AVP, Underwriting Manager - Berkley

Company Details:

 

Berkley Accident and Health is a risk management company that designs innovative solutions to address the unique challenges of each client. With our entrepreneurial culture and a strong emphasis on analytics, we can help employers better manage their risk. We offer a broad range of products, including employer stop loss, benefit captives, provider stop loss, HMO reinsurance, and specialty accident. The key to Berkley’s success is our nimble approach to risk – our ability to quickly understand, think through, and devise a plan that addresses each client’s challenges, coupled with the strong backing of a Fortune 500 company. Our parent company, W. R. Berkley Corporation, is one of the largest and best managed property/casualty insurers in the United States.

 

The company is an equal employment opportunity employer.

 

Responsibilities:

We have an opportunity for an AVP, Underwriting Manager to join our Berkley Accident and Health team!  You will be responsible for seeking profitable growth of our company’s portfolio of Specialty Accident business by analyzing and selecting risks based on qualified underwriting criteria that adhere to the company’s established underwriting guidelines. You will work cross-functionally with senior leadership in the areas of underwriting, actuarial, claims, compliance and distribution to formulate new and renewal business strategies and to negotiate complex cases in a professional and thoughtful manner. This position will also strive to innovate in the areas of underwriting operational efficiency, in accordance with the company’s ongoing commitment to innovation and its core behaviors.

 

This role is both an individual contributor, where you will maintain a production workload of the more complex cases and business relationships, while also managing a staff of underwriters and providing appropriate guidance, management and mentorship.

 

We have a welcoming culture valuing our employees – we trademarked the phrase Everything Counts, Everyone Matters® to describe the Berkley commitment to our people and how we do business. We believe that every person in the organization is important and every accomplishment makes a difference in our results. Come join us!   

 

Key functions include but are not limited to:

• Write and retain profitable Specialty Accident cases with a specialization in Corporate Business Travel Accident, Intercollegiate Sports, and K-12 in addition to ancillary Participant Accident coverages and programs 
• In addition to transactional underwriting review, proactively manage assigned blocks of business within overall targets set by segment leaders, actuarial and finance, with a strong understanding and appreciation for the varying financial components particular to each segment
• Develop and maintain successful relationships with target production sources within assigned programs; foster trust and effective collaboration in order to more successfully manage the negotiation of complex cases and programs
• Collaborate with company’s senior leadership team to produce annual financial targets including rate, retention and overall premium growth; monitor department KPIs, and participate in overall product strategic development
• Oversee the activity assignments and workload balance of assigned underwriting staff
• Support staff on challenging risk evaluations, service situations, and during periods of high case volume; use these opportunities to promote underwriter training, with an eye towards operational efficiency and consistency in underwriting approach
• Ensure staff is properly composing, preparing, and generating correspondence, proposals, and other reports as needed or required

 

 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
• 10+ years of Accident & Health/Specialty Accident Underwriting experience 
• Prior supervisory/management experience
• A demonstrated track record of strategic oversight of a Specialty Accident / A&H  block of business, including a thorough understanding of market dynamics, risk management strategies, and a strong desire to stay ahead of emerging risks in the market
• Confidence and a highly developed skillset in the areas of math, communication, negotiation, management, and multi-tasking
• Strong consulting and interpersonal skills with an ability to interact with brokers, clients and service vendors
• Ability to travel to staff offices regularly, and for external business needs - approx. 20%

Additional Company Details:We do not accept any unsolicited resumes from external recruiting firms. The company offers a competitive compensation plan and robust benefits package for full time regular employees including:• Base Salary Range: $150,000 - $200,000 • Eligible to participate in annual discretionary bonus and restricted stock units • Berkley is committed to offering comprehensive and competitive employee health benefits that help our employees stay healthy, feel secure and maintain a work/life balance. We offer Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account and a Health Reimbursement Arrangement. We support our employees in planning for their current and future security by offering Short & Long Term Disability, 401(k)/Profit Sharing/Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Life/Accidental Death & Dismemberment/Travel and Additional Life Insurance. We want our employees to live productive and fulfilling lives. We promote work-life balance and personal wellness by providing an Employee Assistance Program, Paid Time Off (Vacation/Sick/Holidays) and encouraging employees to participate in our groups wellness program. We take risk management excellence and your professional growth and ongoing development seriously by offering industry-related education and exams along with industry-related tuition assistance. The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment. Sponsorship Details:Sponsorship not Offered for this RoleJob Description:

AVP, Underwriting Manager Job Description