Commercial Lines Underwriter II

Western National Group & Umialik Insurance; Anchorage (AK); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance plan options

Dental insurance

Vision benefits

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) Plan with matching

Wellbeing Program

Paid Time Off

Tuition reimbursement

Paid parental leave

Bonus opportunities

Job summary

Western National Insurance Group, including Umialik Insurance, is seeking a Commercial Lines Underwriter II to manage a profitable book through agency partnerships in Anchorage. You’ll analyze exposures, write new business, and support growth objectives.

The ideal candidate has 2+ years underwriting experience, strong negotiation and communication skills, and a bachelor's degree or equivalent. We offer a robust total rewards package and flexible/hybrid work options.

Qualifications

• Two or more years of underwriting experience preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent experience in commercial lines underwriting may be considered.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency in core underwriting systems and office software.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with agency partners.
• Manage an assigned agency territory to achieve established growth and profitability goals.
• Analyze the operations and exposures of various commercial risks using established underwriting practices, procedures, and assigned authority levels.
• Assess risks on new and existing business to identify opportunities that support territory loss ratio and growth objectives.
• Conduct research and analysis to develop sound underwriting solutions aligned with organizational goals.
• Apply working knowledge of coverages, forms, symbols, endorsements, and rating methodologies by line of business.
• Write new business in alignment with annual department goals.
• Make underwriting decisions guided by established policies and objectives.
• Use intermediate-level knowledge, experience, and available resources to identify and evaluate multiple solutions.
• Identify opportunities to improve underwriting processes, application efficiency, and overall effectiveness.
• Consistently demonstrate Western National’s customer experience standards by responding promptly, maintaining a positive and professional attitude, building rapport, showing empathy, managing expectations, selecting appropriate communication channels, and taking ownership to ensure issues are resolved.
• Make decisions in accordance with established policies and objectives.
• Apply intermediate-level knowledge, experience, and available resources to evaluate options and develop effective solutions.
• Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of applications and business processes.
• Consistently demonstrate customer experience standards by responding promptly, maintaining a positive and professional attitude, building rapport, showing empathy, managing customer expectations, selecting appropriate communication channels, and taking ownership to ensure issues are fully resolved.

Skills

Underwriting

Negotiation

Relationship-building

Decision making

Time management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent experience in commercial lines underwriting may be considered

Tools

Underwriting systems

Job description

Description

Who are we?

Western National Insurance Group is a private mutual insurance company with over 120 years of experience serving customers' property-and-casualty insurance needs in the Midwestern, Northwestern, and Southwestern United States. Known as “The Relationship Company®,” we define success as a measure of the relationships we’ve built over time. In everything that we do, we know that delivering a friendly and helpful interaction makes for a better experience for everyone involved. That’s the power of “nice”. At Western National, nice is something we work to bring to every person and organization with whom we partner and serve.

Does this opportunity interest you?

Umialik Insurance Company, a member of the Western National Insurance Group, is seeking a Commercial Lines Underwriter II to join our team.

In this role, you will develop and manage a profitable book of commercial lines business by writing and retaining accounts through assigned agency partners.

What are the responsibilities and opportunities of this role?

• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with agency partners.
• Manage an assigned agency territory to achieve established growth and profitability goals.
• Analyze the operations and exposures of various commercial risks using established underwriting practices, procedures, and assigned authority levels.
• Assess risks on new and existing business to identify opportunities that support territory loss ratio and growth objectives.
• Conduct research and analysis to develop sound underwriting solutions aligned with organizational goals.
• Apply working knowledge of coverages, forms, symbols, endorsements, and rating methodologies by line of business.
• Write new business in alignment with annual department goals.
• Make underwriting decisions guided by established policies and objectives.
• Use intermediate-level knowledge, experience, and available resources to identify and evaluate multiple solutions.
• Identify opportunities to improve underwriting processes, application efficiency, and overall effectiveness.
• Consistently demonstrate Western National’s customer experience standards by responding promptly, maintaining a positive and professional attitude, building rapport, showing empathy, managing expectations, selecting appropriate communication channels, and taking ownership to ensure issues are resolved.
• Make decisions in accordance with established policies and objectives.
• Apply intermediate-level knowledge, experience, and available resources to evaluate options and develop effective solutions.
• Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of applications and business processes.
• Consistently demonstrate customer experience standards by responding promptly, maintaining a positive and professional attitude, building rapport, showing empathy, managing customer expectations, selecting appropriate communication channels, and taking ownership to ensure issues are fully resolved.

What are the must-have qualifications for a candidate?

• Demonstrated time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to exercise sound business judgment.
• Two or more years of underwriting experience preferred.
• Demonstrated intermediate organizational and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Solid understanding of industry practices, standards, and core underwriting concepts.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent experience in commercial lines underwriting may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Proficiency in core underwriting systems, office technology, and standard computer software applications.

Compensation overview

The full hiring range for this role is $69,615 - $95,749.50, annually. However, the base pay offered may vary depending on the job-related knowledge, skills, credentials, and experience of each candidate as well as other factors such as the scope and location of the role. Candidates looking for compensation outside of the posted range are encouraged to apply and will be considered based on their individual qualifications and / or may be considered for other positions.

Culture and Total Rewards

Western National has long been known as “The Relationship Company®” and caring for our employees is part of that relationship commitment. We value connectiveness, empowerment, and accountability, and we believe that our employees are our biggest asset.

Currently ranked as the 41st largest private company by revenue in Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal), Western National has earned accolades year-over-year as an employer of choice and garnered multiple awards for wellness in the workplace. Western National has also been named a Top Workplace by the Star Tribune for the past four consecutive years. In addition, the Group is consistently recognized as a Ward’s 50 property-and-casualty insurance company for its outstanding financial results.

Western National offers full-time employees a significant Total Rewards Package, including:

• Medical insurance plan options and other standard employee benefits, including dental insurance, vision benefits, life insurance, disability insurance, and more!
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) Plan (participants are eligible for 100% matching on the first 6% of their contributions)
• Wellbeing Program, including onsite fitness studio
• Paid Time Off – including holiday, vacation, and volunteer
• 100% company-paid tuition reimbursement for approved job-relevant coursework and access to The Institutes (Risk and insurance education)
• Paid parental leave
• Bonus opportunities

Western National believes in supporting balance between work and life by providing a flexible work environment, which includes a variety of hybrid and remote work arrangements designed to balance individual, job, department, and company needs.

Western National provides employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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