Underwriting Associate Manager (Middle Market P&C)

CNA Insurance; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 141,000; Full time

Job summary

CNA Insurance in Chicago (IL) seeks an experienced underwriting leader to manage a team of Underwriting Associates across geographies and lines. You will drive underwriting life cycle from pre-submission to renewal, ensuring rate achievement, retention, profitability, and portfolio management.

Responsibilities include training UAs, refining workflow, and collaborating with regional management to push policy and pricing improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; professional designations preferred.
• Typically a minimum of five years underwriting or equivalent experience.
• Leadership experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manages a staff of Underwriting Associates across multiple geographies and lines.
• Onboards, trains, coaches, and develops UAs with underwriting authority.
• Drives rate achievement, retention, profitability, and portfolio management.
• Ensures adherence to workflow processes, timelines, and service standards.
• Reviews underwriting policy, pricing and documentation for continuous improvement.
• Develops business report acumen and presents operational reports to management.
• Executes regional initiatives and maintains agency and broker relationships.
• Keeps current on state issues, regulations, and industry trends.

Skills

Staff leadership

Underwriting expertise

Communication

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Professional designations preferred

Job description

You have a clear vision of where your career can go. And we have the leadership to help you get there.At CNA, we strive to create a culture in which people know they matter and are part of something important, ensuring the abilities of all employees are used to their fullest potential.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

CNA’s Commercial Middle Markets team provides standard lines commercial property and casualty insurance products such as General Liability, Property, Inland Marine, Commercial Auto, Workers’ Compensation, and Umbrella to businesses of all sizes. Our Middle Markets team underwrites a diverse mix of business and industry classes including Manufacturing, Professional Services, Financial Institutions, Real-estate, Distributors, Technology, Wholesale, and Retail. Typical account sizes range from $75,000 up to $2,000,000 and over in premium on a multi-line basis.

Job Summary

Manages a staff of Underwriting Associates across multiple geographies, lines of business, segments or industries who are accountable for executing the underwriting life cycle from pre-submission through binding and achieving business results of a renewal book of business through rate achievement, retention, profitability, analysis, and portfolio management. Under general management direction, works within broad limits of authority requiring a high degree of technical complexity and coordination. May have regional, multi-geography, industry, segment, or company-wide scope of responsibility.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Performs a combination of duties in accordance with departmental guidelines:

Manages the work activities, performance, and development of subordinate Underwriting Associate (UA) staff responsible for an assigned renewal book of business and/or in support of Underwriters books of business.

Onboards, trains, coaches, and develops UAs; participates in the development of underwriting training and accountable for granting UA with underwriting authority.

Engages with UA and underwriting staff to support the UA as a file lead navigating the underwriting lifecycle from pre-submission, policy issuances and renewal ensuring adherence to workflow processes, effective communication, timeframes for deliverables and service standards are met.

Reviews and manages the application of underwriting policy and pricing for risks; drives adherence to documentation and referral standards and completes file reviews to drive continuous improvement in underwriting quality; provides feedback to business partners as needed.

Demonstrates development of business acumen which contributes to monitoring business results to ensure UA staff is supporting and driving rate, retention, and other key metrics.

Makes recommendations on workflow, underwriting policy and pricing strategy to management. Collaborates with stakeholders such as regional/territory management, Operations, UW Shared Services for process enhancements and efficiencies.

Develops business report acumen and prepares and presents operational reports to management as needed.

Executes regional/territory initiatives and business strategies ensuring UAs adhere to role responsibilities and process and workflow expectations.

May be responsible for executing on referrals and account rounding activities on new business opportunities for an assigned book of business.

Develops, maintains, and cultivates territory agency, broker, and business unit relationships to ensure positive and profitable outcomes.

Keeps current on state/territory issues and regulations, industry activity and trends. May participate in industry trade groups.

May perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

1. Ability to effectively lead, coach and develop Underwriting staff.
2. Advanced technical expertise, underwriting skill and knowledge of insurance and underwriting principles, practices and procedures.
3. Strong communication, negotiation and presentation skills. Ability to effectively interact with all levels of CNA’s internal and external business partners.
4. Advanced analytical and problem solving skills, with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects.
5. Ability to deal with ambiguous situations and issues.
6. Creativity in resolving unique and challenging business problems.
7. Ability to achieve business goals and objectives.
8. Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and other business-related software.

Education & Experience

1. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. Professional designations preferred.
2. Typically a minimum of five years underwriting or equivalent experience.
3. Leadership experience preferred.

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In certain jurisdictions, CNA is legally required to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. In District of Columbia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Washington, the national base pay range for this job level is $72,000 to $141,000 annually.Salary determinations are based on various factors, including but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and location. CNA offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to help our employees – and their family members – achieve their physical, financial, emotional and social wellbeing goals. For a detailed look at CNA’s benefits, please visit cnabenefits.com.

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