Commercial Lines Underwriter

Who are we?

Western National Insurance Group is a private mutual insurance company with over 120 years of experience serving customers' property-and-casualty insurance needs in the Midwestern, Northwestern, and Southwestern United States. Known as “The Relationship Company®,” we define success as a measure of the relationships we’ve built over time. In everything that we do, we know that delivering a friendly and helpful interaction makes for a better experience for everyone involved. That’s the power of “nice”. At Western National, nice is something we work to bring to every person and organization with whom we partner and serve.

Does this opportunity interest you?

Western National is seeking a Commercial Lines Underwriter to join our team!

The individual in this role will have the opportunity to develop a book of business by writing and retaining commercial lines accounts through assigned agencies.

What are the responsibilities and opportunities of this role?

• Builds and maintains strong agency relationships. 
• Effectively manages an agency territory to achieve established growth and profit goals.
• Uses established practices, processes, procedures, and underwriting authority level to analyze the operations and exposures of different types of risks.
• Assesses risks and exposures on new and existing business to identify opportunities to maximize assigned territory loss ratio and growth objectives.
• Executes policies within established authority level and established eligible risks.
• Applies basic knowledge of coverage / forms / symbols / endorsements per line of business.
• Applies basic knowledge of rating.
• Writes new business as defined by annual goals determined by the department.
• Applies knowledge to help solve problems of relatively limited scope and complexity.
• Consistently acts according to our customer experience standards, including responding quickly, maintaining a positive attitude, building rapport, demonstrating empathy, managing the customer’s expectations, using the proper communication channel for the situation, and taking ownership to ensure the customer’s issue is resolved.

What are the must-have qualifications for a candidate?

• Demonstrated time management skills with ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to exercise sound business judgement.
• Proficient use of various core systems, office and computer equipment, and software packages.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred, experience in lieu of degree acceptable.

What will our ideal candidate have?

• Demonstrated intermediate organizational and prioritization skills with ability to accomplish multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated understanding of industry practices, standards, and underwriting concepts.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing.
• One or more years of experience or exposure to underwriting concepts preferred. 

Compensation overview

The targeted hiring range for this role is $59,000 - $82,900, annually. However, the base pay offered may vary depending on the job-related knowledge, skills, credentials, and experience of each candidate, as well as other factors such as the scope and location of the role. Candidates looking for compensation outside of the posted range are encouraged to apply and will be considered based on their individual qualifications and / or may be considered for other positions.

Western National Insurance Group reserves the right to fill this position at a level above or below the level included in this posting.

Culture and Total Rewards

Western National has long been known as “The Relationship Company®” and caring for our employees is part of that relationship commitment. We value connectiveness, empowerment, and accountability, and we believe that our employees are our biggest asset. 

Currently ranked as the 41st largest private company by revenue in Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal), Western National has earned accolades year-over-year as an employer of choice and garnered multiple awards for wellness in the workplace. Western National has also been named a Top Workplace by the Star Tribune for consecutive years. In addition, the Group is consistently recognized as a Ward’s 50 property-and-casualty insurance company for its outstanding financial results.

Western National offers full-time employees a significant Total Rewards Package, including:

• Medical insurance plan options and other standard employee benefits, including dental insurance, vision benefits, life insurance, disability insurance, and more!
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) Plan (participants are eligible for 100% matching on the first 6% of their contributions)
• Wellbeing Program, including onsite fitness studio
• Paid Time Off – including holiday, vacation, and volunteer
• 100% company-paid tuition reimbursement for approved job-relevant coursework and access to The Institutes (Risk and insurance education)
• Paid parental leave
• Bonus opportunities

Western National believes in supporting balance between work and life by providing a flexible work environment, which includes a variety of hybrid and remote work arrangements designed to balance individual, job, department, and company needs. 

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Western National provides employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.