Insurance Underwriter

BriteCo specializes in innovative and comprehensive insurance solutions for jewelry, watches, weddings, and special events, delivering convenient, fast, and affordable coverage. Backed by an AM Best A+ rated carrier, we ensure peace of mind by offering up to 125% of appraised value with $0 deductibles, protecting precious items against loss, theft, damage, and more anywhere in the world. Our wedding and event insurance safeguards your big day from unforeseen events, such as cancellations or disruptions, so you can celebrate confidently. At BriteCo, we prioritize seamless, white-glove customer support and modern protection for life's most meaningful moments. Based in Evanston, IL, we bring a unique blend of innovation and dedication to our customers. About the Role We're looking for a seasoned Underwriter to join our Underwriting team and help protect the jewelry and watches our customers treasure most. This is a senior individual contributor role for someone who thrives on making thoughtful risk decisions and can hit the ground running after a focused onboarding to our systems and approach. You'll own a full book of work, evaluating everything from appraisals and photos to applicant profiles, ensuring we're providing the right coverage at the right value. Based in Evanston, IL with a hybrid schedule, you'll work closely with our underwriting assistants, collaborate with teammates on process improvements, and communicate directly with customers who have questions about their policies. Responsibilities Review referred quotes and applications, evaluate risk, and make sound underwriting decisions with detailed documentation of thought process and rationale Review photo and appraisal documentation submitted in support of new and in-force policies, applying judgment to acceptability and authenticity Determine appropriate insured values by evaluating appraisals, requested limits, and internal pricing tools, and initiate price checks when warranted Conduct full-profile risk reviews, including decline, cancel, and loss history checks on primary and additional insureds Identify and respond to red flags across the applicant profile, the item being insured, and the supporting documentation Make and execute underwriting decisions: issue, request additional information, adjust limits, recommend cancellation, or escalat Document reasoning clearly for audit, peer review, and future reference Escalate complex or out-of-authority situations to management with full context and a recommended course of action Communicate directly with customers via phone, email, and chat to resolve documentation issues and answer coverage, eligibility, billing, and policy questions Partner with underwriting assistants who pre-process files, verifying their work and providing feedback through appropriate channels Contribute to team discussions on product, risk appetite, and process improvement Required Qualifications 5+ years of underwriting experience in personal lines property insurance Demonstrated experience independently making issue, decline, and cancel decisions on underwriting files Track record of identifying risk indicators across full applicant profiles Direct customer communication experience across phone, email, and chat Strong written communication skills, including the ability to document reasoning clearly Comfort working in a proprietary tech stack and learning new internal tools quickly Sound judgment in fast-paced, high-volume environments Bachelor's degree, or equivalent professional underwriting experience Preferred Qualifications Experience underwriting jewelry, watches, fine art, or other valuables Familiarity with appraisal evaluation, including recognition of credentialed appraisers and common appraisal pitfalls Prior exposure to InsurTech or digitally-native insurance workflows Property & Casualty producer license Sales or customer service background Key Attributes Strong attention to detail and organizational skills Calibrated confidence; decisive on clear files, willing to escalat when warranted Comfortable with ambiguity and able to draw on multiple tools and sources to reach a defensible decision Coachable and open to learning BriteCo's proprietary systems, tools, and risk appetite Team-first approach Benefits and compensation package Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k) with company match, Unlimited PTO policy, Hybrid work schedule, Company-sponsored team events and retreats, Parental leave, Life and disability insurance, Casual dress code and work environment. BriteCo is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. #J-18808-Ljbffr