Description

The Manager, Underwriting serves as the branch's senior commercial underwriting expert and leader, responsible for driving profitable growth, managing underwriting quality, and developing a high-performing underwriting team. This role oversees underwriting operations across multiple commercial lines, provides guidance on complex accounts, and ensures consistent application of company underwriting standards. The Manager, Underwriting works closely with Commercial Lines Territory Managers, Home Office Product and Underwriting teams, and agency partners to support sound risk selection, resolve underwriting issues, and strengthen agency relationships.

With the highest level of branch underwriting authority, this position leads strategic underwriting initiatives, conducts book-of-business and product performance reviews, and coordinates facultative reinsurance placements. The Manager, Underwriting is accountable for staff performance, coaching and mentoring underwriters, facilitating change, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, adaptability, and accountability. This role requires strong technical expertise across all commercial lines, exceptional communication and negotiation skills, sound decision-making, and a commitment to delivering an outstanding customer experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

Coaching and Influencing

• The Manager, Underwriting manages and is responsible for hiring, with concurrence of the Regional Vice President, developing and directing the branch's underwriting staff to include establishing expectations and objectives, monitoring performance issues and instituting corrective action as necessary.
• Plans underwriting development activities for the branch underwriting staff, to include providing training and coaching, as necessary.
• This position is granted the highest levels of Branch underwriting authority and utilizes that authority as an extension of Home Office underwriting in the branch referral process.
• Reviews and evaluates large loss reports, confers with the branch's Territory Managers and underwriting staff, and recommends the appropriate actions to be taken on accounts, as necessary.
• Accompanies each of the branch's Territory Managers on agent visits as directed by the RVP.  The incumbent also travels independently to visit agents as necessary.

Facilitating Change

• Communicates any needed business changes to include what is changing, why the need, anticipated benefits; emphasizes the impact of change on performance expectations and individual, team, and organizational results.

Ability to Grow & Adapt

• Completes the book of business analysis to identify opportunities for improvement, including performance of new and existing products, target classes, etc. 
• The Manager, Underwriting has a working knowledge of all automated systems used in underwriting and is responsible for ensuring that the branch's underwriting staff is utilizing such automation in all applicable underwriting activities.

Conflict Management

• Serves as the branch's primary liaison with the Home Office Commercial Product Managers regarding complex underwriting issues. 
• Responsible for providing guidance and input to the branch's underwriting staff to resolve agent and policyholder issues/concerns.  The incumbent coordinates the implementation of programs/changes involving underwriting issues.
• Identifies and elevates service issues to the Service Coordinator for their office.

Strategic Planning

• Directs and coordinates the Line of Business reviews and rate review analysis for the branch.

Driving Execution

• This position ensures that the branch's underwriting staff and Commercial Territory Managers underwrite risks in accordance with the guidelines set by Penn National Insurance.  The Manager, Underwriting is responsible for the branch's underwriting quality program in order to ensure a consistently profitable book of business.
• The incumbent oversees underwriting initiatives within the branch, both those directed by Home Office as well as those developed within the branch.
• Coordinates the purchase of all facultative reinsurance, which is in excess of the underwriters' authority levels.

Performs other duties as may be assigned by the President, Partners Mutual Insurance; Regional Vice President and/ or Home Office Underwriting staff.

Special Relationships

• The Manager, Underwriting reports to the President, Partners Mutual Insurance
• Oversees underwriting process where TM or SR TM underwrites business
• The underwriting staff report to the Manager, Underwriting position
• Direct contact with all levels of personnel in the assigned branch and supporting claims service office
• Direct contact with all levels of personnel in the Home Office underwriting, claims, and other departments;
• Direct contact with agents, vendors, re-insurance representatives, etc.

Qualifications

Education/Credentials

• Four-year college degree or significant, relevant experience in a multi-line commercial underwriting position
• Continuing education in insurance-related courses with CPCU or equivalent industry designations, strongly preferred

Experience

• Minimum of 7 years' experience in multi-line commercial lines underwriting
• Previous supervisory experience preferred

Technical/Professional Knowledge

• Must have an in-depth knowledge and an exceptional level of expertise in all aspects of Commercial Lines underwriting functions, including current industry developments/trends, regulatory issues applicable to the operating territory, and the standards, guidelines and reinsurance programs
• Exceptional knowledge of company underwriting standards and philosophy
• Exceptional knowledge of all commercial lines insurance coverages
• Excellent research, analytical and decision-making skills
• Excellent customer-service skills
• Effective negotiation skills
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Good math aptitude
• Basic training skills
• Good PC skills, with an emphasis on Microsoft Office Suite

Job Requirements (as required by ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act)

• This position is primarily a sedentary position that requires occasional standing and walking throughout the office environment.
• Must be able to see and effectively use a computer monitor.
• Must be able to operate a computer, keyboard and applicable printers and other general office equipment.
• Must be able to access and enter information accurately using automated systems.
• Must be able to hear and communicate via the telephone and/or monitoring devices to both internal and external clients.
• Must be able to present information to individuals and groups.
• Must be able to interpret and apply concepts that may or may not be based upon established guidelines.
• Must be able to maintain acceptable attendance and adhere to scheduled work hours.
• Must have a valid driver's license and be able to operate a motor vehicle.
• Must be able to travel, with overnight stays required.