Director of Underwriting

Illinois Casualty Company is looking for a talented Director of Underwriting to take our Underwriting Department to the next level.  The ideal candidate will possess a strategic and tactical approach to leadership and will be well-practiced at utilizing innovation to drive department growth, efficiency and evolution.  We’re looking for a highly-capable individual who is ready to make an impact on our expanding organization.

 

THE COMPANY:

 

Our Company is growing rapidly yet maintains a nimble, employee-oriented culture where associates are able to make a footprint on the development and evolution of the organization.  Since our inception in 1950, our Company’s sole vision has been to become the leader in insurance protection for the food and beverage industry and we have secured our reputation as the Company that sets benchmarks to meet and exceed customer needs.  We currently service organizations in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Minnesota and will be expanding to Missouri, Michigan and Wisconsin within the next decade. 

 

We are prepared to offer competitive compensation (and relocation if necessary) to the most qualified individual, and our rich benefits package includes full Medical/Dental/Vision and a company-sponsored Health Reimbursement Account, Group Life, LTD, STD, Long-term Care, Identity Theft Insurance, 401(k) with company matching and profit sharing contributions, EAP, Smoking-cessation, a generous PTO accrual and holiday schedule and an ongoing Personal Professional Development program designed to enable associates to reach their career potential.

 

POSITION OVERVIEW:

 

Reporting to the Executive Vice President/COO, the Director of Underwriting is responsible for the administrative, consultative, tactical and strategic aspects of the Underwriting Department as it relates to the operations of the Company.  The Director of Underwriting counsels the Company on how organizational decisions will impact the Underwriting Department and will continuously evaluate Company and departmental goals and develop plans to support goal attainment.

 

Essential functions of this position include:

 

Participative Management Meeting regularly with immediate supervisor to discuss issues relative to successful attainment of Company goals, Departmental goals as well as Personal Professional Development Plan goals

Problem Solving: Establishing credibility throughout the organization as an effective developer of practical solutions to business challenges. 

Customer Service: Supporting Illinois Casualty Company’s commitment to differentiation through service excellence by responding to inquiries from internal and external business partners in a timely, courteous and professional manner.  

Process Improvement Recommendations: Carefully examining and analyzing all Company processes he/she encounters. Making specific recommendations that improve the processes of Illinois Casualty Company, enabling the Company to be more efficient and more effective in its operations.

Corporate Support: Upholding and supporting the standards, policies and philosophies of Illinois Casualty Company by demonstrating excellence in all areas of responsibility.  All behavior reflects the Company’s vision, mission and values statements.

Personal Professional Development: Actively pursuing professional continuing education to achieve and maintain required and/or recommended Personal Professional Development goals, as well as additional training programs created for the purpose of enhancing skills critical to performance excellence with regard to the essential functions of this position.

Agents Advisory Council: Participating in the Agents Advisory Council, making recommendations for Council members as requested.

Underwriting Philosophy: Establishing, disseminating and monitoring adherence to the Company’s underwriting philosophy, keeping in mind the Company’s vision, mission and corporate values statements.

Underwriting Guidelines: Developing, implementing, administering, monitoring and updating underwriting guidelines with focus on profitability, retention and growth.

Risk Analysis Guidelines: Developing, implementing, administering, monitoring and updating risk analysis guidelines with focus on quality, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Compliance: Responsible for all statutory and/or regulatory compliance by the Underwriting Department. Develops, implements, monitors and updates all rules, rates and coverage forms used by the Company, including the necessary filings with all state insurance departments, through the Program Manager.

Supervision: Providing direction to staff, identifying and resolving deficiencies, recognizing and encouraging the development of strengths.  Conducting informal and formal performance evaluations and makes wage recommendations based on performance.  Making hiring, scheduling, promotion, discipline and termination decisions.

Policies and Procedures: Developing, implementing, administering, monitoring and updating Underwriting Policies and Procedures in the approved format. Assisting in developing and updating Policies and Procedures of other Departments, where appropriate.  Maintaining knowledge of and adheres to all Illinois Casualty Company Policies and Procedures.

Underwriting Automation: Assisting in the development, implementation, monitoring and updating of an efficient and effective automated underwriting management system.

Agency Relationships:  Fosters mutually beneficial relationships with agents/brokers. Responsible for training and development of agents/brokers and their personnel with respect to Illinois Casualty Company products, processes and practices, as well as attainment of agreed upon goals of the agents/brokers with whom Illinois Casualty Company transacts business.  Developing, implementing, monitoring adherence to, and updating Agents/Brokers Policies and Procedures.

Agency Reviews: Participating in annual agency reviews with Directors of Financial Operations and Claims as well as a representative of the Marketing Department, who comprise the Agency Review Committee. The Committee reviews agency performance with respect to premium volume generated, loss ratio, retention, hit ratio, declination ratio, payment history and ease of transacting business.  Based on the criteria reviewed, the Committee assures a strong agency plant, counseling or canceling substandard agents/brokers.

 

 QUALIFICATIONS

 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.  The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  Education and/or Experience:

Four-year degree in insurance or related field of study with a minimum 8 years commercial lines underwriting management experience.

 Leadership Skills:

Forward-thinking individual with high ethical standards and an appropriate professional image.  A strategic visionary with sound technical skills, analytical ability and good judgment.  Must be well organized and self-directed.  Must be willing to share information and serve as a mentor.

  Computer Skills:

Must posses or obtain within prescribed timeline intermediate level proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint; maintains and enhances computer skills as dictated by technological advancements and Company initiatives.

  Language Skills:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret information.  Ability to respond to routine and non-routine inquiries from internal business partners and external business partners.  Ability to prepare business correspondence and reports.

  Mathematical Skills:



Knowledge of and ability to apply appropriate mathematical functions and perform basic calculations.

 

  Reasoning Ability:



Ability to solve practical and non-routine problems and deal with a number of variables where standardization may not exist.  Ability to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram and schedule form.

 

  Organizational and Time Management Skills:



Must possess or develop within prescribed timeline, effective organizational and time management skills.

 

 

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

·        No extraordinary physical demands or exposure are associated with this position.

 

 

DIRECTOR OF UNDERWRITING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

 

The following represents professional development which the Director of Underwriting will be required or recommended to complete within a reasonable time of employment:

 

REQUIRED

 

AU (Associate in Commercial Underwriting)

Associate in Management (AIM)

Job-related seminars

 

RECOMMENDED

 

CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter)

ARe (Associate in Reinsurance)

ARC (Associate in Regulatory Compliance)

Job-related seminars

 

COMPENSATION

 

ICC does not post salary information in an effort to keep these details confidential.  Our goal is to meet or exceed the salary expectations of the most qualified candidate.