Description

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 an Operations Manager to join our team! 

The individual in this role will have the opportunity to manage operations support staff and achieve business operations service standards.

What are the responsibilities and opportunities of this role?

• Selects, coaches, develops, and retains staff to achieve company, departmental, and individual goals. 
• Oversees and manages underwriting operations functions, including new and renewal policies, endorsements, cancellations, and reinstatement processes.
• Organizes people and work distribution and creates and maintains related metrics for simple-to-complex processes.
• Creates opportunities for synergy and integration of workflow.
• Ensures the support team maintains effective internal and external business relationships.
• Participates in the process for evaluating automation changes to ensure correct premium and coverage application as well as a satisfactory customer experience.
• Completes regular work and other assigned projects within established timeframe.
• Oversees the mailroom, Audit Team, vendor relationship / training, and procedure development. 
• Interprets and executes policies, processing guidelines, and service standards.
• Maintains a collaborative and cohesive work environment. 
• Demonstrates fair and consistent decision making.
• Consults with managers or underwriters on unfamiliar risks and tasks and changes outside of authority level.
• Actively participates in problem solving activities.
• Delivers solutions and decisions that have a positive impact.
• Applies knowledge to help solve problems of multifaceted scope and complexity.
• Identifies and analyzes patterns from partial and / or conflicting data.
• Builds customer experience objectives into team and individual goals.
• Successfully incorporates customer experience considerations into decisions, such as task / project prioritization, hiring, and recognition.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

What are the must-have qualifications for a candidate?

• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound business judgment.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, direct, and develop people.
• Knowledge of insurance coverage, rating procedures, and managing workflows.
• Knowledge of industry practices, standards, concepts, and best practices.
• Proficient use of various core systems, office and computer equipment, and software packages.
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of systems used for policy processing.
• Associate degree in relevant field of study or equivalent work experience.
• CPCU, AINS, API, or CIC certification preferred.

What will our ideal candidate have?

• Demonstrated time management skills with proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to analyze and solve problems.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong business relationships. 
• Effective communication skills, including listening, writing, and presenting information clearly.

Compensation overview

The full hiring range for this role is $87,780 - $131,670, 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.

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 was also named a Star Tribune Top Workplace in 2021, 2022, and 2023. 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.

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.