Underwriting Operations Specialist

Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance; West Des Moines (IA); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Parental leave

Caregiver leave

Employee appreciation events

EAP

Job summary

Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company seeks a Crop Insurance Underwriting Operations Specialist to improve day-to-day UW operations and collaborate with IT for production support.

The role requires MPCI underwriting experience, PASS system knowledge, and proficiency with Word/Excel. A strong focus on process improvement and cross-team coordination is essential.

Qualifications

• Five+ years MPCI underwriting experience or equivalent.
• Associates degree in Business, Finance, Agriculture or related field required (Bachelor’s preferred).
• Three+ years MPCI underwriting and/or PASS system experience preferred. Proficient with Word and Excel. SQL/database querying beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Plan and lead operational meetings to promote consistency across large teams.
• Collaborate with Business Units and IT to improve manual processes and document new procedures.
• Create and prioritize UW production support tickets and evaluate future needs.
• Support FMHA policy administration system research and data gathering from industry sources.
• Lead Insurance Specialist team in User Acceptance Testing processes.
• Coordinate with Product Owners to evaluate MPCI and Private Product changes and implement production support.
• Coordinate with UW Operations Manager to prioritize tickets in Rally.
• Monitor day-to-day operations and report performance with actionable improvements.
• Develop trainings and underwriting protocols to ensure compliance with RMA and state regulations.

Skills

MPCI experience

PASS system experience

Microsoft Word & Excel

Database query analysis

Operational process improvement

Education

Associates degree in Business/Finance/Agriculture

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Tools

PASS system

Rally

Job description

At Farmers Mutual Hail (FMH), our mission is simple: protect the livelihoods and legacies of America’s farmers through the complete farm insurance solutions we offer. As America’s Crop Insurance Company™, we’re headquartered in the U.S. and have been owned by the farmers we insure for over 125 years.

FMH is seeking a Crop Insurance Underwriting Operations Specialist. This individual is responsible for recommending and developing new procedures and system updates for increasing the efficiency of day-to-day operations in Underwriting. Assists the UW Operations Manager in developing, planning, and coordinating operational activities for the UW staff. Serves as a Liaison between Underwriting (UW) and Information Technology (IT) for production support in FMHA while providing outstanding customer service to a small book of business as assigned.

Benefits

Our employees appreciate our family-oriented culture, and we make sure their benefits reflect that. In addition to a competitive salary and bonuses, medical/dental/vision plan, 401(k) plan with a generous company match, you will be eligible for benefits such as:

• Hybrid work schedule (in office 3 days, WFH 2 days), after training is completed.
• Paid Parental leave and Caregiver leave
• Employee appreciation events
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for support when you and your family need it
• On-site cafeteria and fitness center

Requirements

To be considered for this role, you will need the following:

• Experience: Five or more years of MPCI experience, or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Education: Associates degree in Business, Finance, Agriculture, or related field required (Bachelor’s degree preferred).
• Skills: Three or more years of MPCI underwriting experience and/or direct PASS system experience preferred. Proficient with Microsoft Office programs especially Word and Excel. Skilled in database query analysis would be beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Plans, leads and/or participates in operational working team meetings for communication, standards, and general operations to promote consistency, cohesion, and awareness of work across large teams.
• Works with Business Units and IT teams to improve manual processes, and to develop and document new processes and procedures.
• Creates and prioritizes all UW department production support tickets and assists in evaluating future needs for growth and expansion.
• Assists with research and pulling information from the industry sources to promote production support within FMHA (our policy administration system).
• Leads Insurance Specialist team in User Acceptance Testing processes and procedures.
• Collaborates with Product Owners (POs) to identify and evaluate Multi-Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) and Private Product program changes and assists with User Acceptance Testing and implementation of necessary production support to the policy administration systems.
• Consults and coordinates with UW Operations Manager and team to focus and prioritize all production support tickets/projects within our project management system (Rally).
• Monitors day-to-day operations and reports on performance and recommends actionable improvements when necessary.
• Creates trainings, procedures, and protocols (Underwriting standards) to distribute to staff to train on various topics in the policy life cycle, provide consistency on all topics, and increase efficiencies in FMHA across all Insurance Specialists, agents, field, staff and/or other internal staff, all while remaining in compliance with the Risk Management Agency (RMA) and state insurance department regulations.

This position is not eligible for sponsorship for work authorization by Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company, SI. Therefore, if you will require sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, we cannot consider your application at this time.

Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company does not discriminate in employment (EOE). All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.