Specialist, Underwriting Commercial Lines (Farm)

If you’re passionate about helping people protect what matters most to them, 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 are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

Ideal Candidates for this Specialist, Underwriting CL (Farm) position will have:

• Strong technical underwriting experience, specifically Commercial Lines, Farm or Agribusiness
• Underwriting experience and agency relationships in California strongly preferred
• AFIS certification preferred
• Strong unofficial leadership skills
• Demonstrated ability to positively influence team outcomes and foster collaboration
• Qualified candidates will reside in the Pacific Standard Time Zone and strongly preferred in California

#LI-TH1

This role does not qualify for employer-sponsored work authorization.  Nationwide does not participate in the Stem OPT Extension program.

Job Description Summary

Success on our team requires a blend of customer service skill and analytical prowess. There’s no shying away from challenges here. Each account we work on is complex and interesting. Satisfaction comes from finding solutions that provide the best coverage and give our partner agents a way to differentiate themselves from the competition. If you are adaptable, responsive, love customers and really want to make a difference, we want to hear from you!

As a Specialist, you'll accept, retain and price complex, moderate to high exposure new, renewal and endorsement commercial business policies based on granted authority. We'll count on you to provide technical direction and account expertise in the development and mentorship of the underwriting staff. In addition, you'll research and develops underwriting projects and may function as a team lead based on business need.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Gathers information from multiple sources, according to company guidelines, to perform underwriting analysis. May research issues in support of unit objectives and participate on committees or special projects.

• Reviews individual risks for acceptability, and handles those within authority, based on company underwriting guidelines and standards. Analyzes quality and quantity of risks underwritten and prepares reports accordingly. May review agency books of business as well as profit/growth results and trends to recommend and implement action plans. May perform portfolio analysis or additional underwriting analysis.

• Leads larger, more complex work that requires working with and through others to meet overall project timelines and maximize workflow. Manages referral underwriting, which have been advanced from other underwriting staff, and provides suggested decision or approach. Ensures file handling quality and workflow efficiency. Assists in managing work inventories within the unit.

• Underwrites new business, renewals and endorsements. Decisions at this level may require review of additional variables, using agency, sales and underwriting relationships, inspection reports and evaluation of exceptions. May assist manager in performing audits including corporate, underwriting, agency and self-audits.

• Plans completion of assignments to meet agreed upon timelines and service level agreements. Provides input and feedback regarding operational business plan.

• Identifies and drives opportunities for business development and issues resolution through consulting with agents and internal partners. Understands organizational capabilities and opportunities to maximize value of relationships. Provides technical expertise to underwriting associates and agents. Advises on underwriting complex, and unusual business to resolve acceptability, terms, conditions, pricing and sales techniques.

• Communicates with agents and other internal and external business partners by requesting and providing requested information.

• Strengthens relationships through regular contact on underwriting matters, promoting profit and new business growth, renewal retention and service capabilities. Participates in the review and analysis of agency performance.

• Responds to requests from agents and underwriting staff with resolution, within established time and service standards, to facilitate and expedite service needs. Handles advanced underwriting issues from unit.

• Educates partners on underwriting process, practice and tools. Helps train less experienced underwriting staff. Coordinates, participates and/or leads training development or delivery as a subject matter authority. Identifies and communicates training needs and opportunities.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Reports to Supervisor or Manager; typically, no direct reports.

Typical Skills and Experiences: 

Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience preferred.

License/Certification/Designation: Completion of INS, AU or similar designations with progress toward CIC and/or CPCU is preferred.

Experience: Typically, six years of experience in underwriting or related insurance experience preferred. Experience leading or working on complex projects and or teams preferred.

Knowledge/Abilities/Skills: Commercial underwriting policy, practices and procedures. Rating plans and plan concepts. State and federal insurance laws and regulations. Commercial insurance processing systems. Solid understanding of company operations and products. Sales, claims, service center and legal issues involving knowledge of commercial contracts. Verbal and written communication skills necessary to interact with all levels of internal and external contacts. Ability to evaluate and recommend solutions to work-related problems. Ability to analyze insurance risks to determine the degree of acceptability. Ability to operate personal computer and related software. Ability to advise agents and agency staff on commercial contracts, procedures and business practices. Ability to analyze portfolio data and develop appropriate action plans. Ability to train and lead lower level commercial underwriters in all aspects of underwriting and processing functions.

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 Human Resources Business Partner.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions: 

Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible (Exempt)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Occasional travel may be required to visit clients or attend meetings. Extended or non-standard work hours as required to meet business need.

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. 

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.

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, Underwriting - Commercial Lines : $70,000.00-$145,500.00

The expected starting salary range for Specialist, Underwriting - Commercial Lines : $78,000.00 - $117,000.00