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Nationwide Insurance

Manager, CL Underwriting

Columbus, OH

If you’re passionate about helping people protect what matters most to them, 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!

The ideal candidate will have an agriculture background with strong leadership experience.

This position typically has 8 to 12 direct report underwriting associates; may include indirect reports.

The preferred location for this role is the Des Moines office, however, candidates located in Columbus, OH will be considered.  This position will follow the hybrid schedule.

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The compensation range for this role is G3

Job Description Summary

Success on our team requires a blend of customer service skill and analytical prowess. There’s no shying away from challenges here. Each account we work on is complex and interesting. Satisfaction comes from finding solutions that provide the best coverage and give our partner agents a way to differentiate themselves from the competition. If you are adaptable, responsive, love customers and really want to make a difference, we want to hear from you!

As a Manager, you'll lead commercial lines underwriting functions and staff to drive profitable underwriting results and growth through leadership, development and engagement. In addition, you'll build and grow agency relationships to ensure objectives are met.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities: 

  • Supervises research within unit. Establishes practice and methodology guidelines. Identifies needs or potential issues and consults on research issues from staff and leadership.

  • Reviews and provides oversight to analysis and conclusions within unit. Analyzes and interprets collective data within territory. Drives operational changes and ensures implementation of practice standards and procedures.

  • Establishes workflow standards and processes. Manages performance measurements on the effectiveness of the unit's delivery process, service capabilities and customer satisfaction.

  • Accountable for all pricing, underwriting and operational decisions for unit. Interprets underwriting guidelines and standards and ensures direction is followed. Resolves advanced issues, applies underwriting appetite in local market and provides technical oversight to complex issues. Handles underwriting files in cases of work overload or other needs. Reviews for acceptability and handles those within authority.

  • Manages associates, including performance, salary planning and administration, training and development, workflow and organization planning, day-to-day management, hiring and placement and disciplinary actions for direct, and possibly indirect, reports. 

  • Provides technical advice on complex underwriting and service issues to unit ensuring compliance to state laws and company requirements. Consults with partners on policy and practice, customer service issues, sales, claims and underwriting. Promotes and monitors agency performance.

  • Communicates vision, operational plans, direction and underwriting results to internal associates and external partners.

  • Strengthens relationships through regular contact on underwriting matters, promoting profit and new business growth, renewal retention and service capabilities. Participates and partners in the review and analysis of agency performance based on production results. Handles resolution of relationship issues.

  • Leads delivery of appropriate customer service levels. Follows up and ensures proper handling of advanced customer service requests.

  • Determines and leads training and development based on individual and unit needs. Coaches, develops and provides feedback to associates. Educates partners on underwriting process, practice and tools.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Reports to director. Typically, eight to 12 direct report underwriting associates; may include indirect reports.

Typical Skills and Experiences: 


Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience preferred.

License/Certification/Designation: Completion of INS and/or AU or similar designations. Completion of CIC or CPCU is preferred.

Experience: Typically, eight to 10 years of commercial lines underwriting experience preferred. Supervisory or management experience desired.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Commercial underwriting policy, practices and procedures. Rating plans and plan concepts. State and federal insurance laws and regulations. Commercial insurance processing systems. Solid understanding of company operations and products. Sales, claims, service center, property/casualty field operations, loss control principles and legal issues involving knowledge of commercial contracts. Verbal and written communication skills used to interact with all levels of internal and external contacts. Ability to lead and train associates in all aspects of commercial underwriting activity. Ability to be flexible and adaptable to changing situations. Ability to set work priorities that conform to established standards. Ability to analyze insurance risks, apply logical judgment and use procedures effectively. Ability to operate personal computer and applicable business software.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and Human Resources Business Partner.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates the Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions: 


Overtime Eligibility: Exempt (Not Eligible)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Frequent travel may be required to travel to client or meeting locations. Extended or non-standard work hours as required to meet business need.

ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties. 

Smoke-Free Iowa Statement: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries comply with the Iowa Smokefree Air Act. Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed areas on or around company premises as well as company issued vehicles. The company offers designated smoking areas in which smoking is permitted at each individual location. The Act prohibits retaliation for reporting complaints or violations. For more information on the Iowa Smokefree Air Act, individuals may contact the Smokefree Air Act Helpline at 888-944-2247.

Client-provided location(s): Columbus Metropolitan Area, OH, USA
Job ID: 20f7e98a0950aab492df0950ac160081a0225bbfa0732f1fed8b24612fba3c64
Employment Type: Other