Underwriting Specialist Staff

FM; Johnston (RI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

FM Global in Johnston, RI seeks an experienced underwriting specialist to review, compare, and refine policy wordings across FM forms and competitor examples. You will manage a centralized repository, identify gaps, and recommend changes to enhance contract certainty and market competitiveness.

The role emphasizes deep policy analysis, collaboration with Operations, and developing guidelines for underwriting teams to ensure consistent interpretation and policy construction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree; MBA and/or professional designations desirable.
• 7+ years underwriting/engineering experience with at least 3 years at FM Global.
• Advanced policy-form analysis and comparative review skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform structured reviews of competitor, broker, and other non-company policy forms.
• Develop and maintain a centralized repository of competitor policy forms and analyses.
• Conduct detailed provision-by-provision policy comparisons against FM forms.
• Recommend changes to policy wordings to improve contract certainty and competitiveness.
• Assist Operations in composing FM Advantage Policy and manage translations/localizations.
• Maintain underwriting guidelines to evaluate wordings and coverages.
• Support training and interaction with other departments to resolve policy wording issues.

Skills

Policy analysis

Underwriting expertise

Communication of findings

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA desirable

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.

Works to ensure the policies issued worldwide by FM meet the underwriting intent of the company, regardless of the origin of the policy form. Interacts with all business units globally and coordinates other business unit forms and agreements. Reviews non-company forms, including competitor forms and forms drafted by clients or brokers, for compliance with Company requirements. Conducts detailed comparisons of external policy wordings against FM's portfolio of policy forms to identify material differences in coverage, intent, structure, and terminology, and maintains an organized repository of competitor forms and related analyses for future reference. Recommends changes to the Company's standard policy forms that are necessary to maintain its competitive position in the market and ensure contract certainty. Drafts procedures to implement revisions across the company.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Competitor form reviews: Perform structured reviews of competitor, broker, and other non-company policy forms to evaluate differences in coverage, underwriting intent, policy construction, terminology, and contract certainty, and communicate material findings to appropriate stakeholders.

• Competitor form repository: Develop and maintain a centralized, searchable repository of competitor policy forms, endorsements, comparison materials, source information, jurisdictional applicability, and review history to support consistent analysis and institutional knowledge.

• Deep-dive policy comparisons: Conduct detailed, provision-by-provision comparisons of competitor forms against FM's applicable policy forms, including FM Advantage, FM Affiliated proVision, translated/localized, industry-specific, and other specialty wordings, to identify material gaps, overlaps, emerging market features, and opportunities for form or guideline development.

• Recommend changes to the Company's standard policy wordings that improve contract certainty or the Company's competitiveness.

• Assist Operations personnel in the composition and manuscripting of the FM Advantage Policy that meets the Insured's needs, adheres to policy construction standards, and assures contract certainty. Manage FM Affiliated policies, translated/localized policies, and multi-carrier wordings.

• Maintain guidelines for manuscript policy and FM/broker policy review to assure clarity of underwriting intent and compliance with company procedures. Support Operations and Division Underwriting Managers in conducting manuscript policy reviews when requested. Determine whether proposed policies contain adequate terms and conditions to ensure the client controls loss potentials.

• Write and maintain underwriting guidelines that enable Operations personnel to evaluate policy wordings and specific coverages in the context of a given client.

• Monitor, design, and deliver company training activities and content to ensure alignment with underwriting intent. Support Policy Review Authority training for candidates.

• Interact with other departments in the corporate office to resolve issues that arise in policy wording.

• Participate, as directed, in support of Staff Underwriting objectives.

This position may be filled at either the Underwriting Specialist Staff or Sr. Underwriting Specialist Staff level, based on the selected candidate’s skills and experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree; MBA and/or IIA/CPCU/ARM Desirable.

• 7+ years industry underwriting/engineering experience with at least 3 years of underwriting experience with FM Global.

• Advanced policy-form analysis and comparative review skills, including the ability to interpret complex coverage language and distinguish differences in intent, scope, structure, and application.

• Ability to organize, classify, and maintain policy-form repositories and supporting metadata so materials can be reliably retrieved, compared, and reused.

• Ability to translate detailed policy comparisons into concise, decision-oriented findings for underwriting, legal, product, and leadership stakeholders.

• Understanding of the underwriting decision-making process and demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment in applying the Company's capacity.

• Previous successful underwriting management experience.

• Understanding of the claims and legal environment in which FM operates worldwide, including principles of contract law.

• Solid business acumen, with experience serving both Direct and Brokered customers.

• Knowledge of the property insurance market in general and competitor products.

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, generous health, well-being programs, a 401(k) and pension plan, career development opportunities, tuition reimbursement, flexible work, time off allowances, and much more!

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