This position is 100% remote and can be filled from a work from home capacity anywhere, primary location AZ-Scottsdale. Ideal candidate will have experience in underwriting and or related insurance experience, along with leading and working on complex projects.   

Compensation Grade: F3
Colorado Residents: Email taproces@nationwide.com for salary information

Job Description Summary

Are you ready to own your underwriting territory and build and grow relationships with agencies to attract affluent and high net worth opportunities? Our Private Client Underwriting team assesses a wide variety of unique risks and partners with Sales and Risk Solutions to write to new business and profitably grow in this important, niche market. If you have exceptional critical thinking skills, can prioritize and manage your own workload and find solutions for unique underwriting opportunities, we want to know more about you!

As a Specialist, you'll identify business trends, ensure profitability and build agency relationships in an assigned territory. We'll count on you to handle case and account underwriting (new and renewal policies) of moderate to high value/complexity within a complex and challenging territory. You'll work with limited direction, within broad limits and authority, on assignments requiring specialized knowledge in an area of expertise. You may serve as primary contact for portfolio profitability and growth management plans. You may mentor and guide less experienced underwriters and associates from other functional areas.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Researches agency, district, and market data for assigned underwriting territory to identify trends and profitable growth opportunities. Acquires data/information from published sources, company databases and partnerships with sales, claims, agency or other contacts.

• Reviews and analyzes profitability measures through reports and queries to develop creative, intuitive and profitable business recommendations for agency, market, state and/or region.

• Develops written portfolio management reports/action plans for joint implementation with Sales to drive profit and growth results or may support the portfolio management plans within assigned territory. Links knowledge of products, competitors, appropriate business mix, state statutes, rate structure and underwriting guidelines to develop and/or support action plans in partnership with product management.

• Performs relationship management functions within established service level agreements.

• Makes appropriate new business and renewal policy-level underwriting decisions based on analysis, experience and judgment in accepting, modifying or rejecting risks. Reviews and considers business loss experience, investigative reports, claims activity, file information and nature of risks, etc. to make sound decisions. Understands and adheres to filed rating plans.

• Makes account underwriting decisions based on agency history, policyholder’s tenure, number of accounts, claims history and long-term performance indicators.

• Classifies risks accurately to ensure matching of price and product to the customer. Demonstrates skill at interpreting and using approved classification systems, rating plans and selection standards to resolve eligibility, desirability and appropriate classification/pricing benchmarks for assigned product lines. Leads assessment of product/pricing effectiveness as it relates to underwriting and provides input to leaders.

• Contributes to overall field planning process.

• Consults with assigned agency force on business results, trends, competitor information and application of portfolio management action plans. Recommends additional products, coverages and discounts to ensure the agency and customer receive maximum value. Uses curiosity, resourcefulness and creativity to identify profitable opportunities.

• Manages the communication process between agencies and processing areas and makes decisions regarding the most effective and efficient method of sharing information based on the issue, situation and audience. Educates contacts about how to find answers to streamline communications.

• Leads special projects, task teams, or underwriting roundtables when needed. May represent the company in department of insurance hearings/complaints.

• Pursues partnerships with Sales, Claims, and Product Management to help implement and drive profitable solutions for all lines of business submitted in assigned territory/underwriting district. Supports and may participate in agency reviews.

• Markets company products and services by working with agencies to identify needs and create or source profitable solutions. Builds and improves the agency relationship by conveying interest in the agency’s needs and goals. Completes all transactions in a first time final mode. Assists in providing agency staff with education when necessary.

• Helps train new associates.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Reports to Underwriting Manager or Director. No direct reports.

Typical Skills and Experiences:

Education: Undergraduate degree in business administration, insurance, risk management, economics or finance preferred. 

License/Certification/Designation: Progress toward attaining CPCU or other related insurance certification desirable.

Experience: Minimum of six years of experience in underwriting or related insurance experience. Experience leading or working on complex projects and or task teams.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Strong knowledge of core business functions, underwriting polices and practices, pricing, marketing and insurance contracts. Role may require a strong knowledge of financial analysis concepts. Understands and can articulate company product details and values. Has a good understanding of competitor products and marketing strategies. Excellent written and verbal communications skills to present information to agents and sales managers. Skilled in Microsoft Excel and other analytical tools to evaluate data. Role may require strong knowledge of company data warehouse tools and related systems. Key competencies include: business sense, functional/technical skills, command skills, interpersonal savvy, negotiating, problem solving, drive for results, managing and measuring work, customer focus, and decision quality.

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: Exempt (Not Eligible)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Extensive time working on personal computer. May require valid driver's license.

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.