Commercial Lines Underwriting Manager

Western National Insurance Group; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) plan with match

Wellbeing program

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

Western National Insurance Group is seeking a Manager, Commercial Lines Underwriting to lead the commercial underwriting function, drive profitable growth, and develop underwriting talent. The role involves mentoring staff, providing technical guidance on complex decisions, and strengthening agency relationships to support company objectives.

You will monitor market trends, analyze performance, and implement strategies to improve processes and outcomes while ensuring adherence to underwriting

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of commercial lines underwriting concepts and industry practices.
• Experience in a people leadership role with coaching and staff development.
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and decision-making abilities.
• Ability to multitask, prioritize, and solve complex problems.
• Excellent relationship-building and negotiation skills.
• Willingness to travel to agency offices up to 25%.
• Bachelor’s degree in insurance, finance, or related field, or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop underwriting strategies for a profitable, high-quality commercial lines book.
• Lead and retain underwriting staff to meet performance goals.
• Provide technical guidance on complex underwriting decisions.
• Promote Western National's products and services for growth.
• Manage agency relationships and monitor market opportunities.
• Communicate with agents, partners, and stakeholders to achieve outcomes.
• Participate in initiatives to improve underwriting processes and policies.
• Exercise authority within set guidelines.

Skills

Commercial underwriting

Leadership

Coaching

Analytical thinking

Decision making

Relationship building

Travel up to 25%

Education

Bachelor's degree in insurance, finance, or related field

Tools

ImageRight

Guidewire

MS Word

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

Job 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?

Western National is seeking a Manager, Commercial Lines Underwriting to join our team!

The individual in this role will have the opportunity to lead the commercial lines underwriting function by driving profitable growth, developing underwriting talent, and maintaining strong agency relationships. This role oversees underwriting strategies and operations to ensure a balanced, profitable, and high-quality book of commercial lines business while supporting company objectives and agency management initiatives.

What are the responsibilities and opportunities of this role?

• Develops and implements underwriting strategies to achieve a balanced, profitable, and high-quality book of commercial lines business.
• Leads, coaches, develops, and retains underwriting staff to achieve company, departmental, and individual performance goals.
• Serves as a referral underwriter for underwriting staff, providing technical guidance, feedback, and support on complex underwriting decisions.
• Identifies opportunities to promote Western National's products and services and support profitable business growth.
• Develops and executes strategies to capitalize on market opportunities and effectively manage existing agency relationships.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with agents, internal business partners, and external customers to support business objectives.
• Monitors marketplace trends, competitive developments, and emerging industry issues through active participation in the insurance community.
• Develops, reviews, and analyzes periodic reports on assigned regional underwriting operations and takes appropriate underwriting and rate actions.
• Participates in initiatives to develop and improve underwriting processes, policies, and operational efficiencies.
• Interprets and executes underwriting policies and guidelines while ensuring decisions align with company objectives.
• Assigns and approves underwriting authority levels and exercises decision‑making authority within established guidelines.
• Analyzes complex underwriting challenges, identifies patterns and trends, and implements effective solutions.
• Communicates and negotiates effectively with agents, business partners, and stakeholders to support positive business outcomes.
• Performs special projects and other duties as assigned.

Requirements

What are the must-have qualifications for a candidate?

• Extensive knowledge of commercial lines underwriting concepts, industry best practices, and standards.
• Previous experience in a people leadership role.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, direct, develop, and retain employees.
• Strong analytical and critical‑thinking skills with the ability to evaluate complex information and make sound business decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask, prioritize competing responsibilities, and solve complex problems.
• Strong relationship‑building, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, demonstrate initiative, and make decisions within established authority levels.
• Experience analyzing business performance and identifying opportunities for profitable growth.
• Bachelor's degree in insurance, finance, or a related field, or equivalent related experience.

What will our ideal candidate have?

• CPCU, AU, or CIC designation.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with ImageRight or a similar document imaging platform.
• Basic to intermediate knowledge of Guidewire or a similar policy administration system.
• Strong business analytics skills and the ability to translate underwriting data into actionable strategies.
• Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with agency partners and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to travel to agency offices as needed, up to 25% of the time.

Compensation overview

The targeted hiring range for this role is $125,000 - $170,000 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 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.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

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.