Underwriting Consultant (Life Sciences)

01460 Continental Casualty Company; Walnut Creek (CA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 141,000; Full time

Job summary

CNA invites you to grow your underwriting career with access to the home office, collaboration, and expanding centers focused on larger accounts. The Life Sciences Underwriter uses technical, sales, and analytical skills to provide insurance solutions and manage risk.

This role requires understanding CNA's strategies and appetites, plus the ability to synthesize internal and external data to make sound risk decisions in partnership with clients and producers.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of underwriting processes, coverages, and tools to gather and evaluate information in order to reach appropriate decisions on renewals and new business.
• Ability to effectively interact and communicate with all levels of external and/or internal business partners within scope of responsibility, team and/or matrix environment.
• Ability to uncover customer needs, position specific solutions, handle objections and close deals.
• Ability to exercise judgment, negotiate and make sound business decisions effectively based on level of authority.

Responsibilities

• Reviews applications and financial requirements to determine acceptability of risk in accordance with CNA’s guidelines and standards.
• Prices risk using pricing components and predictive modeling tools based on financial and competitive analysis.
• Uses underwriting tools and knowledge of strategies to ensure guidelines are followed.
• Prepares information on adverse underwriting decisions and declines to drive results within the territory.

Skills

Underwriting

Portfolio management

Sales & distribution

Data analysis

Tools

SalesForce.com

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

Grow your underwriting career at a company that offers access and collaboration with the home office, ample promotional opportunities and evolving underwriting centers that allow you to focus on larger accounts. The Life Sciences Underwriter is responsible for using technical, sales and analytical skills to provide insurance solutions that help CNA’s customers manage risk. The Underwriter will have a thorough understanding of CNA’s strategies and appetites and will use internal and external data to make appropriate individual and portfolio risk decisions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Underwriting Expertise

• Reviews applications and financial requirements to determine acceptability of risk in accordance with CNA’s guidelines and standards
• Understands pricing components and rating methodology as well as use of the predictive modeling tools; prices risk based on financial and competitive analysis
• Uses all appropriate underwriting tools (e.g., RST, BPMT, Merlin, etc.), disciplines and knowledge of strategies to ensure underwriting guidelines are followed
• Demonstrates technical underwriting skills through strategic, thorough account reviews and file documentation
• Prepares or analyzes information on adverse underwriting decisions, rate appeals, underwriting requirements, status and declinations in order to drive results within the assigned territory
• Adheres to CAT guidelines and underwriting discipline to minimize exposure and appropriately price
• Keeps current on state/territory issues, regulations and trends

Portfolio Management

• Manages assigned portfolio to achieve gross written premium, profitability, rate, retention, product mix, new business and portfolio management goals
• Prioritizes time and resources to effectively manage and optimize producer performance
• Operates with an Enterprise perspective to identify cross sell opportunities and create growth within other lines of business and customer segments
• Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of CNA’s products and appetite while clearly communicating CNA’s position at the point of sale

Sales & Distribution Management

• Builds/maintains rigorous sales practices using all CNA systems including SalesForce.com and other sales tools and disciplines
• Develops producer relationships to build pipeline, agency intelligence, and drives performance to meet and exceed results
• Develops and implements distributor specific plans, monitors performance, and adjusts plan to ensure a substantial pipeline for future profitable growth
• Drives effective relationship management and customer activities to build trust, facilitate negotiation and secure commitment with the customer
• Proactively identifies cross-sell opportunities and partners with other underwriters to deliver comprehensive insurance solutions for the customer

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of underwriting processes, coverages, and tools to gather and evaluate information in order to reach appropriate decisions on renewals and new business
• Ability to effectively interact and communicate with all levels of external and/or internal business partners within scope of responsibility, team and/or matrix environment
• Ability to uncover customer needs, position specific solutions, handle objections and close deals
• Ability to exercise judgment, negotiate and make sound business decisions effectively based on level of authority
• Strong ability to identify, analyze and solve problems as well as the ability to learn rapidly, adapt quickly to change, exercise influence, and manage and prioritize multiple concurrent projects

As determined by CNA and depending on the applicant’s experience and/or qualifications, candidates may be hired into one of three Underwriter positions: Underwriter, Underwriting Specialist or Underwriting Consultant. Typically 3-10+ years of related experience.

In San Francisco, the base pay range for Underwriting Consultant is $145,500 to $182,000. Salary determinations are based on various factors, including but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and location.

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.

CNA utilizes AI-enabled technology during the recruiting process. For more information, please visit our careers page.

CNA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the recruitment process. To request an accommodation, please contact [e-mail]

At CNA, we are focused on success, individually and collectively. We pride ourselves on promoting a culture that challenges and engages people. We strive to connect people, departments and business areas, to function as a team, and to serve our customers and communities with professionalism and respect. Our dedication to employee engagement, continuous learning and the open exchange of ideas is the cornerstone of our business. These ideals, combined with our focus on the customer, enable us to explore new market opportunities and build on our success. Our values, culture and financial strength are what differentiates us from other employers and make CNA the place you want to work. At CNA, we are committed to advancing a culture of inclusion – one that attracts talent from all walks of life, fosters respect and collaboration, and enables all of our colleagues to do their best work. At CNA, we have a long standing commitment to the diverse communities in which we live and work. We actively make a difference for the greater good through partnerships, sustainability, initiatives, and working together for a better tomorrow. Corporate Social Responsibility is not one person, or one department, it's the entire enterprise coming together to make the world a better place.