Underwriter - Personal Lines

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.

Nationwide is expanding our Personal Lines Underwriting team, and we’re looking for experienced professionals to join us in delivering exceptional service to our members. If you bring deep industry knowledge and a sharp eye for risk, this role could be a great fit.

While we have several openings in Columbus, OH and Des Moines, IA we’re especially eager to connect with top-tier candidates who work remotely within the United States.

We’re hiring for multiple roles, including:

• Underwriter – Personal Lines (1+ year experience)

• Senior Underwriter – Personal Lines (2+ years’ experience)

• Specialist, Underwriting – Personal Lines (6+ years’ experience)

What We’re Looking For:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, insurance, or a related field

• 1+ years of underwriting or insurance experience

• Progress toward a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation or similar certification

• Strong understanding of underwriting, pricing, and insurance contracts

• Skilled in data analysis and tools like Excel

•  Clear communicator with agents and internal teams

•  Experience leading projects or working across teams

What You Bring:

• Strategic thinking and sound business judgment

• Relationship-building and negotiation skills

• Data-driven decision-making

• Motivation to deliver results and support team growth

What’s in it for you?

This role is currently remote, but will transition to a hybrid schedule next year, requiring three days per week in the office. Depending on your location, regular in-office presence (three days weekly) will be expected as part of the flexible work arrangement.

Compensation varies by role and experience level.

(Internal Use Only) Compensation Grade: Roles can be filled at multiple levels, and compensation bands will vary based on the qualifications and role.

Job Description Summary

Success on our team requires a blend of customer service skill and analytical prowess. Each account we work on is interesting and challenging. 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 an Underwriter you will accept, retain and classify moderate exposure new and renewal policies (case and account underwriting) based on granted authority. We'll count on you to manage an assigned underwriting territory to build agency relationships, identify business trends and help drive profitable growth for agencies. You will be key to provide input into portfolio underwriting on business and selection practices of agents within their territory and helps drive agency action plans. You will be counted on as a key partner with sales, claims, and other internal resources to drive profitable growth. You may also assist with transfer underwriting efforts.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Obtains agency, district, and market information from published sources, company data bases, and partnerships with sales, claims, agency and portfolio to perform underwriting analysis and identify business trends and opportunities for profitable growth

• Reviews individual risks for acceptability and handles those within authority based on company underwriting guidelines and standards. Uses critical thinking and understanding of the market and underwriting best practices to assess the total risk proposition and alternatives for acceptability. May analyze issues related to rules performance through automated systems. 

• Completes assigned underwriting transactions and tasks within established time and service standards. Strives to complete all transactions in a first time final mode.

• Makes decisions to accept, modify or decline personal lines business based on underwriting analysis, best practices and judgment. Determines the proper classification of risks to ensure the matching of price and product to the customer. 

• Plans completion of assignments to meet agreed upon timelines and service level agreements.

• Consults with agents and collaborates with internal partners regarding underwriting decisions. Uses underwriting curiosity to recommend additional products, coverages and discounts to ensure the agency and customer receive maximum value and adequate coverage. May consult regarding risk mitigation strategies.

• Communicates underwriting decisions to agencies and internal departments. Provides clear communication of rationale for decisions and options. Chooses most effective communication method based on issue, situation and audience.

• Strengthens agency relationships through regular contact on underwriting matters, promoting profit and new business growth, renewal retention and service capabilities. May participate in the management of agency performance as part of the underwriting team.

• Responds to requests from agents and underwriting staff with resolution within established time and service standards. May handle escalated customer service issues based on authority level. Routes issues outside of authority level to appropriate individuals.

• Participates in training classes, department and company meetings.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Reports to supervisor or manager; Individual contributor role

Typical Skills and Experiences:

Education: Bachelor's degree preferred.

License/Certification/Designation: Pursuit of technical insurance coursework such as CPCU preferred.

Experience: One year of underwriting or equivalent experience preferred. Will consider undergraduate degree in lieu of experience.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Standard business policies, practices and procedures. General understanding of basic analytical and financial techniques. Acquires and maintains an understanding and adheres to state specific statutes involving underwriting, applicable insurance laws and regulations. Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills are required. Strong verbal and written communication skills necessary to interact with all levels of internal and external contacts. Key competencies include: business acumen, functional/technical skills, command skills, interpersonal savvy, negotiating, problem solving, drive for results, managing and measuring work, customer focus, and decision quality. Ability to be flexible and adaptable to changing situations.

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

Staffing Exceptions to the above Minimum Job Requirements must be approved by the: hiring manager’s leader and HRBP.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions:

Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible (Exempt)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Occasional travel may be required to visit agencies 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. 

We currently anticipate accepting applications until 10/31/2025. 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 Underwriter - Personal Lines : $43,400.00-$89,400.00

The expected starting salary range for Underwriter - Personal Lines : $48,200.00 - $72,200.00