Insurance Underwriting Advisor

AgWest Farm Creditis a member-owned financial cooperative that provides financing and related services to farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses, commercial fishermen, timber producers, rural homeowners and crop insurance customers in a seven-state territory in the Western United States. AgWest is part of the 100+ year-old Farm Credit System - the leading provider of credit to American agriculture.

AgWest champions the growth and advancement of agriculture, the value of rural communities, and the vital contribution our customers make to the economy and society. We serve customers in 59 locations throughout the West.

We are in search of an Insurance Underwriting Advisor II or III to join our Underwriting and Chattel Services department in Spokane, Washington (Headquarters). This full-time position reports to the SVP, Underwriting and Chattel Services and supports the organization's crop insurance function by acting as an internal subject matter expert focused on developing and maintaining crop insurance procedures and resources, as well as facilitating professional and technical training. This role requires regular collaboration with internal experts to continuously assess the organization's systems and resources, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

After an initial in-office training period, this position is eligible for workplace flexibility and a one-time home office stipend. Employees are expected to continue working from their office location a minimum of 50% or 60% of the time depending on location.

Compensation Information

The base salary range for this position in Spokane, Washington is:

Level II:
Typical starting range: $64,600 - $86,500
Full base salary range: $64,600 - $110,800
Annual performance-based incentive target is 12 or 15% of base, depending on experience.

Level III:
Typical starting range: $78,000 - $107,400
Full base salary range: $78,000 - $122,100
Annual performance-based incentive target is 15% of base.

*Internal candidates working in a branch may apply; employee work location will be evaluated as part of the recruitment process. This position is not eligible for geographic differential pay.

Job Requirements

• Stay informed on all federal and Approved Insurance Provider (AIP) crop insurance products and regulatory updates. Identify areas requiring professional and technical training and remain well-versed in explaining changes and answering questions.
• Develop and maintain procedures and resources, including presentations and learning materials, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Serve as a liaison between internal stakeholders and external contacts, such as the Risk Management Agency (RMA) and AIPs, to ensure accurate and clear policy interpretation.
• Perform ongoing reviews on policies to ensure consistency across the organization.
• Evaluate effectiveness and lead lessons learned initiatives to identify training opportunities and emerging concerns. Utilize feedback from external contacts, customer survey results, errors and omissions claims, and internal audit observations.
• Partner with learning team, crop insurance leadership and other stakeholders to determine the design, delivery and execution of training plans and materials for the organization's crop insurance team members. Support the effort to maintain courseware in the organization's learning management system.
• Collaborate with the Learning team, hiring managers, insurance trainee coordinator, trainee coaches and other subject matter experts to create and maintain comprehensive onboarding plans. Participate in the onboarding process to help train and mentor new employees.
• Serve as a training resource for technical crop insurance instruction. Collaborate with supervisors and other subject matter experts to identify target audience training needs, areas of improvement and manage learning expectations.
• Collaborate with crop insurance delivery team to:
  • Represent the crop insurance function on systems related projects.
  • Review software enhancement documentation from AIPs and third-party vendors as well as enhancement requests from crop insurance leadership, agents, and analysts.
  • Assess impact to existing processes and develop or modify procedures, resources, and training curriculum to support implementation efforts.
• Perform all duties and maintain all standards in accordance with company policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Other duties as assigned.
  

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business, agribusiness or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Generally, requires at least three years' related experience and an advanced knowledge of crop insurance products, services, policies and procedures.
• Progressively responsible insurance experience.
• Ability to work independently with broad direction of objectives and expected outcomes.
• Excellent communication skills for explaining complex information to various audiences.
• Basic understanding of project management concepts.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Property and Casualty Insurance License or ability to acquire within the first 6 months of employment.
  

Preferred Requirements

• Understanding of project management concepts and ability to lead projects to successful conclusions.
• History of successful performance as an insurance agent, analyst, or underwriter (internally or externally).
• Strong knowledge of industry standards and regulations.
• Proficiency in evaluating program or process effectiveness and identifying improvement opportunities.
  

Benefits Offered by AgWest

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Basic term life and AD&D insurance (fully paid for by the company)
• Paid days off annually: 15 vacation*, 15 sick, 11 holidays and 3 volunteer
• 401(k) plan (6% match plus 3% employer contribution)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness Program
• Jeans are welcome at work every day at AgWest!

*Vacation accrual rates increase with tenure.

Details about insurance and retirement benefits are available at: https://www.farmcreditfoundations.com/fcfbenefits

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Job level and starting annual salary will be based on a variety of factors including but not limited to experience, education, certifications/licensure, internal equity, location, business needs and market demands. The listed compensation and benefits information is accurate as of the posting date. AgWest reserves the right to adjust compensation for all positions and modify or discontinue benefits programs at its sole discretion, subject to applicable law.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender orientation, national origin, marital status, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by law.