Underwriting Director - Berkley
Chicago, IL 60661
About the Job
Berkley Fire & Marine Underwriterswas launched in 2013 and is a W. R. Berkley operating unit offering preferred inland marine and related property risks and services. Headquartered in Chicago, Berkley Fire & Marine Underwriters serves customers throughout the United States, both regionally and nationwide. With the ability to craft customized terms, we provide the most effective protection for those in the construction, logistics, manufacturing and transportation industries.
The company is an equal opportunity employer.
Responsibilities:As an Executive Sales Underwriter Consultant, you will drive distribution partner acquisition and profitable new business growth within assigned territory. You'll collaborate with the Executive Portfolio Underwriter and Portfolio Underwriting team in alignment with retention goals and to ensure coordinated communication with distribution partners. We'll trust you to apply your advanced level Underwriting, Sales, and Distribution Management skills to support overall book management.
What you can expect:
- Culture of innovation, teamwork, supportive colleagues and leaders willing to invest in talent
- Internal mobility opportunities
- Visibility to senior leaders and partnership with cross functional teams
- Opportunity to impact change
- Benefits – competitive compensation, paid time off, comprehensive wellness benefits and programs, employer funded health savings account, profit sharing, 401k, paid parental leave, employee stock purchase plan, tuition assistance and professional continuing education
We'll count on you to:
- Identify, evaluat, and recommend new distribution partners and ensures that partner goals and strategies are in line with the company's overarching objectives.
- Oversee the initial training and ongoing education of agency partners on systems, processes, appetite, and underwriting criteria.
- Facilitate comprehensive performance evaluations and book reviews with distribution partners, focusing on key metrics such as sales targets, risk quality, profitability, and compliance.
- Analyze new business submissions, determine acceptability of renewal risk in accordance with Company guidelines and practices in order to make profitable underwriting decisions. Applies underwriting guidelines and appetite to risk selection and pricing. Consults and negotiates with agents to package appropriate solutions to meet the needs of the insured while ensuring profitable outcomes for BFM.
- Collaborate with Portfolio Underwriters to maintain a healthy book of business consisting of varied inland marine and property classes, risk size, and complexity. Evaluate underwriting performance based on financial analysis. Includes rate, reserve adequacy, operational execution, planning and product reviews.
- Prepare reports to management concerning quality, quantity, and profitability of risks renewed and non-renewals.
- Serve as consultant to less experienced Portfolio and Sales Underwriters in areas of subject matter expertise.
- Consult with management on risks exceeding authority level or requiring special handling.
What you need to have:
- Bachelor’s degree
- 10+ years inland marine insurance underwriting experience to include Underwriting Analysis, Coverage, and Pricing as well as the underwriting process and compliance
- Able to work independently in an entrepreneurial environment while coaching & motivating others to drive productivity and results
- Excellent relationship building, sales and business acumen; prior success with distribution management
- Demonstrates a strategic mindset coupled with leading change
What makes you stand out:
- Collaborative, customer focused, critical thinker who practices a personal growth mindset
- Strives for innovation and capable of leading change
