Senior Middle Market Underwriting Leader

Job Details

Location:

DES MOINES, IA 50315
Salary Range: $ - $

Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Group has an opening for a Middle Market Underwriting Leader. This role will provide leadership and oversight for the Middle Market underwriting team.

• Leads the Middle Market underwriting portfolio, driving disciplined growth, execution, and sustained performance through strategic portfolio management.
• Directs the Middle Market strategy, translating company objectives into actionable plans for the portfolio.
• Oversees and optimizes the operational performance of the Middle Market portfolio, driving alignment with profitability, risk appetite, and regulatory requirements while identifying and implementing improvements to enhance portfolio outcomes.
• Designs and drives training programs to enhance team capabilities, aligning development efforts with performance goals and business needs.

• Leads the strategic direction of portfolio Middle Market operations, driving sustained profitability, strengthening risk discipline, and advancing enterprise-wide improvements aligned to regulatory and business objectives.
• In partnership with the VP, Underwriting, shapes and executes the Middle Market strategy, translating company objectives into actionable plans for the portfolio.
• Oversees the strategic governance and operational performance of the Middle Market portfolio, ensuring alignment with underwriting profitability, risk appetite, and regulatory standards.
• Sets the strategic vision for training and development, elevating organizational capabilities and shaping performance outcomes across the portfolio.

• Understands the Middle Market marketplace and agent and customer expectations.
• Participates in Guidelines Leadership Team to develop underwriting guidelines.
• Models effective leadership, motivating the team to achieve shared goals while reinforcing professionalism and accountability.
• Recruits, trains, coaches, and develops underwriting staff.
• Conducts goal-setting activities and individual performance reviews.
• Manages department workflow to ensure proper controls and procedures are documented, maintained, and followed.
• Establishes workload and territory assignments and monitors productivity.
• Coordinates regular and systematic quality control audits for each assigned staff member.
• Supports VP, Underwriting with participation in Underwriting and/or cross-functional projects and strategic initiatives.
• Ensures compliance with underwriting guidelines, authority levels, company policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintains expenses at or below budget for assigned team.
• Drives innovation and capability enhancements in portfolio management, AI utilization, underwriting processes, and performance metrics by identifying opportunities, developing recommendations, and leading implementation.
• Uses data and analytics to inform decisions, identify trends, and improve underwriting practices.
• Stays informed on industry trends, emerging risks, and competitor offerings to enhance underwriting effectiveness.
• May underwrite complex Middle Market business.

• Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of commercial insurance underwriting.
• Expert knowledge of commercial policy language.
• Expertise in building and maintaining relationships with distribution partners and individual account negotiations.
• Ability to develop, build, and lead highly-effective teams.
• Demonstrates the skills needed to drive financial performance of the Middle Market portfolio.
• Demonstrated experience in influencing and leading teams of underwriters.
• Knowledge of employee management principles including hiring, supervision, training, retention, and performance evaluation.
• Ability to develop a plan and execute it.
• Ability to make timely decisions independently, using personal knowledge and discretion.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Deep problem-solving skills.
• Work independently and use initiative.
• Possess critical thinking skills and sound judgment in underwriting decisions.
• Determine when and how to elevate concerns.
• Ability to understand and apply laws, rules and regulations.
• Ability to deal with confidential information.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Interact externally and internally with professionalism and confidence.
• Possess a high level of executive functioning skills to organize and prioritize work.
• Meet finite deadlines and deal with pressure situations.
• Maintain records; prepare reports/correspondence related to the work.
• Read, interpret and input data efficiently and accurately.
• Communicate and work effectively with others (oral and written).
• Follow oral and written directions.
• Correct English usage, spelling, grammar, vocabulary and punctuation.
• Knowledge of management information and business systems such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.
• Utilize computer and related software…