Senior Manager, Underwriting

Position Summary

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Underwriting Manager to lead and elevate our branch office underwriting operations. In this pivotal role, you will drive both strategic and day-to-day activities, partnering closely with regional leadership to achieve ambitious sales and profitability goals.

Primary Responsibilities

• Participates with the regional manager and other appropriate persons in the branch office in preparing and carrying out the office’s business plan each year, including overseeing such activities and setting of business objectives with revisions and modifications as needed to meet the branch sales and profit goals
• Staffs the underwriting jobs under her or his supervision with persons who have the appropriate skills, abilities and interests to perform the assigned jobs
• Coordinates with the regional and claims manager in preparing or assisting in the preparation of required budgets for the branch office, such as manpower and sales and the submitting of such budgets to management
• Coordinates with the regional manager on staffing and personnel administration, including assigning and maintaining proper job classifications and conducting timely and appropriate evaluations of job performances, for all persons under her or his supervision
• Directs and supervises underwriting activities of assigned Underwriting staff, including the quality, quantity and timeliness of work
• Maintains current company and department procedures. Assigns work, provides training and feedback to team members, and conducts timely and appropriate evaluations of job performance in the department
• Underwrites or provides assistance in underwriting large or unusual risks which require a high level of technical knowledge and skill in product and industry
• Conducts reviews of underwriting files
• Assists regional manager with various projects as needed
• Decides whether to accept, decline or modify applications or requests to sell an insurance policy and once sold, recognizes and evaluates exposure changes as they occur during a policy period and includes an understanding of the company's target programs and coverage
• Evaluates, quotes and negotiates prices on applications from new and renewal customers and requests for changes in policies which requires an understanding of statutory requirements, ISO, company and NCCI coverage forms and endorsements and commercial line reference manuals, including Best’s Underwriting Guide
• Demonstrates consistently above average proficiency in recognizing key underwriting issues and taking appropriate action on developed information
• Manages a group of agencies, including prospecting for new agencies, agency appointment, growth and development, maximization of agency profit sharing opportunities and credit management; evaluating agency factors, including agency personnel, line diversification, loss ratio, agency book of business, volume and profit potential and which agencies to appoint or terminate
• Travel as necessary to perform sales and marketing activities, maintain territory, attend meetings, or for other reasons deemed necessary to fulfill position requirements
• Solicits new business and retains renewal business through effective presentations to agency and customer audiences
• Manages and develops business in an assigned territory, including achieving profitable underwriting results, sales development and customer service functions
• Formulates, plans and achieves sales budgets, with objectives to support business planning, for assigned accounts and territory, including setting and achieving premium and loss ratio goals, agency and prospecting calls and business forecasting
• Works with a structured referral process, maintains, promotes and increases profitable sales from current and prospective customer accounts through, among other activities, regular agency visits, developing agency relationships and agency reviews
• Decides within stated levels of authority and company guidelines, seeks exceptions to guidelines as needed when supported by appropriate data
• Identifies and takes appropriate action on changes in customer operations or financial conditions
• Participates in complex research, analysis or development projects requiring advanced skills as assigned directly from home office underwriting
• Maintains and promotes profitable business relationships with current and prospective customer accounts, through effective marketing, sales and service efforts
• Coordinates, promotes and markets claims, risk control and premium audit service plans to current and prospective customers
• Maintains current knowledge of corporate, regulatory and competitive changes in lines of business written
• Serves as a source of knowledge within the company
• As a management representative, consistently acts in the best interest of BITCO and provides leadership and communication to actively promote BITCO's mission, values, and culture
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Insurance, Risk Management, or other Business related field preferred; or equivalent experience
• Prior supervisory or management experience
• Minimum of 5-7 years’ experience in the following areas: Field Underwriting – Construction, Forest Products, Manufacturing, Oil & Gas
• Underwriting New & Renewal Business – Determine pricing and understand commercial lines policy forms and coverages
• Analyzing & Managing Exposures – Develop action plans to manage risks and changes during a policy period
• Agency Management – Growth and development; prospecting; appointment; and maximization of opportunities and responsibilities
• External Sales – Cultivate new business while demonstrating retention of current customers through presentations to agencies and customers