Specialist, Contract Underwriting - E&S/Specialty (Alternative Distribution)

Underwriting Specialist In Contract

If you're passionate about helping people protect what matters most to them at a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales, 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 and partners are at the center of everything we do and we're looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

This is a unique role within Contract Underwriting that is responsible for leveraging strong partner relationships, a solution-oriented mindset, and technical underwriting acumen to drive profitable growth across the Alternative Distribution portfolio.

In this role, you will partner with Contract Underwriting appointed Wholesale Managing General Agents to vet, operationalize, manage, and grow new and existing alternatively distributed products. Alternative Distribution refers to business that is solicited through wholesale binding distribution and generally falls within Contract Underwriting appetite but is transacted via non-traditional channels, i.e. digital storefronts and non-API supported placement (i.e. bordereaux).

You'll be responsible for vetting, developing, and actively managing these solutions and collaborating with partners to analyze, develop, implement, and refine underwriting guidelines and pricing as appropriate. You will manage the P&L of each individual solution and handle individual account underwriting for referral business that falls outside prescribed authority. You will also provide operational support and oversight to ensure non-API supported solutions such as bordereaux-managed business is captured and ingested appropriately as well as ensuring the risks within the greater portfolio fall within prescribed authority, mix of business targets, and other predefined underwriting parameters. In order to be successful in this role, you will need to build and maintain effective relationships with internal business liaisons as well as external partners.

Additional expectations associated with this role:

Portfolio & Profitability Management:

• Monitor program and portfolio performance, including profitability, growth, and loss trends; develop and implement corrective action plans as needed.
• Analyze results across programs, classes of business, and geographies to optimize underwriting strategy.
• Participate in and support bi-annual underwriting audits as needed to ensure guideline adherence; provide detailed analysis and recommendations based on findings.
• Produce and deliver monthly and ad hoc performance reports to underwriting leadership and other internal/external stakeholders.

Product Development & Strategy:

• Conduct research, development, and implementation of new and existing solutions, including underwriting guidelines, forms and rate structures.
• Collaborate with external partners as well as internal business liaisons to design and deploy product-specific tools and enhancements.
• Recommend and implement updates to underwriting guidelines based on product performance, market trends and emerging risks.
• Identify and capitalize on new business opportunities through market analysis and strategic insight.

Relationship Management & Business Development:

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with wholesale managing general agents and internal stakeholders to drive profitable growth.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and technical underwriting resource to partners, resolving complex issues and supporting deal execution.
• Conduct regular communication with partners to assess market conditions, profitability, and pipeline opportunities.
• Travel as needed for agency visits, audits, marketing meetings, and relationship-building activities.
• Represent the organization at industry events and contribute to marketing initiatives that promote underwriting capabilities and generate new business opportunities.

Ideal Candidate Will Possess:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Risk Management, or related field preferred.
• Approximately 6+ years of experience in specialty, program, or contract underwriting.
• Strong understanding of underwriting guidelines, insurance law, contract structures, and coverage design.
• Knowledge of reinsurance principles and placement strategies preferred.

*This role does not qualify for employer-sponsored work authorization. Nationwide does not participate in the Stem OPT Extension program*

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 Specialist in Contract you determine individual risk acceptability, pricing, coverage, terms and conditions, by developing, analyzing and evaluating information and exposures on risks of a complex technical nature for the assigned line of business. In addition, you'll achieve production and loss ratio goals with assigned general agents or program managers by reviewing and analyzing claims, loss history and taking appropriate action on accounts. General agent assignments are more complex in terms of coverage and general agent relationships. It's important to establish and maintain effective relationships with general agents to generate premium dollars and profitability. You will work independently with a high level of authority and judgment. Determining appropriate reinsurance placement, if any, on individual accounts is an important element of this role. We will count on you to foster positive business relationships with co-workers, general agents and reinsurers. You will also assist with research, development and presentation of new products, forms and manuals and have opportunities to assist in the training and mentoring of Underwriters and Underwriting Assistants.

Key Responsibilities:

• Reviews individual risks with assigned agents or programs within assigned territory and either declines or accepts business based upon information necessary to make the decision. The underwriter analyzes, with a high level of technical expertise, exposures to loss, develops an adequate premium charge for the exposure and determines appropriate endorsements and exclusions to address loss exposures for the insurance contract. Within department guidelines, places reinsurance, if any, for the account.
• Achieves individual production and loss ratio goals within assigned territory through sound territory management and marketing. 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 basis. Works with more complex issues concerning coverage, programs, agents and program managers. The underwriter continually analyzes premium and loss results in their territory or assigned agents by agency, state, major class of business and by program. Continually assess quality of submissions and makes corrective action recommendations. Development and implementation of specific action plans may be required
• 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. 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 general agents through daily contact with assigned agents by developing and maintaining good rapport and resolving agency conflicts. Travels to agency 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Other responsibilities as assigned may include program research and development, form development, rate development, technical assistance to Agents, Underwriting Assistants, and other Underwriters. Proactively develops technical and business knowledge through internal and external venues

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Reports to Department Manager

Typical Skills and Experiences:

Education: Undergraduate degree preferred. Equivalent work experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.

License/Certification/Designation: Completion of general insurance courses such as CPCU, CIC, AU, ARM, CPIW, CWIS, or ASLI is preferred.

Experience: Six years related experience or five years as an underwriter, excess & surplus lines preferred.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Knowledge of lines underwriting policies, practices and procedures, insurance law and underwriting marketing principles and techniques, rating plans and plan concepts, Treaty & Facultative reinsurance concepts, general agency system and company operations, regulatory issues, the general agency system, market conditions and company operations. Ability to communicate effectively, orally, and in writing, interpersonally with individuals and groups