Underwriting Manager

Kin is on a mission to change home insurance from what it is to what it should be. Whether we’re leveraging data to create customizable coverage or providing claims service that goes above and beyond expectations, our members are at the heart of everything we do. In the face of ever-growing climate risk, they deserve an insurance company that cares about them. We aim to stick with our members through thick and thin.

We use efficient technology that lets homeowners buy directly from us to keep costs down. This is the essence of Kin. Our approach has fostered amazing growth, attracted marquee investors, and earned us accolades, including being named to:

• Built In Chicago's Best Places to Work, Midsize Companies (2021-2024).

• Forbes' America's Best Startup Employers (2021- 2023).

• Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies.

• Forbes’ Fintech 50.

Simply put, our people are what make us great – we need forward-thinking, inspired game-changers like you to join us in our mission.

So, what’s the role?

The Underwriting Manager exercises direct supervision over the underwriting team. They are responsible for all underwriting activities of this team, including file reviews, training materials, and workflow reviews.  The Underwriting Manager assists underwriters in analyzing more complex accounts, and the work involves a wide range of responsibilities for underwriting authority and process.  They will work with Insurance Product and Operations teams to improve products and procedures.  The position requires project management skills, a broad knowledge of underwriting and systems, and demonstrated strong leadership capability. 

A day in the life could include: 

• Providing direct oversight, mentorship, and supervision of the Underwriting Team.

• Establishing core metrics & KPIs for the team, working closely with all members of the Underwriting leadership team.

• Sets goals and objectives for teams develops and executes plans to achieve those goals, and monitors the results. 

• Design, implement, and manage new processes for Underwriting as needed to ensure continued efficient underwriting of business. 

• Assists in developing and providing Operations with procedures and training and identifies strengths and weaknesses in underwriting processes. 

• Monitors daily workflow and prioritizes assignments to specific team members, incorporating high-priority tasks while utilizing all team members. 

• Identifies service backlogs and determines and implements workflow changes to relieve delays.

• Review quality assurance trends to identify the team's or individuals' training needs.

• Identify system problems, inaccuracies, or inadequacies to help improve processes and efficiencies. 

• Analyze data to identify the highest value drivers to create efficiencies and set Kin up for sustainable growth, and act as the Project Manager to find and execute the solution(s)

• Collaborate with the insurance team and operations to develop new ways to evaluate risk and identify ways to improve customer workflows and automation. 

• Hire, develop, and manage staff to create an engaged, motivated, high-performing, results-oriented team.

• Create and maintain a positive culture that promotes skill development and empowerment, encourages staff to challenge the status quo and identify improvement areas, and fosters entrepreneurial spirit.

• Evaluate performance objectives and individual employee performance for improvement and complete bi-annual performance reviews.

  This job description is not all-inclusive and may include additional duties as required  

I’ve got the skills… but do I have the necessary ones?

• 5+ years of underwriting experience

• 1 + years of leadership experience 

• Superior leadership and a high level of emotional intelligence - coaching, mentoring, or assisting others at Kin or in other roles outside the company.

• Demonstrated passion for excellence concerning treating and caring for customers

• Experience with customer-facing task management and de-escalation 

• Extremely organized and highly motivated to improve processes that will lead to increased efficiency and world-class customer satisfaction

• Past success managing cross-functional projects and teams.

• Data-driven mindset, including the ability to digest and analyze various types of data 

• Tenacity to develop ideas independently and thrive in a fast-paced environment

Bonus Points:

• Preferred underwriting management experience in personal lines products 

• A bilingual Spanish speaker is a plus but optional. 

About Kin

Kin is the only pure-play, direct-to-consumer digital insurer focused on the growing home insurance market. We make policies convenient and affordable through a technology platform that delivers a seamless user experience, customized options for coverage, and fast, high-quality claims service. Kin is a fully licensed carrier that offers coverage through its reciprocal exchanges which are owned by its policyholders. To learn more, visit www.kin.com.

EEOC Statement

Kin is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We don't just accept difference – we honor it, nurture it, and celebrate it. We don’t discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.