Director, Underwriting Programs

Who We Are

Method Workers’ Compensation is a portfolio of workers’ comp companies with the same mission: minimizing the human and financial cost of workplace injuries. We mitigate workplace injuries and deliver exceptional healthcare outcomes for injured workers, expediting a return to work, preserving families’ livelihoods, and enhancing employers’ productivity. We maintain in-house expertise in claims management, medical bill review, underwriting, and loss prevention for high-hazard, high-mod, and mid-market risks. From submission to claim, we’re there every step of the way, improving outcomes for everyone involved. Method currently operates in all states.

What To Expect

As part of the Insurance Services team, the primary responsibility of the Director of Underwriting Programs is to analyze and evaluate underwriting workflows, coverages, regulation, compliance, and overall evolution of underwriting. This role manages the organization of daily operations within the Underwriting department. This role works with all levels of Underwriters to audit, coach, and reinforce solid underwriting decision-making as it pertains to policy coverages, rating regulations, and state compliance guidelines. As the needs of the department change and grow, the Director of Underwriting Programs will be responsible for updating policies, informing & training underwriters, and implementing new protocols for these operational efficiencies, and managing the underwriting team. The area of responsibility for this role is very wide and requires thorough knowledge and understanding of various company processes. This is a full-time, salaried exempt position with standard business hours of Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm, with some flexibility at manager’s discretion.

What You’ll Do

• Plan and monitor the day-to-day underwriting functions to ensure business is running smoothly.
• Directly manage support for underwriting with a team of Underwriting Assistants, who manage new & renewal account workups, endorsements, cancellations, and system documentation.
• Advocate for Underwriting in working with system vendors to establish, build, and/or refine processes and data integrations.
• Provide continual updates to team as regulatory or rating information is provided by carriers, bureaus, and/or reporting services vendors, as well as track implementation of such information into systems.
• Ensure adherence to established state and federal regulations and compliance rules.
• Exhibit understanding and knowledge of carrier underwriting guidelines and risk tolerance as it pertains to state guidelines, as applicable.
• Perform independent underwriting and pricing quality reviews to evaluate adherence to underwriting guidelines, standards, and best practices.
• Regularly monitor and evaluate the efficiency of underwriting procedures according to the organizational objectives and identify opportunities for improvement as needed.
• Formulate and/or revise standard operating procedures (SOPs) as the department efficiencies evolve; promote and audit SOPs continually to ensure operational excellence.
• Ability to take initiative to implement necessary processes and procedures.
• Communicate and explain new directives, policies, or procedures to managers, underwriting team, and/or sales team.
• Understand the company’s budget and carrier goals to assist Underwriting in achieving business objectives.
• Gather, analyze, and interpret data and metrics to assess the overall performance of the underwriting team.
• Assume ultimate oversight of all aspects of the underwriting department.
• Establish and develop relationships with all carrier partners.
• Possess the highest level of underwriting authority (second only to the President, Insurance Services) and make all final account specific underwriting decisions.?
• Ensure that books of business are well-coordinated and productive by managing its procedures and coaching the team for operational excellence.
• Work with leadership to encourage and enforce a cohesive and collaborative environment between all departments that interact with Underwriting on a daily and/or regular basis.
• Contribute to the overall company strategy and execution of production and profitability.
• Project a positive image of the organization to the team.
• Demonstrate highly efficient and productive ways for the team to operate and provide continued support for the culture and values of the organization.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What You Need

• Knowledge of industry’s rules and guidelines
• Excellent leader who discovers new and efficient ways of doing day-to-day tasks
• Ability to identify issues, problems, and opportunities
• Ability to manage time effectively
• Possess a high sense of urgency and self-confidence
• Strong work ethic and positive attitude
• Highly interactive with staff across all departments
• Passionate, energetic, self-motivated who thrives on consistency and process-orientation
• Perseveres in a growing, changing, and dynamic work environment
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, G Suite, or similar software
• Comprehension of a task-based workflow system to manage prospective and current customers and accounts
• This may include some travel (up to 25%) to visit company offices, vendors, and/or industry-related conferences.

Preferred Experience

• At least 5-7 years of business experience
• At least 3-5 years of insurance experience in underwriting or production
• 4-year bachelor’s degree in business or related field mandatory

What We Offer:

In exchange for your time and expertise, we offer competitive compensation, 401(k) plus matching, health benefits (including HSA Contribution), paid disability, paid parental leave, professional development opportunities, and a hybrid/remote work environment. This is an opportunity to play a key role in the continued success of a growing organization.

Unless fully remote, this position operates in a professional office setting and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. This is largely a sedentary role with prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. However, some filing is necessary and may require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend or stand on a stool as necessary.

Method Workers’ Compensation is an equal opportunity employer regardless of race, color, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religious beliefs, marital status, genetic information, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.