This role will be supporting our Agribusiness work, and NWAG experience is a plus, however not required for success in the role.  Strong Commercial Lines experience is required to success in the role, and leadership experience is strongly preferred.

The Des Moines office location is preferred, however this role is open to all locations for remote work-from-home.

The pay scale for this role is G4.

Job Description Summary

For managers whose primary focus is MM accounts - Manages a commercial lines underwriting function and staff. Drives profitable underwriting results and growth through leadership, development and engagement. Manages agency relationships to ensure objectives are met.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversees research within unit. Establishes practice and methodology guidelines. Identifies needs or potential issues and consults on research issues from staff and leadership.

• Reviews and provides oversight to analysis and conclusions within unit. Analyzes and interprets collective data within territory. Drives operational changes and ensures implementation of practice standards and procedures.

• Establishes workflow standards and processes. Manages performance measurements pertaining to the effectiveness of the unit's delivery process, service capabilities and customer satisfaction.

• Accountable for all pricing, underwriting and operational decisions for unit. Interprets underwriting guidelines and standards and ensures direction is followed. Resolves escalated issues, applies underwriting appetite in local market and provides technical oversight to complex issues. Handles underwriting files in cases of work overload or other local needs. Reviews for acceptability and handles those within authority using company underwriting guidelines and standards.

• Develops and manages operational plans for unit. Plans implementation of organizational objectives. Responsible for the planning and management of associates including: budget, performance management, salary planning and administration, hiring and placement, and disciplinary actions.

• Provides technical advice on complex underwriting and service issues to unit ensuring compliance to state laws and company requirements. Consults with all levels of internal and external partners regarding policy and practice, customer service issues, sales, claims and underwriting. Promotes and monitors agency performance.

• Communicates vision, operational plans, direction and underwriting results to internal associates and external partners.

• Responsible for the relationship management of the unit. Strengthens internal and external relationships through regular contact on underwriting matters, promoting profit and new business growth, renewal retention and service capabilities. Participates and partners in the review and analysis of agency performance based on production results. Manages resolution of relationship issues.

• Leads delivery of appropriate customer service levels. Follows up and ensures proper handling of escalated customer service requests.

• Determines and leads delivery of training and development based on individual and unit needs. Coaches, develops and provides feedback to associates. Educates internal and external partners on underwriting process, practice and tools.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Director. Direct reports: Typically 5-8 underwriting associates and may include multiple indirect reports.

Typical Skills and Experiences:

Education:  Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience preferred.

License/Certification/Designation: Completion of INS and/or AU or similar designations. Completion of CIC or CPCU is preferred.

Experience:  Typically ten years of commercial lines underwriting experience, middle market experience preferred. Supervisory or management experience desired.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills:  Commercial underwriting policy, practices and procedures. Rating plans and plan concepts. State and Federal insurance laws and regulations. Commercial insurance processing systems. Working knowledge of company operations and products. Sales, claims, service center, property/casualty field operations, loss control principles and legal issues involving knowledge of commercial contracts.

Verbal and written communication skills used to interact with all levels of internal and external contacts. Ability to manage and train associates in all aspects of commercial underwriting activity. Ability to be flexible and adaptable to changing situations. Ability to set work priorities that conform to established standards. Ability to analyze insurance risks, apply logical judgment and utilize procedures effectively. Must be able to operate personal computer and applicable business software.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and HR Business Partner.

Values:  Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions:

Overtime Eligibility:  Not Eligible (Exempt)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Frequent travel may be required to travel to client or meeting locations. Extended or non-standard work hours as required to meet business need.

ADA:  The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job.  Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties. 

Smoke-Free Iowa Statement: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries comply with the Iowa Smokefree Air Act. Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed areas on or around company premises as well as company issued vehicles. The company offers designated smoking areas in which smoking is permitted at each individual location. The Act prohibits retaliation for reporting complaints or violations. For more information on the Iowa Smokefree Air Act, individuals may contact the Smokefree Air Act Helpline at 888-944-2247.