required.  In-town entertaining required as necessary after normal business hours.

ADA:  The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job.  Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties. 

We currently anticipate accepting applications until 10/19/2026. However, we encourage early submissions, as the posting may close sooner if a strong candidate slate is identified before the deadline.

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

This position could be filled within any of the lower 48 U.S. states.Smoke-Free Iowa Statement: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries comply with the Iowa Smokefree Air Act. Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed areas on or around company premises as well as company issued vehicles. The company offers designated smoking areas in which smoking is permitted at each individual location. The Act prohibits retaliation for reporting complaints or violations. For more information on the Iowa Smokefree Air Act, individuals may contact the Smokefree Air Act Helpline at 888-944-2247.
For NY residents please review the following state law information: Notice of Employee Rights, Protections, and Obligations LS740 (ny.gov) https://dol.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/02/ls740_1.pdf

NOTE TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES:

We value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. Nationwide does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. All resumes submitted by employment agencies directly to any Nationwide employee or hiring manager in any form without a signed Nationwide Client Services Agreement on file and search engagement for that position will be deemed unsolicited in nature. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is subsequently hired as a result of the referral or through other means.

Nationwide pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement within the actual starting salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity and location of the role as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. If a Sales job, Sales Incentives, based on performance goals are possible in addition to this range. Note on Compensation for Part-Time Roles: Please be aware that the salary ranges listed below reflect full-time compensation. Actual compensation may be prorated based on the number of hours worked relative to a full-time schedule.The national salary range for Specialist, Brokerage Casualty Underwriting - E&S/Specialty : $80,000.00-$148,500.00The expected starting salary range for Specialist, Brokerage Casualty Underwriting - E&S/Specialty : $80,000.00 - $120,000.00