Consultant, Contract Underwriting - E&S/Specialty (Contract+)

If you’re passionate about helping people protect what matters most to them, as well as innovating and simplifying processes and operations to provide the best customer value, then Nationwide’s Property and Casualty team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

Job Description Summary

Are you a critical thinker who can analyze complex risk and find insurance solutions that balance customer needs with business goals? If you can take initiative, use both your analytical and creative abilities to make sound decisions and have a desire to help people solve real challenges, we want to hear from you!
Our Excess & Surplus/Specialty (E&S/S) lines allow us to provide insurance that other carriers may not offer. It’s a fast-paced environment in a collaborative, team-oriented culture, working in an always-changing, growing industry.
As an Underwriting Consultant, you will underwrite individual risks for acceptability, pricing, coverage, terms and conditions, by developing, analyzing and evaluating information and exposures on risks of an increasing complex technical nature with a high level of authority. In addition, you achieve production and loss ratio goals with assigned brokers and program managers by reviewing and analyzing claims, loss history and taking appropriate action on accounts. We'll count on you to drive profit and premium to meet financial goals and objectives through developing, negotiating and implementing business plans.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:  

• Researches and develops new classes of business as directed. Researches market trends and competition. Assesses market viability, creates forms & endorsements, and develops rates with actuarial support. On large, complex accounts, partners with Actuarial team to develop rates/pricing, Finance team to review potential insureds profitability profile and claims team to review SIR viability and potential frequency and severity of losses.

• Reviews individual risks or programs within assigned territory from agents, brokers or program managers and either declines or accepts business based upon information necessary to make the decision.  The underwriter analyzes, with the highest level of technical expertise and accuracy, exposures to loss, develops an adequate premium charge for the exposure, determines appropriate endorsements and exclusions to address loss exposures for the insurance contract, including developing manuscript wording appropriate to the risk. Within department guidelines places reinsurance, if any, for the account.

• Achieves team / individual production and loss ratio goals within assigned territory through sound territory management and marketing.  Leads and influence agencies by creating sales strategies and implementing sales processes and practices that drive new sales, increase shelf space, profit  and customer retention.

• Works with the most complex issues concerning coverage, terms, programs, agents, brokers and program managers. The underwriter continually analyzes premium and loss results in their territory /assigned brokers: by agency, state, major class of business and by program.  Continually assesses quality of broker submissions and makes corrective action recommendations.  Performs audits of agents, individual risks and programs for compliance with company guidelines, state regulations and reinsurance conditions.  Development and implementation of specific action plans may be required. 

• Achieves production, profitability, and service objectives. Quotes, prices and underwrites new and renewal policies and endorsements, primarily for complex or service sensitive accounts. Monitors risk selection and pricing decisions for entire agency plant, both on a book of business and individual account level.

• Handles policy maintenance items and other mid-term requests.  Reviews endorsement requests and processes necessary changes to the policy.  Reviews loss control reports and makes recommendations to the agent and/or changes to the policy or recommends and partners with the broker to ensure loss control compliance.  Follows up on outstanding information as required. Reviews claim activity and takes appropriate action. 

• May review agency books of business as well as profit/growth results and trends to recommend and implement action plans.

• Fosters positive business relationships with agents and brokers, through daily contact with assigned agents by developing and maintaining good rapport and resolving agency or broker conflicts.   Travels to agency / broker offices as required for audits, training or marketing visits.  Entertains agents visiting the Company as required. Assists with development of marketing ideas and strategies for Underwriting Seminars and other marketing campaigns.

• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of facultative reinsurance and places reinsurance per department guidelines based upon the appropriate use of all reinsurance facilities used by the department, including various treaty, semiautomatic and facultative reinsurance.  Maintains good working relationship with reinsurers.  Assists with the development of treaty proposals.

• Researches and develops new programs as directed. Assesses market viability, creates forms & endorsements, and develops rates with actuarial support.  Programs may include risk purchasing groups, captives or other alternative risk transfer mechanisms.

• Resolves technical questions of the greatest complexity. Proactively develops technical and business knowledge through internal and external venues. Teaches classes to build technical underwriting knowledge to brokers, SSU students and other underwriters. Mentors new and existing underwriting talent.

• Markets Nationwide products and services to help drive agency and company results, including all enterprise products that may enhance offerings. Assists agency with strategies for pipeline management, producer development and to develop new business in targeted industries and preferred markets. Responds effectively to assess accounts and develop business propositions that win the business. 

• Resolves technical questions of great complexity. Proactively develops technical and business knowledge through internal and external venues. Teaches classes to build technical underwriting knowledge to others.  Mentors new and existing underwriting talent.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships:  Reports to Department Manager   Direct Reports: Up to 3 employees.  Indirect reports typically assigned.

Typical Skills and Experiences:  

Education:  Undergraduate studies and completion of general insurance courses such as CPCU, CIC, AU, ARM, CPIW, CWIS, or ASLI is preferred.

Experience:  Eight years underwriting experience handling large or complex programs and accounts, excess & surplus lines preferred.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills:  Ability to communicate effectively, orally, and in writing, interpersonally with individuals and groups via telephone, fax, e-mail and in person.  Demonstrates advanced negotiation skills and ability to work as a project lead. Ability to manage the line of business assigned, Ability to work with the wholesale/general agency distribution system, Ability to analyze highly complex insurance risks to determine acceptability including policy language, various commercial and alternative rating plans and methodologies, reinsurance, Ability to use/learn job related computer software.  Ability to handle the most complex accounts.  Ability to devise business solutions to complex problems, implement the most appropriate, and monitor the effectiveness.  Ability to make decisions on highly complex issues and work with minimal direction.  Ability to train and mentor all levels of underwriters, underwriting assistants and interns.  Ability to analyze and interpret mathematical, statistical and logical data, and evaluate its reliability and significance.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence. 

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the Vice President or Human Resources and HR Business Partner.

Values:  Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions:  

Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible (Exempt)

Working Conditions:  Normal office environment.  Extended and non-standard work hours based on project and customer deliverables.

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.  

We currently anticipate accepting applications until 10/10/2025. However, we encourage early submissions, as the posting may close sooner if a strong candidate slate is identified before the deadline.

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

This position could be filled within any of the lower 48 U.S. states.

Smoke-Free Iowa Statement: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries comply with the Iowa Smokefree Air Act. Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed areas on or around company premises as well as company issued vehicles. The company offers designated smoking areas in which smoking is permitted at each individual location. The Act prohibits retaliation for reporting complaints or violations. For more information on the Iowa Smokefree Air Act, individuals may contact the Smokefree Air Act Helpline at 888-944-2247.

For NY residents please review the following state law information: Notice of Employee Rights, Protections, and Obligations LS740 (ny.gov) https://dol.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/02/ls740_1.pdf

NOTE TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES:

We value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. Nationwide does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. All resumes submitted by employment agencies directly to any Nationwide employee or hiring manager in any form without a signed Nationwide Client Services Agreement on file and search engagement for that position will be deemed unsolicited in nature. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is subsequently hired as a result of the referral or through other means.

Nationwide pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement within the actual starting salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity and location of the role as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. If a Sales job, Sales Incentives, based on performance goals are possible in addition to this range. Note on Compensation for Part-Time Roles: Please be aware that the salary ranges listed below reflect full-time compensation. Actual compensation may be prorated based on the number of hours worked relative to a full-time schedule.

The national salary range for Consultant, Contract Underwriting - E&S/Specialty - 111565 : $94,000.00-$194,000.00

The expected starting salary range for Consultant, Contract Underwriting - E&S/Specialty - 111565 : $104,000.00 - $156,000.00