Senior Underwriter

Senior Underwriter

Bethesda, Maryland

United Educators (UE) is a liability insurance company that serves K-12 schools, colleges and universities across the United States. UE focuses on long-term partnerships that help educational institutions identify, avoid, and manage risks. Guided by our mission to support education, we provide customized coverage, relevant risk management resources, and claims support grounded in education-sector expertise. At UE, you will join a collaborative, mission-driven team committed to delivering flexible insurance solutions, responsive service, and meaningful value to the institutions we serve.

The Senior Underwriter will be responsible for ensuring profitable growth of book of business by appropriately evaluating the acceptability of risks. Builds relationships with members and brokers to manage a challenging and/or complex portfolio of accounts.

Responsibilities:

• Evaluate applications, account loss experience, and other sources of information to determine eligibility and develop coverage and premium proposals.
• Negotiate coverage terms and premiums with brokers and members to maintain renewals and attract new business in accordance with underwriting guidelines and corporate goals.
• Document underwriting thought process and decisions.
• Quote, issue, and release binders and process policies and endorsements.
• Respond to broker/member questions regarding scope of coverage, services, and company philosophy.
• Develop and nurture broker and member relationships.
• Travel periodically to brokers and members; coordinate conference calls.
• Understand and appropriately react to more complex accounts and coverage issues.
• Act as a resource for referrals as well as mentor for less senior staff.
• Pass all internal self-audits as well as act as auditor during audit of underwriting files of colleagues.
• Collaborate with Product Development to draft policy language and manuscript endorsements where necessary.
• Gather pertinent competitive information to assist in developing recommendations for product development.
• Partner with Business Development to support marketing activities by developing ongoing relationships with brokers to discuss market, quality and profitability of submissions, service standards, and underwriting and/or product changes.
• Train and educate brokers, members and/or UE staff on Company products, services, processes and underwriting philosophy.
• Attend company sponsored events and industry functions.
• Promote the Company's products and services by actively seeking opportunities to speak to brokers or insurance-related groups and by networking within the insurance community to stay abreast of changes within the industry.
• This position requires adherence to United Educators' cybersecurity policies and industry best practices to protect company and member data. Employees must incorporate security-conscious practices appropriate to their role into daily work and complete required security training.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree
• Typically requires 8 to 12 years of relevant experience with requisite competencies.
• CPCU or similar professional insurance designation preferred
• Requires mastery of skills of a Level III Underwriter and exemplifies the UE Values of Teamwork, Innovation
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to multitask and negotiate diplomatically; proven ability to find creative solutions that strike appropriate balance between member and broker needs while adhering to company underwriting standards; comfortable walking away from the deal, if necessary
• Demonstrated depth in negotiation, analytical and problem-solving skills, decision making, quantitative reasoning and critical thinking skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to overcome objections and create win/win situations
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain relationships with brokers, members and other UE departments; must also exemplify superior teamwork
• Proven ability to act as a role model and change agent
• The ability to thrive in an atmosphere of constant change

The below annual salary range is a general guideline. Multiple factors are taken into consideration to arrive at the final hourly rate/annual salary to be offered to the selected candidate. Factors include, but are not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, the selected candidate's work experience, education and training, the work location as well as market and business considerations.

Salary Range

$122,000 - $144,000 USD

Benefits:

• Health Insurance — We offer subsidized plan options with an optional pre-tax Health Savings Account (HSA), including an annual employer contribution and investment options. The plans offer a prescription benefit and telehealth
• Dental Insurance — Two plan levels are available, depending on needs
• Vision Insurance —We offer in- and out-of-network options; Lasik discounts are available.
• 401(k) — UE makes a 3% safe harbor non-elective contribution beginning the first of the month after date of hire; these funds are vested immediately. After one year of service, employees receive a 7% profit sharing non-elective contribution, as well as become eligible for a matched contribution of 25% of the first 5% employee deferral. Employees can make pre-tax contributions or taxed (Roth) salary reductions. Catch-up contributions for employees 50 years old and over. Employer contributions are fully vested immediately
• Life Insurance — UE pays for Basic Life Insurance, and employees have the option to apply for additional Voluntary coverage
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance — We offer coverage in the event employees are unable to work for a period of time
• For the first two years of employment, employees accrue PTO at 24 days per year. At the beginning of the third year of service, employees accrue 30 days per year of PTO
• 11 paid holidays annually including Juneteenth and an employee choice floating holiday
• Bonus eligibility is based on salary earned and performance for the year
• Hybrid environment - employees are typically in the office 2-3 days per week after the initial training period
• Inclusive and supportive culture that embraces diversity and provides opportunities for all to succeed
• Monthly lunches and various social events throughout the year
• Opportunities to join the Social Committee, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), and Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Alliance (IDEA)