Specialist, Underwriting

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 At Nationwide, "on your side" goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we're looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

Nationwide is expanding our Personal Lines Underwriting team
, and we're looking for experienced professionals to join us in delivering exceptional service to our members. If you bring deep industry knowledge and a sharp eye for risk, this role could be a great fit.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, insurance, or a related field
• 6+ years of underwriting or insurance experience
• Progress toward a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation or similar certification
• Strong understanding of underwriting, pricing, and insurance contracts
• Skilled in data analysis and tools like Excel
• Clear communicator with agents and internal teams
• Experience leading projects or working across teams

What You Bring

• Strategic thinking and sound business judgment
• Relationship-building and negotiation skills
• Data-driven decision-making
• Motivation to deliver results and support team growth

What's in it for you?
We welcome applications from remote candidates located within the United States. For those based near our Des Moines, IA or Columbus, OH hub locations, a flexible work arrangement that includes regular in-office presence (typically three days per week) is expected.

(Internal Use Only) Compensation Grade: F3

Job Description Summary
Success on our team requires a blend of customer service skill and analytical prowess. Each account we work on is interesting and challenging. 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 Specialist, you'll manage an assigned underwriting territory to identify business trends, ensure profitability and build agency relationships. Responsible for case and account underwriting (new and renewal policies) of profitable business within a complex and challenging territory, which may include private client and high value home accounts. We'll count on you to be the primary contact for portfolio profitability and growth management action plans and partnership with sales and claims and the portfolio underwriting efforts within assigned territory. We may also ask you to provide guidance and assistance to less experienced underwriters and other functional areas. You may also lead projects or research activities in support of business goals and support broader regional initiatives in partnership with product management.

Job Description
Key Responsibilities:

• Researches agency, district, and market data for assigned underwriting territory to identify business trends and opportunities for profitable growth. Obtains data/information from published sources, company data bases, and partnerships with sales, claims, agency or other contacts.
• Reviews and analyzes profitability measures through existing reports and through adhoc reports and queries to develop creative, intuitive and profitable business recommendations for agency, market, state and/or region. Develops written portfolio management reports/action plans for joint implementation with sales to drive profit and growth results or may support the portfolio management plans within assigned territory . Links knowledge of products, competitors, appropriate business mix, state statutes, rate structure, and underwriting guidelines to develop and/or support action plans in partnership with product management.
• Makes appropriate new business and renewal policy level underwriting decisions based on analysis, experience, and judgment in accepting, modifying or rejecting risks. Reviews and considers business loss experience, investigative reports, claims activity, file information and nature of risks, etc. in reaching sound decisions. Understands and adheres to filed rating plans.
• Makes account underwriting decisions based on agency history, policyholder's tenure, number of accounts, claims history, and long term performance indicators.
• Accountable for the proper classification of risks to ensure the matching of price and product to the customer. Is skilled at interpreting and using approved classification systems, rating plans and selection standards to determine eligibility, desirability and proper classification/pricing benchmarks for assigned product lines. Leads assessment of product/pricing effectiveness as it relates to underwriting and provides input to leadership.
• Initiates consulting opportunities with assigned agency force regarding business results, trends, competitor information and application of portfolio management action plans as appropriate. Recommends additional products, coverages and discounts to ensure the agency and customer receive maximum value. Uses curiosity, ingenuity and creativity to identify profitable opportunities.
• Actively pursues partnerships with sales, claims, and product management in implementing and driving profitable solutions for all lines of business submitted in assigned territory/underwriting district. Supports and may participate in agency reviews.
• Markets company products and services by working with agencies to identify needs and create or source profitable solutions. Builds and enhances the agency relationship by making contact that conveys interest in the agency¿s needs and goals. Completes all transactions in a first time final mode. Assists in providing agency staff with education when necessary.
• Manages the communication process between agencies and processing areas and makes decisions regarding the most effective and efficient method of communicating based on the issue, situation, and audience. Educates contacts on how to find answers to assist in streamlining communications.
• May lead special projects, task teams, or underwriting roundtables. May represent the company in DOI hearings/complaints.

May Perform Other Responsibilities As Assigned.
Reporting Relationships:
Reports to Underwriting Manager or Director. No direct reports.

Typical Skills And Experiences
Education:
Undergraduate degree in business administration, insurance, risk management, economics or finance preferred.

License/Certification/Designation:
Definite progress toward attaining CPCU or other related insurance certification desirable.

Experience:
Minimum of six years of experience in underwriting or related insurance experience. Experience leading or working on complex projects and or task teams.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills:
Strong knowledge of core business functions, underwriting polices and best practices, pricing, marketing, and insurance contracts. Role may require a strong knowledge of financial analysis concepts. Understands and can articulate company product details and values. Has a good understanding of competitor products and marketing strategies. Excellent written and verbal communications skills are necessary to present information to agents and sales managers. Skilled in Excel and other analytical tools to evaluate data. Role may require strong knowledge company data warehouse tools and related systems. Key competencies include: business acumen, functional/technical skills, command skills, interpersonal savvy, negotiating, problem solving, drive for results, managing and measuring work, customer focus, and decision quality.

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 HR Business Partner.

Values:
Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions
Overtime Eligibility:
Not Eligible (Exempt)

Working Conditions:
Normal office environment. Extensive time working on personal computer. May require valid driver's license.

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.

We currently anticipate accepting applications until 12/14/2025. However, we encourage early submissions, as the posting may close sooner if a strong candidate slate is identified before the deadline.

Benefits
We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

This position could be filled within any of the lower 48 U.S. states.

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

For NY residents please review the following state law information: Notice of Employee Rights, Protections, and Obligations LS740 )

Note To Employment Agencies
We value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. Nationwide does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. All resumes submitted by employment agencies directly to any Nationwide employee or hiring manager in any form without a signed Nationwide Client Services Agreement on file and search engagement for that position will be deemed unsolicited in nature. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is subsequently hired as a result of the referral or through other means.

Nationwide pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement within the actual starting salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity and location of the role as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. If a Sales job, Sales Incentives, based on performance goals are possible in addition to this range. Note on Compensation for Part-Time Roles: Please be aware that the salary ranges listed below reflect full-time compensation. Actual compensation may be prorated based on the number of hours worked relative to a full-time schedule.

The national salary range for Specialist, Underwriting - Personal Lines : $70,000.00-$145,500.00

The expected starting salary range for Specialist, Underwriting - Personal Lines : $78, $117,000.00