Senior Corporate Underwriter, Middle Market

Description

T

Senior Corporate Underwriter, Middle Market

Hybrid Work Schedule

Buffalo, New York

Merchants Insurance Group, a leading Property & Casualty insurer in the Northeast, is seeking a Senior Corporate Underwriter, Middle Market to join our team Located in our Corporate Headquarters in Buffalo, New York.

The Senior Corporate Underwriter, Middle Market is a member of the Corporate Underwriting Team with responsibility for leading, consulting, developing, and training regional underwriting staff while fulfilling Merchant's promise to customers through strong agency relationships, sound underwriting decisions, and effective collaboration across regional teams to support strategic initiatives and drive results. This position provides underwriting technical support, compliance guidelines and referral assistance to the regional offices and the internal home office departments for the Middle Market Segment.

Merchants Insurance Group is rated A- (Excellent) with a stable outlook by A.M. Best and is consistently recognized as a top employer and high-performing organization. Recent honors include:

• Best Places to Work in Western New York (Buffalo Business First, 2023–2026)
• Fast Track Company (2019–2025) and Top Private Company (2019–2025)
• Ward's 50® top-performing property-casualty insurer (2021–2024)
• Ivans Spark Award for Innovation (2024–2025)
• Named to Newsweek and Statista's America's Most Reliable Companies list (2025), ranked among the top 300 of 1,500 B2B organizations evaluated

We offer a hybrid work schedule, requiring two full days per week in the office, with flexibility to work remotely or onsite the remaining days. This model supports collaboration while providing flexibility and work-life balance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Leads, coaches, and develops a team of Middle Market Underwriters, fostering a high-performance culture aligned with corporate values and guidelines.
• Cultivate and strengthen strategic relationships with agents and brokers, representing the organization with professionalism and market expertise. Travel as needed for agency engagement and business development.
• Oversee the selection and retention of profitable Middle Market business through sound underwriting practices and risk analysis. Provides guidance and decision-making on complex risks and referrals within established letter of authority.
• Ensure adherence to underwriting guidelines, regulatory requirements, and company strategy through ongoing file quality reviews and audits.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders across underwriting, claims, actuarial, and operations to support enterprise initiatives and business priorities.
• Contribute to the development and execution of Middle Market strategies, including product, pricing, and market positioning.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent work experience. Professional designations such as CPCU, CIC, or equivalent strongly preferred.
• 6+ years of Middle Market Underwriting experience
• Demonstrated experience leading, coaching, or mentoring underwriting staff. Proven track record of managing a profitable book of business. Experience with multi-state middle market commercial lines coverages and policies.
• Strong understanding of leadership skills including coaching, team building, and conflict resolution.
• Knowledge of Middle Market coverages and policies in Merchants' territory.
• Ability to professionally interact with agents, customers, and colleagues.
• Strong analytical, problem solving, verbal and written communication skills including negotiation, presentation, and influence.
• Ability to investigate, gather facts, and analyze coverage. Innovative and continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage heavy workloads, and handle interpersonal conflict.
• Ability to travel to agencies and regional offices, including occasional overnight travel.

Merchants Insurance Group Pay information:

Merchants Insurance Group offers a competitive pay scale. The estimated salary for this role ranges from $95,000 - $125,000 based on leveling and geography, along with an equity component and a comprehensive benefits package. This range is merely an estimate; actual compensation may deviate from this range based on skills, experience and qualifications.

Merchants Insurance Group Benefits:

• Welcoming and positive work environment.
• Colleague Appreciation events.
• Flexible work arrangements, including flex scheduling and summer hours.
• Hybrid work schedule. The Hybrid work schedule will require 2 full days per week in the office, with the option to work the remaining days per month at home or in the office.
• Competitive pay scale.
• Company bonus program.
• Generous paid time off package.
• Full Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short Term Disability, 401(k) employer match amount is 100% up to 6% of your annual contributions. You are immediately 100% vested in the employer match dollars.
• Tuition Reimbursement.

And many more exciting company benefits!!

Merchants Insurance Group is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. Merchants Insurance Group supports a safe workplace through pre-employment background screenings.