Old Republic Bitco is seeking an Senior Underwriter to join our branch office located in Little Rock AR. As a respected specialty insurer with 11 branch offices across 10 states, OR Bitco delivers tailored insurance solutions to complex industries such as construction, forest products, and oil and gas.
This position is open to a hybrid work arrangement, blending flexibility with meaningful in-person collaboration. Candidates should be comfortable with occasional business travel to other OR Bitco offices and offsite locations.
At OR Bitco, our work is guided by core values. We care deeply about our people, partners, and customers. We are committed to excellence and accountability. We deliver on our promises with integrity and precision, and we strive to make a meaningful impact in everything we do. These values drive our mission to protect the people and industries that keep America running.
Join the OR Bitco team and be part of a workplace built on collaboration, open communication, and a positive culture that supports growth and success. If you are passionate about operational excellence and ready to make a measurable impact within a growing, industry-leading organization, OR Bitco offers the platform and challenge you have been looking for.
Position Summary:
This position is responsible for evaluating commercial insurance applications and underwriting new and renewal business from an assigned agency portfolio in a timely, accurate, and service-oriented manner. The role requires strong analytical, communication, territory management, and marketing skills to effectively assess risk, strengthen agency relationships, and support profitable growth. This individual is also expected to serve as a role model for team members by providing guidance, sharing expertise, and actively mentoring less experienced underwriters.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Decides whether to accept, decline or modify applications or requests to sell an insurance policy and once sold, recognizing and evaluating exposure changes as they occur during a policy period and including an understanding of the company's target programs and coverage
- Evaluates, quotes and negotiates prices on applications from new and renewal customers and requests for changes in policies which requires an understanding of statutory requirements, ISO, company and NCCI coverage forms and endorsements and commercial line reference manuals, including Best's Underwriting Guide
- Manages a group of agencies, including prospecting for new agencies, agency appointment, growth and development, maximization of agency profit sharing opportunities and credit management; evaluating agency factors, including agency personnel, line diversification, loss ratio, agency book of business, volume and profit potential and which agencies to appoint or terminate
- Travel as necessary to perform sales and marketing activities, maintain territory, attend meetings, or for other reasons deemed necessary to fulfill position requirements
- Solicit new business and retain renewal business through effective presentations to agency and customer audiences
- Manages and develops business in an assigned territory, including achieving profitable underwriting results, sales development and customer service functions
- Formulates, plans and achieves sales budgets, with objectives to support business planning, for assigned accounts and territory, including setting and achieving premium and loss ratio goals, agency and prospecting calls and business forecasting
- Working with a structured referral process, maintains, promotes and increases profitable sales from current and prospective customer accounts through, among other activities, regular agency visits, developing agency relationships and agency reviews
- Makes decisions within stated levels of authority and company guidelines, seeks exceptions to guidelines as needed when supported by appropriate data
- Identifies and takes appropriate action on changes in customer operations or financial conditions
- Maintains and promotes profitable business relationships with current and prospective customer accounts, through effective marketing, sales and service efforts
- Coordinates, promotes and markets claims, risk control and premium audit service plans to current and prospective customers
- Maintains current knowledge of corporate, regulatory and competitive changes in lines of business written
- Mentors and helps train less experienced underwriters; may help supervise some non-technical tasks and duties
- Performs other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Insurance, Risk Management, or other Business related field preferred; or equivalent experience
- Minimum of 5 - 7 years' experience in the following areas:
- Field Underwriting – Construction, Forest Products, Manufacturing, Oil & Gas
- Underwriting New & Renewal Business – Determine pricing and understand commercial lines policy forms and coverages
- Analyzing & Managing Exposures – Develop action plans to manage risks and changes during a policy period
- Agency Management – Growth and development; prospecting; appointment; and maximization of opportunities and responsibilities
- External Sales – Cultivate new business while demonstrating retention of current customers through presentations to agencies and customers
Benefits:
- Competitive salary paired with a comprehensive benefits package
- Generous paid time off, plus 12 paid holidays annually
- Comprehensive health coverage, including medical, dental, and vision plans
- Additional protection through accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance
- Company-paid life insurance equal to 2× annual salary
- Company-paid short-term and long-term disability coverage
- 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan through Old Republic
- Ongoing education, training, and professional development opportunities
- Support for industry certifications and insurance designations, including financial assistance
- Flexible scheduling with a two-hour window for start and end times within a 7.5-hour workday
- Opportunities to give back through corporate philanthropy and community service initiatives
- Optional benefits including travel, commuter, and pet insurance
- Employee wellness support through a dedicated fitness program
