Sr Field Underwriter - Agribusiness

If you’re passionate about helping people protect what matters most to them at a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales, 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 and partners are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

This Field Underwriter – Agribusiness (Farm) will oversee the Pacific Northwest territory, primarily Oregon, with possible responsibilities in Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Qualified candidates will reside in Oregon or Washington. Travel to visit agents within the territory is required.

This is a production-oriented role and will have corresponding goals and incentives based on production.

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Job Description Summary

Do you enjoy the challenge of solving complex agribusiness underwriting issues? Our team is knowledgeable about all facets of farming and agriculture, loves to connect and build relationships and thrives on growing total premium by writing and retaining great business. If you like to win and have the flexibility and freedom to do your best work, we want to hear from you!

As a Senior Field Underwriter, you'll generate new, profitable agribusiness production from agencies in an assigned territory. We'll count on you to have an expert level of knowledge in agribusiness insurance contracts and be familiar with the various policy languages and endorsements. You'll partner with sales managers to extract new business from the agency force to review, quote, inspect and issue.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Accepts, rejects, or modifies new agribusiness to ensure profitability, within delegated authority levels and company guidelines. Prices business according to underwriting and pricing guidelines and ensures standards for timelines are met.

• Evaluates complex risk exposures accurately. Underwrites new business, reviews applications, selects business to quote and reject the business that is unacceptable, class and price according to guidelines. Underwriting also includes reviewing motor vehicle reports, financial reports and loss control reports.

• Gathers competitive data, prepares reports and performs loss control inspections.

• Conducts routine field inspections of accounts, with and without agents. Makes recommendations based on findings. Makes accurate assessments of future agency potential and communicates/discusses the assessment with agency partners in a positive and professional manner.

• Maintains frequent visitation schedule with all assigned agents and establish the company as the agribusiness provider of choice for the agencies in the territory.

• Manages heavy workload effectively and backs up other team members as needed.

• Demonstrates a detailed understanding of regional office strategic direction and operating plans, including goals and objectives to achieve profit and growth.

• Serves as a top underwriting resource. Provides professional development knowledge and insight to team members. May help train new field underwriters and provide them coaching as they develop in their role.

• Conducts program and product orientation meetings in conjunction with the sales managers.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Reports to Manager or Director.

Typical Skills and Experiences:

Education: Undergraduate degree preferred. Pursuit of technical insurance coursework, such as CPCU, highly desirable.

Experience: Four to six years of experience in agribusiness underwriting and/or portfolio management preferred.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Requires advance knowledge on all aspects of agribusiness underwriting practices, procedures, and policies. Thorough knowledge of agency operations and field agency support needs. Strong proficiency in loss control and risk management techniques. Strong sales skills to match the emphasis on production, including the ability to make presentations and meet with all agency personnel (owners and employees). Requires strong verbal and written communication skills; able to convey the agribusiness message in a positive manner to agents.

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

Staffing exceptions to the above must be