Underwriter Trainee (Life) at Erie Insurance in Erie, Pennsylvania

Job Description:

Division or Field Office:

Life Division
Department of Position: Life Und,Prd Dv,Prc & Mgt Dept
Work from:
Erie Home Office

At Erie Insurance, you're not just part of a Fortune 500 company; you're also a valued member of a diverse and inclusive team that includes more than 5,000 employees and over 2,200 independent agencies. Our Employees work in the Home Office complex located in Erie, PA, and in our Field Offices that span 12 states and the District of Columbia. To attract and retain the best talent, we reward our team members with competitive salaries and a very generous benefits package.

Position Summary

As an Underwriter Trainee in the Life Underwriting Division, you will participate in the underwriting training program. Successful candidates will undergo a thorough and rigorous training program over a 6 to 9-month training time frame, learning to underwrite individual life insurance.

Insurance underwriters are the gatekeepers who ultimately decide which risks Erie Family Life will accept and at what price or rate class they should fall within. This requires many skillsets such as critical thinking, the ability to make quality decisions and turn cases around within the set goals, including during times of increased work volumes. Adaptability and flexibility is required, as well as the ability to manage stress especially during high volume periods.

Extra work hours may be required during heavy volumes in order to keep within established service goals. The life underwriter is a good time manager as there are many demands in a day's work. Since relationship building is important to ERIE's mission and providing Above all in Service expectations are a must, the successful candidate will demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication and negotiating skills.

While the underwriter works independently, there is much collaboration within the team and with other EFL Employees, therefore good teamwork skills are paramount. Life Insurance Underwriting is an exciting and invigorating career. There is opportunity to grow and develop through professional development at the ERIE and by pursuing life insurance industry designations such as the Fellow, Academy of Life Underwriting and the Fellow, Life Management Institute. As frontline decision makers, underwriters have significant potential to impact ERIE's bottom line. You can progress from Underwriter I to levels II, Senior and Consultant - even Underwriting Manager - with consistent dedication and development.

• Experience in life insurance is strongly preferred
• Dedication to professional development, with a commitment to continuing education toward life insurance industry designations, is strongly preferred
• Up to three positions available

Duties and Responsibilities

Participates in ERIE's underwriting training program, including completion of assigned training modules,worksheets, exercises and other assignments.

Under the guidance of a mentor or trainer, performs underwriting tasks, reviews change requests, audits, inspections and renewal records to verify continued acceptability, rate adequacy, and possible coverage modification.

Determines the acceptability of applications and change requests within level of authority.

Corresponds with Policyholders, Agents, and Field Office personnel by telephone and in writing.

Develops and maintains working relationships with Agents, ERIE sales force and other departments through phone contact, email and field visits. Travels to field offices and attends meetings as required to learn to establish rapport with agents and develop knowledge of ERIE's territories.

Reviews Policyholder files and records to verify original and continued acceptability and ensure adequate rates.

Reviews risk and claim reports and determines appropriate actions, including modifying risks or terminating coverage.

Participates in insurance-related education and develops knowledge of current industry trends.

Under the guidance of a mentor or trainer, acts as a resource and communicates with Agents and staff on a regular basis to answer questions and discuss risks. Communicates with branch staff regarding Agent issues or concerns. Advises manager of issues or concerns.

The first 7 duties listed are the functions identified as essential to the job. Essential functions are those job duties that must be performed in order for the job to be accomplished.

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the incumbent. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instruction and to perform any other duties as requested by their supervisor, or as become evident.

Competencies

Ability To Learn And Follow Procedures

Ability to Manage Complexity

Coaching

Decision Making

Developing And Maintaining Relationships

Information Management Skills

Interpersonal Communication

Job-Specific Knowledge

Oral Communication

Planning And Organizing

Problem Analysis

Service Orientation

Time Management

Qualifications

Minimum education and experience requirements: