Middle Market Underwriter

Job DetailsJob Location: DES MOINES IA - DES MOINES, IA 50315Salary Range: $96,000.00 - $136,000.00 SalaryPharmacists Mutual has an opening for a Middle Market Underwriter. This role is responsible for determining risk acceptability, pricing, coverages, terms, and conditions by analyzing and evaluating complex exposures and underwriting criteria on Middle Market risks for the assigned line(s) of business and healthcare verticals. Adheres to Company guidelines and state regulations and works within a level of authority delegated by Underwriting leadership. Responsible for identifying opportunities to bring leadership, risk management, and/or claims personnel into conversations with distribution partners and/or customers to share expertise and strengthen relationships. Middle Market Underwriter II Independently evaluates risks with assigned distribution partners, determining acceptability using advanced Middle Market expertise to assess exposures, pricing, and coverage. Underwrites new business, renewals, and policy changes within authority, ensuring compliance with company guidelines. Exercises judgment in escalating risks or exceptions beyond authority and identifies trends within the portfolio, sharing insights with leadership. Applies appropriate use of underwriting tools (e.g., facultative reinsurance, manuscript endorsements, A-rating). Demonstrates strong knowledge of commercial insurance principles, applying advanced risk evaluation, pricing strategies, and coverage analysis. Builds and sustains strong agency relationships through adequate preparation, consistent engagement, effective negotiation, and leadership in partner meetings. Drives pipeline growth by identifying and developing new business opportunities within appetite. Prioritizes workload to ensure timely and accurate underwriting decisions. Serves as a technical resource, including support for healthcare verticals. Participates in underwriting projects and process improvement initiatives. May support other underwriting within established authority. Senior Middle Market Underwriter Evaluates highly complex risks with distribution partners, determining acceptability using expert Middle Market underwriting knowledge to assess exposures, pricing, and coverage. Underwrites new business, renewals, and policy changes within high-level authority, ensuring compliance with company guidelines while driving profitable growth through effective portfolio management and risk selection. Applies advanced usage of underwriting tools, identifying trends, making strategic recommendations, and determining when to escalate risks. Builds and leads strong agency relationships, influencing outcomes, resolving issues, and driving pipeline growth through strategic engagement and negotiation. Manages a workload with precision, ensuring timely, accurate underwriting decisions while maintaining strong operational efficiency. Serves as a subject matter expert, helping to shape underwriting practices, contributing to portfolio strategy, and review others work to ensure consistency and quality. Acts as a strategic, cross-functional partner, leading or contributing to projects, improving workflows, and enhancing underwriting tools and performance. Leads training initiatives, supporting team capability building, while providing input on strategy, performance, and business opportunities. May conduct audits and support other underwriting within established authority.  Essential Functions Essential functions may include, but are not limited to the following: Evaluates new business, renewals, and policy changes to determine risk acceptability, analyze exposures, and establish appropriate pricing, terms, and coverage. Manages portfolio performance to achieve growth and profitability goals by partnering with distribution partners, analyzing loss trends, and taking timely underwriting actions. Ensures compliance with underwriting guidelines, authority levels, company policies, and regulatory requirements. Reviews loss control reports, identifies risk management actions, and follows up on outstanding underwriting information. Uses data and analytics to inform decisions, identify trends, and improve underwriting practices. Builds and maintains strong relationships with distribution partners to drive profitable growth and participates in agent and client meetings. Delivers consistent, high-quality service by managing workflow, responding promptly to inquiries, and meeting established turnaround standards. Maintains accurate underwriting documentation, including decisions, rationale, and supporting information. Collaborates with internal partners to balance workload, improve processes, and support operational efficiency. Stays informed on industry trends, emerging risks, and competitor offerings to enhance underwriting decisions. Meets performance expectations and supports team development through mentoring, training, or knowledge sharing as needed. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Knowledge of principles and practices of Middle Market insurance underwriting. Analyze complex risks and make critical decisions. Work independently and use initiative. Possess critical thinking skills and sound judgment in underwriting decisions. Knowledge to ask necessary follow-up questions. Determine when and how to escalate concerns to the appropriate level of management. Ability to understand and apply laws, rules and regulations. Ability to deal with confidential information. Possess negotiation skills and analytical thinking, with the ability to explain decisions to others. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Interact externally and internally with professionalism and confidence Possess a high level of executive functioning skills to organize and prioritize work.  Ability to handle multiple tasks at once. Meet finite deadlines and deal with pressure situations. Maintain records; prepare reports/correspondence related to the work. Contribute effectively to the accomplishment of team or work unit goals, objectives and activities. Read, interpret and input data efficiently and accurately. Communicate and work effectively with others (oral and written). Follow oral and written directions. Correct English usage, spelling, grammar, vocabulary and punctuation. Knowledge of management information and business systems such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc. Utilize computer and related software effectively. QualificationsExperience and Education Qualifications  Middle Market Underwriter II High School diploma or equivalent and 10 years of related experience; or Associate's degree or equivalent and 8 years of related experience; and Industry related certification: Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) OR Bachelor’s Degree and 5 years of related experience; or Master’s Degree with 2 years of related experience Senior Middle Market Underwriter High School diploma or equivalent and 15 years of related experience; or Associate's degree or equivalent and 12 years of related experience; and Industry related certification: Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) OR Bachelor’s Degree and 8 years of related experience; or Master’s Degree with 5 years of related experience Preferred Qualifications Middle Market Underwriter II Progress toward completion of CPCU designation Senior Middle Market Underwriter Successful completion of CPCU designation Work Environment Hybrid or fully remote work environment designed to provide flexibility, autonomy, and productivity while working from another location Primary work environment is in a climate-controlled office setting Work may involve travel to attend meetings at other locations Benefits In addition to a competitive salary, eligible employees may receive an annual discretionary bonus and access to our benefits package including:  Health, Dental, Vision & Life coverage 401(k) with Company Match Paid Time Off 8 Paid Holidays Volunteer Time Off Paid Parental Leave Hybrid/Remote Work Options Employee Assistance Program Tuition Reimbursement Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer.