Underwriting Consultant (Technology P&C)

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

Job summary

CNA is seeking a Technology Underwriter in the Chicago area to drive tailored insurance solutions for technology clients. You will apply underwriting discipline, pricing methods, and data-driven insights to manage risk within CNA guidelines.

Ideal candidates bring 3+ years in underwriting, strong communication, and ability to collaborate across teams. The role offers hybrid work, competitive benefits, and growth opportunities within CNA’s Technology Practice.

Qualifications

• Solid understanding of underwriting processes, coverages, and risk evaluation tools.
• Strong communication skills across internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to identify client needs, position solutions, and close business.
• Sound judgment and negotiation ability within delegated authority.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to manage competing priorities and adapt quickly.
• Typically 3+ years of related experience.

Responsibilities

• Reviews applications and financial information to assess risk acceptability in alignment with CNA guidelines.
• Applies pricing methodology and predictive modeling tools to evaluate risk and determine appropriate pricing.
• Utilizes underwriting tools (e.g., RST, BPMT, Merlin) and adheres to established disciplines and strategies.
• Demonstrates technical expertise through thoughtful account analysis and thorough documentation.
• Analyzes and communicates underwriting decisions, including rate actions, requirements, and declinations.
• Maintains strong underwriting discipline, including CAT management and exposure controls.
• Stays current on regulatory, industry, and territory-specific trends.
• Manages an assigned portfolio to achieve goals around premium, profitability, rate, retention, and product mix.
• Allocates time and resources strategically to optimize producer performance.
• Operates with an enterprise mindset, identifying cross-sell opportunities across lines of business.
• Clearly communicates CNA’s appetite and value proposition at the point of sale.
• Builds and maintains disciplined sales practices using CNA tools, including Salesforce.

Skills

Underwriting

Portfolio management

Sales & distribution

Data analysis

Negotiation

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Salesforce

Tools

RST

BPMT

Merlin

Salesforce

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: For over three decades, CNA has been a trusted provider of insurance solutions for technology companies of all sizes—from emerging startups to global enterprises—across software, IT services, hardware, media, and telecommunications. Our Global Technology Practice delivers specialized coverages, including Technology Errors & Omissions (Tech E&O), Cyber Liability, and comprehensive international solutions, complemented by our traditional Property & Casualty capabilities. With deep industry expertise, flexible underwriting capabilities, and a collaborative approach, we design innovative insurance programs tailored to each client’s unique risk profile. CNA continues to be the carrier of choice for our valued agent and broker partners.

As the technology sector continues to expand beyond traditional coastal hubs, the Midwest represents a fast-growing and increasingly strategic market for CNA. The region is experiencing meaningful growth across all the technology subsegments which creates a unique opportunity to deepen partnerships, capture new business, and thoughtfully scale a high-quality, profitable portfolio. We view the Midwest as a territory with significant long-term potential and an important contributor to the continued growth of the Technology Practice.

The Technology Underwriter plays a critical role in executing on this opportunity, using technical, sales, and analytical skills to deliver tailored insurance solutions that help CNA’s customers manage risk. The Underwriter brings a strong understanding of CNA’s strategies and underwriting appetite and leverages both internal and external data to make sound individual risk and portfolio decisions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Underwriting Expertise

• Reviews applications and financial information to assess risk acceptability in alignment with CNA guidelines
• Applies pricing methodology and predictive modeling tools to evaluate risk and determine appropriate pricing
• Utilizes underwriting tools (e.g., RST, BPMT, Merlin) and adheres to established disciplines and strategies
• Demonstrates technical expertise through thoughtful account analysis and thorough documentation
• Analyzes and communicates underwriting decisions, including rate actions, requirements, and declinations
• Maintains strong underwriting discipline, including CAT management and exposure controls
• Stays current on regulatory, industry, and territory-specific trends

Portfolio Management

• Manages an assigned portfolio to achieve goals around premium, profitability, rate, retention, and product mix
• Allocates time and resources strategically to optimize producer performance
• Operates with an enterprise mindset, identifying cross-sell opportunities across lines of business
• Clearly communicates CNA’s appetite and value proposition at the point of sale

Sales & Distribution Management

• Builds and maintains disciplined sales practices using CNA tools, including Salesforce
• Develops strong producer relationships to drive pipeline, insights, and performance
• Creates and executes distributor-specific business plans, adjusting as needed to sustain growth
• Builds trust with brokers and clients to support negotiation and secure new and renewal business
• Identifies and executes cross-sell opportunities in partnership with underwriting peers

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Solid understanding of underwriting processes, coverages, and risk evaluation tools
• Strong communication skills across internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to identify client needs, position solutions, and close business
• Sound judgment and negotiation ability within delegated authority
• Analytical mindset with the ability to manage competing priorities and adapt quickly

Depending on experience and qualifications, candidates may be hired into one of four underwriting roles: Underwriter, Underwriting Specialist, Underwriting Consultant, or Underwriting Consulting Director, typically requiring 3+ years of related experience.

#LI-SM1 #LI-HYBRID

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.