Commercial Lines Automated Underwriting Manager

Job Title: Commercial Lines Underwriting Manager
Employee Status: Regular    
Schedule: Full-time 
Location: Hybrid - defined as three days in office located in Westfield Center, OH.

About Us:
You’re ready to make your mark where people care about each other. Where your work is meaningful. And where your unique perspectives are welcome. Think about joining Westfield, a company focused on what’s most important – the people behind our policies.  

Westfield was founded in 1848 by a small group of hard-working farmers who believed in the promise of the future and the power of the individual. Today, as one of the nation’s leading property and casualty (P&C) companies, we remain true to their vision and are dedicated to making a positive difference in our customers’ lives.

Responsibilities :

• Assists the CL Automated Underwriting Leader in ensuring the quality and integrity of automated and transactional underwriting and pricing decisions in the small business segment through the development and optimization of underwriting artificial intelligence and learning models, and the enablement and governance of 3rd party data integrations via multi-channeled underwriting platforms.
• Leads and serves as an advocate for risk prequalification, underwriting policies and rules, account pricing, product eligibility, authority / referral rules, risk and underwriting quality, and automated workflows.
• Serves as the company’s subject matter expert for underwriting patterns and pricing, referral and authority tables.
• Leverages understanding of risk exposures and controls relationship to profitability to effectively monitor, modify, and create underwriting rules to drive profitability throughout Commercial.
• Proactively monitors and optimizes underwriting rules performance throughout Commercial.
  • Collaborates with Quality Assurance, Actuarial, Product Management, and Business leaders to research plan variances, analyze loss trends, ensure adherence to sector / underwriting guidelines, and monitor other metrics (e.g., pricing trends, large losses).
  • Proactively identifies and recommends solutions to improve the health of specific lines of business or Industries.
  • Provides underwriting guideline support to Product Development Managers.
• Develops proposals, project plans, leads key activities, and is the subject matter expert related to the detailed design and implementation of automated underwriting, pricing, and workflows associated with product/underwriting enhancements, launches or discontinuations.
• Oversees automation of underwriting, pricing, and workflow rules for new product/underwriting implementations. Works closely with Product Development Managers, Underwriting Resource Analysts, Actuarial, IT and Portfolio Underwriting as part of the product development lifecycle. Manages relationships with individuals outside of the department to ensure product alignment across the enterprise.
• Consults with product development on trends and emerging issues to implement and update system requirements to support growth and profit.
• Monitors competitive landscape to understand external forces and trends. Directs reviews market research conducted by the CL Underwriting Practices Analysts. Recommends and directs system changes in alignment with strategic direction for Commercial.
• Provides input on and implements underwriting standards and guidelines, updates underwriting manuals and makes recommendations for authority related changes.
• Collaborates with and leverages corporate shared services functions to bring the Commercial competitive strategy to life and achieve projected results; aligns with corporate governance while maintaining a singular focus on the small business customer. Builds and utilizes strong partnerships to drive alignment for the mutual benefit of both Commercial and the organization.
• Travels as needed in order to perform other essential functions.

Qualifications: 

• 8 years of experience in the property / casualty industry with proven history of advancement within the product management and/or underwriting/sales disciplines.
• Experience with and in-depth knowledge of two or more of the following: automating commercial insurance products, processes and functions through proprietary policy administration and industry comparative quoting platforms, using artificial intelligence & analytical learning models, and supported by third party data integrations.
• Experience contributing to strategy development and understanding the impact and implications of decisions on other areas of the organization through previous projects and work experiences.
• Experience managing projects of various sizes including developing business requirements, delegating tasks, coaching others, and ensuring projects are completed on-time and within budget.
• Experience tactfully and persuasively handling conflict.
• Solid verbal, written, and interpersonal skills, including facilitation and group presentation skills.
• Experience managing one or more significant change efforts in a business environment.
• Experience interpreting insurance financial metrics.
• Strong knowledge and experience using Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Industry designation (e.g., CPCU, CIC, CRM) is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business or Risk Management or commensurate experience.
• Physical  essential functions: ability to work 40 hours in an office environment (sitting, standing, on a computer, etc.), operate office related technology (computer, phone, etc.), travel as required.

Westfield offers a Total Rewards program that focuses on compensation, benefits and wellness, and includes perks like 401(k), pension plan, annual incentive, education reimbursement, onsite fitness center or gym reimbursement and casual dress. Work/life balance, recognition, and learning and career development are all part of a rewarding career with Westfield. 

Learn more about current opportunities at www.westfieldinsurance.com/careers.

We are an equal opportunity employer/minority/female/disability/protected veteran.

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