Senior Farm Underwriter

About the role

Berkley Southwest offers commercial property and casualty products and services through independent agents in Arizona, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. The company maintains a strong local presence in each of its markets, keeping underwriting and support close to the customer. Now more than ever, financial strength is critical to a successful, long-term insurance relationship. Union Standard is a member company of W. R. Berkley Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, whose insurance company subsidiaries are rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best. The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Additional Company Details: We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third party recruiting agencies or firms.

Responsibilities

• Underwrite new business by evaluating applications, requesting supplemental information, and accepting or rejecting risks in accordance with company guidelines and reinsurance treaties.
• Underwrite renewal business by analyzing prior underwriting files, agency performance, loss history, risk control reports, motor vehicle records, and prior carrier experience.
• Maintain underwriting authority as delegated by underwriting leadership and ensure compliance with internal policies and treaty constraints.
• Collaborate with underwriting leadership to develop and refine products, pricing strategies, and coverage enhancements.
• Build and sustain productive, profitable relationships with agents and brokers to support business growth.
• Monitor and manage the assigned book of business to maintain target loss ratios and underwriting profitability.
• Meet established production goals while delivering timely and responsive service to agency partners.
• Evaluate assigned agency performance to ensure company and agency objectives are met, participate in agency reviews, and make recommendations regarding agency management matters.
• Travel within the assigned territory to conduct agency visits, prospect meetings, and market assessments.
• Participate in industry and company-sponsored continuing education to maintain technical proficiency.
• Assist with onboarding and training junior underwriting staff as directed.
• Collaborate with claims, risk control, actuarial, and product teams to support holistic risk evaluation.
• Identify and contribute to process improvements that enhance underwriting efficiency and governance.
• Support strategic initiatives through data analysis, market feedback, and underwriting insights.

Requirements

Location and Travel: Little Rock, AR. Travel within the assigned territory to conduct agency visits, prospect meetings, and market assessments. Some travel and overnight stays may be required.

Sponsorship Details: Sponsorship not offered for this role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in insurance or a related field and/or a minimum of four years of commercial lines underwriting and marketing experience, or equivalent industry experience, preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to develop a profitable commercial lines book of business.
• Advanced analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to assess complex risks, synthesize relevant data, and make sound, evidence-based underwriting decisions.
• Proficiency in interpreting business publications, industry journals, technical documentation, and regulatory guidelines.
• Ability to draft clear and concise reports, business correspondence, and procedural documentation.
• Effective communication skills in individual and group settings, including responding to inquiries from internal stakeholders, agency partners, and external vendors.
• Strong quantitative skills, including the ability to calculate premiums, commissions, deductibles, and loss ratios.
• Professional and approachable interpersonal style that supports trust and collaboration.
• Performance in this role will be evaluated based on achievement of established goals and standards, reliability in managing time and resources, consistent attendance and punctuality, and a demonstrated commitment to exceptional service for internal and external stakeholders.