Underwriting Manager, Small Businesses

As an Underwriting Manager at Northbridge Insurance, your main responsibilities include customizing underwriting solutions for commercial clients, leading a dynamic team of underwriters, and ensuring operational excellence by executing the business plan effectively. You'll maintain strong relationships with brokers, carry out comprehensive risk evaluations, and oversee the pricing and negotiation for policies. Leadership is key, so you will also focus on coaching and mentoring your team while driving profitability and risk selection.

To become an Underwriting Manager at Northbridge Insurance, you should have a minimum of 10 years of underwriting experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership role. Experience in mentoring and managing change is highly valued. While pursuing or holding designations such as CIP, FCIP, or RPLU is considered an asset, a strong background in customer service and commercial underwriting is essential to succeed in this position.

The work environment for Underwriting Managers at Northbridge Insurance is designed to promote balance and well-being. Offering a hybrid work model, you’ll enjoy a combination of remote and in-office working, ensuring flexibility. The company fosters a collaborative culture where employees are encouraged to share ideas, develop professionally, and engage with the community. With a focus on inclusivity and support for personal growth, it’s a place where you can thrive both professionally and personally.

Northbridge Insurance is deeply invested in the professional growth of its employees, including Underwriting Managers. They provide assistance for pursuing further education, such as CIP or FCIP designations, and offer various leadership training programs. You’ll also have opportunities for internal mobility, allowing you to explore different roles and expand your skills within the company. This commitment to career development ensures you can achieve your career goals while contributing meaningfully to the organization.

Underwriting Managers at Northbridge Insurance enjoy a competitive salary and a suite of benefits geared towards supporting financial health and overall well-being. This includes an employee share purchase plan, pension plans, flexible health benefits, and wellness programs. Such offerings not only promote a satisfying work-life balance but also recognize and reward commitment and excellence within the company.

When answering this question, highlight relevant past roles, specific types of policies you've underwritten, and the strategies you utilized to assess risk effectively. Mention any tools or software you’ve used, and emphasize your successful outcomes, such as improving pricing accuracy or operational efficiency.

Discuss your philosophy on leadership, emphasizing your focus on coaching, mentoring, and empowering your team. Share examples of leadership challenges you've faced and how you navigated them, always tying back to the importance of collaboration and open communication.

Mention specific relationship management strategies, such as regular check-ins, feedback sessions, and in-person meetings. Highlight your commitment to listening to broker needs, responding promptly to queries, and ensuring that your communication is both consistent and constructive.

Share a specific instance, outlining the problem, your analysis process, and how you arrived at the decision while considering risk and profitability. This showcases your decision-making skills and ability to handle challenging situations in a high-stakes environment.

Detail the change you implemented, your strategy for gaining team buy-in, and how you monitored the results. This could include any coaching or support you provided to help team members adapt to the new process, demonstrating your leadership and change management skills.

Your answer should reflect your analytical process, including identifying key risk factors, consulting relevant data, and collaborating with experts when needed. Mention the importance of comprehensive documentation and risk diversification strategies.

Emphasize the critical role data analysis plays in your underwriting decisions, from risk assessment to pricing strategy. Discuss tools you use to analyze data and how it has informed your previous underwriting successes or led to improvements in processes.

Describe your conflict resolution approach, highlighting the importance of listening, empathy, and finding common ground. Share an example where you successfully resolved a conflict, showcasing your communication and negotiation skills.

Discuss the key performance indicators you consider vital, such as loss ratios, profitability margins, and conversion rates. Detail how tracking these metrics informs your underwriting practices and contributes to overall company goals.

This is your chance to showcase your research! Discuss what attracts you to Northbridge, such as its commitment to employees, community values, or reputation in the industry. Make sure to tie your motivations to the company's goals and values, framing your desire to contribute positively to its mission.