Regional Underwriting Director

About the role

This position leads and directs the regional underwriting process, enforcing guidelines and establishing specific underwriting guidelines and procedures for the region. The role involves setting and implementing strategies to address challenges to profit, monitoring business results, making final decisions on complex or high-risk accounts, and overseeing the underwriting department team.

Responsibilities

• Leads and directs the regional underwriting process.
• Enforces guidelines and procedures established by Corporate Office Underwriting.
• Develops and enforces underwriting guidelines and procedures specific to the region.
• 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, and explains the rationale for recommendations.
• Makes final decisions on complex or high-risk accounts.
• Reviews updates received from Corporate Office Underwriting and communicates changes to the 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, monitors status, conducts reviews, and provides coaching.
• Hires, recommends salary adjustments, and resolves disciplinary issues for team members.
• Organizes and plans educational opportunities for the underwriting team, including presenting on results of trainings.
• Fosters an innovative culture, supports new ideas, and provides guidance on potential changes.
• Promotes diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Partners closely with the region's Human Resources Business Partner Manager to identify training needs for the department and individuals and ensure that it is delivered.
• Directs existing and develops new agency relationships to grow profitable relationships and rehabilitate unprofitable and low-growth relationships.
• Meets with and educates agents to develop their understanding of EMC products, underwriting appetite, systems, and services to 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 them in achieving annual goals.
• Solicits feedback from agents and takes action to improve their experience and underwriting responsiveness, growing 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 region'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 to help find profitable segments to grow in.
• Coordinates with other region 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.
• Performs 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 region.
• Analyzes company reports and experience data to determine and implement necessary changes in region underwriting policies and practices.
• Coordinates with underwriters, marketing, and region 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.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in insurance or business administration, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Ten years of commercial lines underwriting experience.
• Previous supervisory/leadership experience.
• CPCU designation or other underwriting-related designation(s) preferred.

Qualifications

• 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.
• The 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.
• The 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.
• The ability to speak effectively before groups.

Skills

• Knowledge of Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.
• Ability to analyze insurance trends and industry conditions.
• Experience in managing agency relationships.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Ability to lead and manage a team.
• Effective communication and presentation skills.

Benefits

Our benefits package includes:

• Comprehensive health and wellness programs.
• Retirement savings plans.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• Employee assistance programs.
• Discounted healthcare options.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Work-life balance programs.
• Volunteer time off.
• Generous paid time off.

Pay

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

• $121,263 - $174,253 for the Phoenix, AZ area.
• $134,038 - $191,687 for other regions.

Schedule

The role is eligible to work remotely in Arizona, California, New Mexico, or Nevada with preference for the Phoenix, AZ area.