Job Description

Company Details

Berkley Agribusiness is a provider of property and casualty insurance solutions for select commercial agribusiness and food accounts and is a subsidiary of the W. R. Berkley Corporation, a Fortune 500 company recognized as one of the most respected names in the property casualty insurance industry.

About W. R. Berkley CorporationW. R. Berkley Corporation, founded in 1967, is one of the nations premier commercial lines property casualty insurance providers. Each of the operating units in the Berkley group participates in a niche market requiring specialized knowledge about a territory or product. Our competitive advantage lies in our long-term strategy of decentralized operations, allowing each of our units to identify and respond quickly and effectively.

Responsibilities

The Commercial Underwriting Specialist accepts, retains and prices agribusiness insurance risks of significant size or technical complexity in accordance with established underwriting guidelines and within delegated authority level. Manages book of business to achieve profitable growth objectives by properly classifying and pricing risks; building strong internal and external business relationships; analyzing competitive marketing data, and developing, implementing and monitoring action plans as appropriate. Serves as the point of contact for assigned agencies and is responsible for the agency relationship. Serves as technical underwriting resource to staff and facilitates the placement of facultative reinsurances as needed.

* Assesses new commercial agribusiness insurance risks and determines accurate classification of business, policy contract forms and pricing of risk. Works within broad limits and authority on commercial underwriting accounts of significant size or high technical complexity. Evaluates property (COPE) information, liability exposures, fleet and safety programs, loss history, financial reports, risk control reports, etc. Accepts and prices risk in accordance with established underwriting guidelines and within delegated authority level.
* Reviews renewal accounts by examining business operations, classification, contract forms and loss activity. Determines if account is an acceptable risk or if it will be non-renewed. Determines price in accordance with established underwriting guidelines and within delegated authority level. Reviews accounts and endorsement requests exceeding Senior Underwriter, Underwriter or Underwriting Assistants authority level and takes appropriate procedural action.
* Develops, expands and/or enhances agency relationships to promote profitability and growth of new business and the retention of existing business. Travels and meets with agents and customers to enhance business relationships. Educates agency staff on pricing, product set and risk selection philosophy. Participates in the agency management process. Assesses the strengths and weaknesses of agencies and assists them in achieving the mutual goal of sustained profitable growth.
* Identifies new business opportunities from the agency force to assess, quote, inspect and accept. Collaborates with Underwriting team, Risk Control, Claims, IT and Senior Management to create strong agency partnerships and build a profitable book of business. Effectively manages book of business to achieve established profitability, growth and retention goals.m
* Serves as a technical underwriting resource to underwriting staff and agents regarding products, coverages and rating procedures. Provides professional development knowledge and guidance to Senior Underwriters, Underwriters, Underwriting Assistants and other functional areas.
* Identifies and handles accounts that require placement of facultative reinsurance and facilitates placement through W.R. Berkley Corporation approved markets.
* Analyzes agency results, competitive marketing data and operating environment of territory/agency. Stays current on relevant insurance industry trends and issues.

Qualifications

* Bachelor's degree and five to eight years commercial underwriting experience.
* Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of commercial underwriting guidelines, insurance forms and coverages and a proven ability to exercise good judgment and creativity when assessing and accepting large and/or technically complex commercial risks.
* Commercial agribusiness underwriting experience highly desired.