Small Business Underwriting Team Leader

                    

If you see the future of insurance where transformational change is opportunity, where you don’t just break down data, you break through it, where technology inspires products and services to enrich the lives of customers, where failing fast is fast learning and the only way to view the competition is in the rear-view mirror – Westfield Small Business is your future.

  

Small Business Underwriting Team Leader Job Summary

The Small Business (SB) Underwriting Team Leader is responsible for leading a team of small business underwriters handling medium-touch / high-touch new and renewal business that requires underwriting expertise and individual risk decision making aligned to the Small Business appetite. The Team Leader is responsible for productivity, prioritization, balancing of workloads, and sound underwriting decisions of their team of underwriters. The Team Leader is also responsible for handling underwriting referrals exceeding the authority limits of team members. The SB Underwriting Team Leader ensures alignment and collaboration with the Underwriting Operations Team and Territory Managers/Leaders, driving a culture of virtual teaming to ensure achievement of territory plans and targeted financial results.

 

The Team Leader is recognized as a technical underwriting and subject matter expert, as well as a champion of continuous improvement. The Team Leader is responsible for coaching and mentoring team members along with continuously growing the overall underwriting acumen on the team and its members, while also focusing on driving the business development practices and acumen that will ensure the achievement of territory objectives and the small business plan. The Team Leader works to ensure efficient, consistent, quality underwriting decisions and ensures adherence to compliance of all underwriting rules and policies.

Essential Functions (primary functions and/or reasons the job exists in order of importance)
1. Responsible for leading a team of small business underwriters handling medium-touch / high-touch new and renewal business that requires underwriting expertise and individual risk decision making aligned to the Small Business appetite.
2. Responsible for the productivity, prioritization, balancing of workloads, and sound underwriting decisions of their team of underwriters.
3. Responsible for handling underwriting referrals exceeding the authority limits of their team members. 
•  Exercises underwriting authority to achieve profit through quality risk selection and exposure control.
4. Ensures alignment and collaboration with the Underwriting Operations Team and Territory Managers/Leaders, driving business development best practices in the underwriting environment, aligned to field operations.
• Partners with Territory Leader/Managers ensuring alignment to territory strategy & vision, creating a shared accountability and “team” environment for underwriting, underwriting support, and territory partners.
5. Ensures efficient, consistent, quality underwriting decisions and ensures adherence to compliance of all underwriting rules and policies.
6. Utilizes their knowledge, experience, technical underwriting and subject matter expertise to coach and mentor team members.
• Partners with the QA underwriting function, utilizing findings to help develop underwriting acumen and decision making of the team.
• Works to increase the overall business and underwriting acumen of the team and its members through one-on-one interactions (e.g. reviewing underwriting decisions, answering questions, listening to phone calls).

 

Desired Qualifications/Experience/Certification/Education (in order of importance)
1. Minimum of 7 years of Commercial and/or Small Business P&C insurance experience.
2. Minimum of 5 years of underwriting experience. 
3. Minimum of 2 years of direct and/or indirect leadership experience.
4. Experience tactfully and persuasively handling conflict.
5. Experience maintaining a high degree of customer service focus and professionalism.
6. Experience analyzing problems and developing strategies for resolution.
7. Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, resulting in the ability to interact with all levels within the organization and with customers.
8. Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college/university OR commensurate experience.
9. Valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record that conforms to company standards.

 

Physical Requirements (specific to the role) 
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 
• Ability to work effectively in an office environment for 40+ hours per week (including sitting, standing, and working on a computer for extended periods of time).
• Ability to communicate effectively in a collaborative work environment utilizing various technologies such as:  telephone, computer, web, voice, teleconferencing, e-mail, etc.
• Ability to travel as required.
• Ability to operate an automobile within the parameters of the driving policy.

 

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.

Westfield offers a Total Rewards program that focuses on compensation, benefits and wellness, and includes perks like 401(k), pension plan, annual incentive, education reimbursement, flex-time, onsite fitness center and casual dress. Work-life balance, recognition, and learning and career development are all part of a rewarding career with Westfield.

To learn more about Westfield and the opportunities available, please visit us at westfieldinsurance.com. 

We are an equal opportunity employer/minority/female/disability/protected veteran.