This posting is scheduled to close on Sunday, July 20 at 11:59pm MDT . If a sufficient number of qualified applications are received, this posting may close early. Apply today!

About the job:

At Montana State Fund, we’re not just Montana’s largest workers’ compensation insurance company, we’re Montanans working with Montanans. Our employees know our state, its businesses, and its people. Our Underwriters are a critical part in making sure Montana State Fund can deliver on our vision to achieve a safer, healthier, and more prosperous Montana.

As an Underwriter, you play a pivotal role in evaluating and pricing risk, directly contributing to our financial strength and continued growth. You'll work with a diverse range of businesses across Montana, analyzing risk characteristics, loss history, and loss control measures to ensure accurate pricing and appropriate coverage. This role offers a balance of analytical work and customer interaction, as you'll also support sales and service visits to foster strong relationships and ensure customer satisfaction and retention.

The focus of an Underwriter is to be an integral part of our service team, making informed decisions that contribute to both our policyholders' success and the organization's profitability. You'll operate within established guidelines and your positional authority, ensuring that new and renewal business aligns with Montana State Fund's strategic goals. Your expertise will be key in guiding customers through their insurance journey, acting as a trusted advisor for our valued policyholders and agent partners.

Required Skills

What you will do:

Underwriting and Risk Management: Underwrite new and renewal business accounts with low to medium complexity, evaluating risk characteristics, loss history, and loss control to ensure fair and competitive pricing. This includes utilizing all available underwriting tools and processes, adhering to established guidelines, procedures, and authority, and complying with NCCI regulations, MT workers' compensation statutes, codes, and MSF Underwriting Guidelines. You'll actively manage a book of Premier policies for profitability and growth.

Client and Agent Relationship Management: Take a lead role in managing relationships with customers and agents, developing and maintaining highly effective business relationships to attract and retain a profitable book of business. This involves anticipating and arranging for safety services, coordinating and participating in claim discussions, and providing underwriting expertise to meet ongoing service needs. You will also collaborate with the service team to develop service plans that enhance customer satisfaction and retention.

Technical Expertise and Guidance: Serve as a workers' compensation technical expert for colleagues, customers, and agents, providing guidance and information to various business unit functions including underwriting, safety services, premium audit, customer service, and claims. You'll offer expert counsel to Customer Service Specialists in a positive manner.

Strategic Contribution and Business Acumen: Contribute to the successful attainment of Premier team goals, including target returns, scheduled rating targets, retention, and new business goals. This includes demonstrating an understanding of MSF insurance data and an ability to turn it into actionable information, staying current on business and insurance trends, and understanding competitor products and services. You'll also manage Safety Management Consultants, Claims Examiners, and Marketing to maximize the profitability and retention of your book of business, fostering a competitive insurance market in Montana by delivering high-quality, competitively priced products.

Professional Development and Collaboration: Actively participate in professional meetings, assigned tasks, account management, and MSF projects. This includes demonstrating professional communication, behaviors, and customer service skills with both internal and external customers. You may also be assigned other responsibilities by Business Unit Directors or Executive Leadership.

Required Experience

What you will need (minimum qualifications): 

Required:
To be considered for this role, you'll need to meet one of the following criteria:

• Bachelor’s degree and two (2) years of underwriting experience (P&C – Property and Casualty specific)
  OR
• Two (2) years in the role of a MSF Underwriting Account Manager
  OR
• Bachelor’s degree and three (3) years of relevant workers’ compensation experience at MSF

Additionally, candidate must:

• Exhibit professional communication and behaviors, customer service skills with internal and external customers,
• Complete AINS 22 or other approved course within 12 months of hire (if not already obtained)
• Obtain Montana Workers’ Compensation Producer License within 60 days of hire.
• Demonstrate ability to manage an assigned book of business with professional poise and in accordance with MSF Underwriting Guidelines and industry best practices with moderate supervision/direction.

Job location: This position requires occasional travel across the State of Montana to effectively engage with partners and stakeholders. While the position offers flexibility within Montana, candidates should anticipate some travel throughout the state.

Compensation and Benefits: Starting salary for the position begins at $62,800 - $78,500. This is an exempt position: 2E.  

Montana State Fund offers excellent benefits, paid time off, and a competitive compensation program, including:

• Excellent health insurance with dental, vision, life, long-term disability and more, with optional dependent coverage.
• Flexible spending accounts for dependent care and medical expenses.
• Public employees’ retirement plan tax-deferred contributions with a generous employer match.
• Optional 457(b) deferred compensation to further increase retirement savings.
• Higher education reimbursement and other training and development programs.
• Robust personal leave, paid holidays, and extended leave.