Underwriting Associate - Personal Lines

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 Personal Lines Underwriting Associate to join our team! Western National Insurance Group reserves the right to fill this position at a level above or below the level included in this posting.

The individual in this role will have the opportunity to support the Personal Lines Underwriting Team in profitable premium growth by underwriting new business policies as well as support our agency partners through various communication methods.

What are the responsibilities and opportunities of this role?

• Assists underwriters in the daily underwriting and processing of new business and endorsements.
• Uses established practices, processes, and procedures to write new business policies within given authority level based on underwriting guidelines.
• Reviews new business application documents and gathers additional information as needed to accurately underwrite policies.
• Evaluates policies within established authority level and provides recommended solutions when outside of authority level.
• Builds and maintains strong agency relationships.
• Communicates frequently via phone and email with internal personal lines team members, other Western National departments, and external parties.
• Makes decisions and recommendations for varied situations while applying judgment to evaluate relevant information, policies, and procedures.
• Develops work independently, but regularly asks for direction and prioritization, and helps improve processes.
• Intermediate analytical skills.
• Identifies opportunities to improve processes through critical thinking.
• 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.
• Builds strong relationships through regular communication with agents, underwriters, and employees across the organization.

What are the must-have qualifications for a candidate?

• Ability to problem solve and effectively communicate.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously while maintaining strong attention to detail.
• Ability to follow established processes and procedures.
• Excellent time management skills.
• Effective oral and written communications skills.
• Intermediate experience with Word or Excel is required.

What will our ideal candidate have?

• Bachelor’s degree in insurance or related field is preferred; experience in lieu of degree is acceptable.
• Proficient use of various core systems, office and computer equipment, and software packages.
• Knowledge of insurance, including agency services, operations, underwriting, and underwriting support.

Compensation overview

The full hiring range for this role is $22.80 - $30.03 per hour. 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 has also been named a Top Workplace by the Star Tribune for the past four 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.

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