Production Underwriter (I,II, III or SR.) - FM Essential

FM; Walnut Creek (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive plan

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

401(k) and pension plan

Tuition reimbursement

Flexible work

Job summary

FM is expanding FM Essential in manufacturing risk management, seeking a PUW I to Senior PUW. The underwriter will drive new business and renewals, balance risk and profitability, and lead broker relationships. Travel and negotiation skills are essential to grow a resilient portfolio within FM’s mutual framework.

The role requires 3–5 years underwriting experience and a Bachelor’s degree, with strong analytical and communication abilities to support market expansion and product viability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 3–5 years underwriting experience.
• Solid understanding of risk identification and assessment, property insurance coverage, and related forms.
• Strong communication, collaboration, attention to detail, time management, and problem-solving skills.
• Sales/negotiation/presentation capabilities essential.

Responsibilities

• Drive new business production and renewal retention while protecting underwriting profitability.
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and conditions using strategic underwriting approaches.
• Coordinate with account teams to deliver excellent broker and customer service.
• Collaborate with Account Engineers to identify risks and grow a profitable portfolio.
• Engage brokers and reinsurers for Essential product issues, with mutual funnel access.
• Meet profit, production, and retention goals in consultation with the Essential manager.
• Establish broad business contacts and conduct ~10 face-to-face visits monthly for visibility.
• Travel domestically for marketing and training; pre-qualify new risks with broker submissions, pricing, terms, and loss history.
• Adhere to underwriting standards and manage net capacity, cross-liability, catastrophe retentions, and reinsurance.

Skills

Underwriting experience

Risk assessment

Communication

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Financial statements analysis

Job description

Established nearly two centuries ago, FM is a leading mutual insurance company whose capital, scientific research capability and engineering expertise are solely dedicated to property risk management and the resilience of its policyholder-owners. These owners, who share the belief that the majority of property loss is preventable, represent many of the world’s largest organizations, including one of every four Fortune 500 companies. They work with FM to better understand the hazards that can impact their business continuity to make cost-effective risk management decisions, combining property loss prevention with insurance protection.

FM Essential is set to expand Q4 2026, offering exciting opportunities for a motivated individual keen to help build a new product line under the “One FM” banner.

Targeting acceptable risk quality, sustainably profitable & aligned manufacturing businesses with revenues between $250M and $5B or >$100,000 premium, FM Essential is designed for companies that currently fall outside FM and FM Affiliated risk selection criteria. Rather than adjusting existing criteria, FM Essential introduces a more flexible pathway to resilience, expanding our reach to a broader segment of the global manufacturing market.

Complementing our existing FM and FM Affiliated offerings, FM Essential combines science-backed engineering solutions with market-compatible coverage. It offers quota-share lead insurance options alongside core consultancy risk-engineering services, setting it apart from commodity competitors. Its flexible risk-improvement ambitions make it ideal for organizations committed to resilience but unable to meet the more rigorous standards of our mutual offering.

This position is for a PUW I (Grade 14) to Senior PUW (Grade 17) depending on the level of the candidate’s skill and experience. Varying levels of experience and qualifications will be considered.

The successful candidate will join a team that is contributing to FM’s evolving market presence, including new initiatives such as FM Essential, a resilience-focused product tailored for the manufacturing sector.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for both new business production and renewal retention while maintaining underwriting profit and protecting companies’ assets. They must effectively help develop and market the Essential product to a network of producers with whom long term relationships are developed, maintained and cultivated.
• Responsible for profitable risk selection, negotiation of pricing, terms and conditions, and using creative underwriting strategies to optimize net retentions that effectively balance both customer and company needs.
• Coordinate account team resources in order to provide excellent and responsive services that add new value to our broker and customer relationships.
• Working closely with Account Engineers to review renewal and new business opportunities to ensure proper risk identification, analysis and assessment in order to ensure the development and growth of a profitable portfolio of business.
• The FM Essential Production Underwriters primary relationships is with Brokers and reinsurers for insurance related issues. However, the Essential product will also be available from the mutual funnel.
• Responsibilities include meeting specific profit, production, and retention goals as developed in consultation with Essential manager.
• Establish multiple business contacts, and implement an effective program of calls averaging 10 face to face visits a month to ensure high visibility.
• Travel is required for marketing including out of state travel as well as travel for training. New risks must be pre-qualified based on acceptability today and its future potential, this includes a thorough analysis of the broker submission, desired pricing, terms and conditions, financial condition, adequacy of reported values, and loss experience.
• The company’s assets must be protected by adhering to company underwriting standards and procedures, this will include determining the amount subject, net capacity commitment, checking cross liability, management of catastrophe aggregate retentions, negotiating and purchasing reinsurance and establishing commissions in a manner most advantageous to the company.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 3-5 years Underwriting experience
• Sound working knowledge of our business. Including: a good understanding of risk identification and assessment, property insurance coverage, forms, financial statements and business computer applications.
• Demonstrated skills in oral and written communication, collaboration, attention to detail, time management, analysis, decision-making, problem solving, sales/negotiation/presentation

The final salary offer will vary based on geographic location, individual education, skills, and experience. The position is eligible to participate in FM’s comprehensive Total Rewards program that includes an incentive plan, medical, dental and vision insurance, life and disability insurance, well-being programs, a 401(k) and pension plan, career development opportunities, tuition reimbursement, flexible work, and time off, including vacation and sick time.

FM is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to attracting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce.