Customer Advocate I

Erie Insurance Group; Erie (Erie County); On-site; USD 45,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premier health plan

Pension plan

401(k) with match

Paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

ERIE INSURANCE is seeking a Customer Service professional for its inbound contact center in Erie, PA. The role involves listening to customers, understanding needs, and offering solutions using company products and policies.

The position requires handling 65–75 calls daily, with strong patience and empathy. Training lasts ~16 weeks on-site, with varying schedules after training including Saturdays.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; or Associate degree with relevant experience; or High School Diploma/GED with four years in call center or customer service.
• Knowledge of billing practices and proficiency with word processing and spreadsheet software is preferred.
• Must be able to work a schedule commensurate with department hours and follow holiday schedule.

Responsibilities

• Respond to inquiries from customers and agents using various platforms.
• Apply knowledge of Erie and department policies to direct customers to appropriate actions.
• Resolve issues within scope and escalate when needed.
• Maintain and service office account books of business as required.
• Provide training and mentorship as SME for department.

Skills

Detail Orientation

Values Diversity

Nimble Learning

Self-Development

Collaborates

Job-Specific Knowledge

Customer Focus

Cultivates Innovation

Optimizes Work Processes

Instills Trust

Ensures Accountability

Decision Quality

Education

Bachelor's degree

Associate degree

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Division Or Field Office

Office of Exp & Customer Svc

Department of Position:

Customer Service Dept

Work From

Westport Office, Millcreek PA

Salary Range

$44,936.00 - $71,781.00 *

salary range is for this level and may vary based on actual level of role hired for

• This range represents a national range and the actual salary will depend on several factors including the scope and complexity of the role and the skills, education, training, credentials, location (State) based on ERIE's geographical differences, and experience of an applicant, as well as level of role for which the successful candidate is hired. Position may be eligible for an annual bonus payment.

At Erie Insurance, you’re not just part of a Fortune 500 company; you’re also a valued member of a diverse and inclusive team that includes more than 6,000 employees and over 13,000 independent agencies. Our Employees work in the Home Office complex located in Erie, PA, and in our Field Offices that span 12 states and the District of Columbia.

Benefits That Go Beyond The Basics

• Premier health, prescription, dental, and vision benefits for you and your dependents. Coverage begins your first day of work.
• Low contributions to medical and prescription premiums. We currently pay up to 97% of employees’ monthly premium costs.
• Pension. We are among the 2% of Fortune 500 companies to offer a traditional pension plan. Full-time employees are vested after five years of services.
• 401(k) with up to 4% contribution match. The 401(k) is offered in addition to the pension.
• Paid time off. Paid vacation, personal days, sick days, bereavement days and parental leave.
• Career development. Including a tuition reimbursement program for higher education and industry designations.

Additional benefits that include company-paid basic life insurance; short-and long-term disability insurance; orthodontic coverage for children and adults; adoption assistance; fertility and infertility coverage; well-being programs; paid volunteer hours for service to your community; and dollar-for-dollar matching of your charitable gifts each year.

Position Summary

Under close supervision, uses various platforms to actively listen to customers (policyholders, agents, claimants, employees) to gain an understanding of their needs, clarify information, and offer possible solutions by using knowledge of company products, services, and policies to assist customers with, inquiries, complaints, or problems.

Role Expectations

This position is part of our inbound contact center. You will handle approximately 65–75 calls per day from agents, customers, and other stakeholders. Calls are monitored for quality, and the role requires strong patience, professionalism, and empathy.

Compensation

The hourly pay rate for this role is $24.54 and is non-negotiable.

Training & Schedule Requirements

Training lasts approximately 16 weeks and requires employees to be on-site Monday–Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. During training, employees are not permitted to use any vacation time unless approved by their supervisor.

After training, schedules may vary Monday–Friday between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM, and employees must be available to work on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Utilize various platforms to respond to inquiries from customers.
• Applies a working knowledge of ERIE and department policies and procedures to have business appropriate conversations, while directing the customer to the appropriate business decision.
• Resolves issues within scope of authority, escalates to appropriate area/person of authority as determined by company/department policy and procedure.
• In accordance with ERIE policy and procedures, and within scope of authority manages and services office account books of business.
• Applies proficient knowledge of ERIE systems and products by responding to callers concerns for all lines of business. Makes billing arrangements, corrects errors (accounting, underwriting and policy issues) with resolution and documents accordingly within scope of authority and guidelines provided.
• Attends appropriate training and informational meetings to learn and maintains a working knowledge of ERIE policies, procedures and processing systems, as well as industry knowledge and applicable licensure.
• Trains and mentors less experienced staff, and acts as subject matter expert (SME) for department and projects, as applicable.

The first five duties listed are the functions identified as essential to the job. Essential Functions are those job duties that must be performed for the job to be accomplished.

Regular and predictable attendance is an essential job function. For certain positions at ERIE, including leadership roles, regular and predictable onsite presence may also be an essential job function based on business and operational needs.

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the incumbent. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instruction and to perform any other duties as requested by their supervisor, or as become evident.

Capabilities

• Detail Orientation
• Values Diversity
• Nimble Learning
• Self-Development
• Collaborates
• Job-Specific Knowledge
• Customer Focus
• Cultivates Innovation
• Optimizes Work Processes (IC)
• Instills Trust
• Ensures Accountability
• Decision Quality

Qualifications

Minimum Educational and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; or
• Associate degree and two years' experience in a call center, customer service, Insurance operations, or relevant experience required or
• High School Diploma or GED and four years' experience in a call center, customer service, Insurance operations, or relevant experience required.

Additional Experience

• Knowledge of billing practices and procedures preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to type a minimum of 28 words per minute preferred.
• Proficiency with word processing and spreadsheet software and required.
• Must be able to work a schedule commensurate with department hours.
• Follows ERIE’s holiday schedule.

Designations and/or Licenses

• License in Property and Casualty insurance and/or licenses based on changing compliance requirements required, as applicable.
• Preferred courses or designations:
  • General Insurance (INS 21, 22, 23)
  • AIS (Associate in Insurance Services)

Physical Requirements

Lifting/Moving 0-20 lbs; Occasional (Lifting/Moving 20-50 lbs; Occasional (Ability to move over 50 lbs using lifting aide equipment; Occasional

• Driving; Rarely
• Pushing/Pulling/moving objects, equipment with wheels; Occasional
• Manual Keying/Data Entry/inputting information/computer use; Frequent (50-80%)
• Climbing/accessing heights; Rarely