Middle Market Lead Field Underwriter (Pittsburgh Territory)

Commercial Lines Lead Field Underwriter

Founded in 1848, Westfield is a global leader in property and casualty insurance, delivering superior risk insights and innovative solutions to customers through a diverse portfolio of insurance products. Westfield underwrites commercial, personal, surety, and specialty lines of coverage through a network of leading independent agents and brokers in the United States and specialty products through Lloyd's of London Syndicate 1200. As a mutual insurance company with more than 3,000 employees, Westfield has revenues in excess of $4 billion and more than $10 billion in assets.

Job Summary

The Commercial Lines Lead Field Underwriter, working under limited supervision, represents the company among a defined territory of agencies, with responsibility for the profitable production and ongoing management of commercial and agribusiness accounts utilizing advanced technical underwriting and sales ability. The role leads the account team to analyze new business opportunities from an exposure, pricing, service, and sales perspective, engaging all resources available to them. The role also manages the collaboration meeting process and work with independent agents to present and close the deal. The role may also develop and monitor key underwriting performance metrics and maintain the highest level of documentation for accounts.

Job Responsibilities

• Underwrites and collaborates on new and renewal commercial lines accounts and pre-qualifies customers and leads the account team to analyze new business opportunities from an exposure, pricing, service, and sales perspective, engaging all resources available to them.
• Represents the company and is responsible for building strong relationships with accounts and acts as the key contact for specified agencies, leads agency business planning, account inventory management, and manages the book of business to attain profit and revenue objectives.
• Partners with the Region Leader to determine what accounts are discussed during the renewal strategy meeting, who should participate in the renewal account discussion and actively participates by providing detailed underwriting information during the meeting.
• Delivers quotes, terms and conditions, and Premium Value Statement (including information surfaced at the monthly renewal meeting) to the agent, negotiates with the agent until the renewal order is received and then sends the renewal to be processed.
• Utilizes all the present and future underwriting tools and resources (i.e., reference connect), evaluates exposures to loss, determines pricing, and accepts or rejects accounts on behalf of the company based on the company's underwriting guidelines.
• Documents details of underwriting decisions, while maintaining all supporting information, records, and data in accordance with audit standards.
• Responsible for involving other internal business partners (Claims, Risk Control, Premium Audit, Underwriting, Commercial Lines Business Leaders, Billing, etc.) in the prospecting, sales, and underwriting process as well as for servicing the account.
• Coordinates monthly renewal strategy discussions with underwriting and services team (risk control, billing, claims, etc.) to develop renewal strategy for renewals.
• Establishes and maintains effective communication externally (between agents and company) and internally (within the company) regarding underwriting procedures and practices, growth/profit goals and objectives, state/territory issues and regulations, industry activity and trends, and agency relations.
• Coordinates collaboration meetings on large, more complex accounts in accordance with company guidelines.
• Notifies agencies of adverse underwriting decisions, underwriting requirements, status, and declinations.
• Answers questions from agencies, policyholders, or other external contacts and escalates issues to management as necessary.
• Negotiates with agents to reach positive and profitable outcomes.
• Travels as often as needed including regular utilization of assigned fleet vehicle to cover assigned territory.
• May involve traveling on short notice or other daily driving duties as assigned regardless of location.

Job Qualifications

• 5+ years of Commercial Lines Underwriting experience.
• Bachelor's degree in related field and/or commensurate work experience.
• Valid driver's license and a driving record that conforms to company standards.

Location

• Pittsburgh Territory

Behavioral Competencies

• Collaborates
• Customer focus
• Communicates effectively
• Decision quality
• Nimble learning
• Drivers License

Technical Skills

• Insurance Industry Knowledge
• Risk Management
• Data Analysis and Reporting
• Commercial Lines Underwriting
• Agribusiness Underwriting
• Customer Service Management
• Compliance Management
• Financial Controls
• Agriculture Industry Knowledge

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed in this role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, skills, responsibilities, knowledge, etc. These may be subject to change and additional functions may be assigned as needed by management.