We are looking for an Underwriting Technician Team Lead – Financial Lines, based in New York, NY, Alpharetta, GA or O’Fallon, MO

Who we are
Allianz Group is one of the most trusted insurance and asset management companies in the world. Caring for our employees, their ambitions, dreams, and challenges, is what makes us a unique employer. Together we can build an environment where everyone feels empowered and has the confidence to explore, to grow and to shape a better future for our customers and the world around us. Join us. Let’s care for tomorrow.

The Impact You Will Have
The Underwriting Technician Team Lead (UT TL), reports directly to the Head of Global Business Operations North America and will excel at balancing UT production volumes, Underwriter satisfaction, and core leadership duties. The position requires flexibility when faced with changing and emerging priorities and should welcome direct feedback while providing the same to GBO Leadership. The UT TL will exhibit the ability to work and influence cross functionally and across disciplines to achieve established business goals. Within the role, it is expected the UT TL will work collaboratively and lead conversations, projects, and initiatives within GBO and other areas, all with a keen focus to foster a harmonious process and policy handling environment to support the business and the Allianz Commercial customer base. The UT TL will work alongside Operations Managers/leads as a peer on shared goals, ensuring the achievement and continued consistency in the UT role. The UT TL will have a group of Underwriting Technicians reporting directly to them and will be responsible for their performance, career development, and all other relevant people management responsibilities. This role will also be responsible for the production UT tasks affiliated with the assignment to one Underwriter, at minimum.

Some of your specific responsibilities could include: 

• Managing the assigned direct report UT's output, supporting Underwriting production by reviewing and interpreting source underwriting materials regarding the completeness of required information - including broker presentation, slips, underwriting files and accounts/loss history, interactions with Underwriter/Broker in case of missing information.

• Authorization in line with assigned limits.

• Acting as trainer / SME for resolving an GBO Account Technician queries.

• Ensuring UT team is accurately and efficiently populating front / mid Office IT system(s) (e.g., CUBE, GG, A1, Amanda, etc. [depending upon Line of Business] with policy data utilizing information received from all relevant sources.

• Identifying opportunities to deliver enhanced services to Allianz Commercial clients (internal/external) across the span of Operational duties across function.

• Assisting with escalations from brokers, working across functional areas to deliver timely answers and resolution, and utilizing said opportunities to drive process innovation and change in the organization.

• Utilizing product and process knowledge to offer suggestions and recommendations to Underwriting colleagues where applicable.

• Providing and supporting timely 2-way feedback between GBO and Underwriting to solve for timeliness or skill deficiencies.

• Promoting a unified approach and creating and implementing a project framework to drive the initiatives to completion, in partnership with Underwriting, GPM, GBO Governance or others as needed.

• Ensuring accurate and timely handover of information to Offshore teams to support policy setup and bookings.

• Independently managing the completion of UT tasks associated with, at minimum, one production UW to whom the UT TL will be assigned., allowing the UT TL to remain fluent in UT tasks, processes, and emerging trends, including completing all UT tasks for said Underwriter, including attainment of all KPI's, in keeping with the UT job description as currently designed.

• Leading regular Underwriter feedback sessions to obtain direct feedback on services provided by assigned UTs, identifying and immediately addressing any deficiencies as well as recognizing good performance.

• Supporting the continuance of the Operations TOM model in the OE, including communicating change to employees and support staff during change processes and driving and leading pre-established key local, regional and global projects where required to support the TOM.

• Support the implementation of end-to-end near-shoring and offshoring opportunities by taking the identified opportunities through the transition lifecycle covering People, Process, and Technology dimensions, as well as managing the transitions in the capacity of a project manager where applicable.

• Monitoring the centralized processes to ensure required SLA/KPI performance and drive further
  process improvements.

• Advising and communicating internal customers on tasks related to internal change management and supporting where required.

• Working closely with GBO Governance team to develop lean organizational processes while maintaining quality and high customer satisfaction.

• Developing, implementing and broadcasting operational measurements, KPIs and SLAs to measure, steer and improve business within the assigned account segment.

• Managing hiring process, development, and succession planning of GBO Teams with support from HR.

• Setting clear targets for performance, providing regular feedback to direct reports, and managing to these targets accordingly.

• Participating in and driving the development of more junior staff within GBO onshore and offshore teams, providing timely feedback and coaching.

• Identifying initiatives regarding productivity opportunities, process improvements, efficiency gains and FTE utilization, including developing plans to support those initiatives and execute them in close alignment with GBO Governance and GPM teams and working with the other Insurance Operations Managers Regionally and Globally to identify and share best practices.

• Ensuring early engagement with business stakeholders on known hot spots and future demand, outlining a vision of the to-be state, and continuously keeping them informed of progress and issues.

• Developing and positively influencing Senior Management and key, strategic position holders across locations and functions.

• Supporting management colleagues where interdependencies demand collaborative action and team work.

• Ensuring cost efficiency / budget compliance for respective GBO regional Cost Center.

• Supporting and implementing the strategy for GBO alignment with stakeholders regarding SLAs incl. availability, performance, response, cost, quality

• Ensure the teams under the UT TL's direct and matrix management organization, provide excellent client service, steering and managing operational delivery of the team and providing support and expertise to all staff.

• Developing, managing and sustaining effective working relationships with all key stakeholders (i.e., Underwriting, Claims, Billing and Credit Control, etc. and global functional teams like GBO Governance and Global Process Management.

• Ensuring consistency of on and offshore GBO teams, meeting and reporting on KPIs / SLAs as agreed upon and aligning with Underwriting stakeholders to support growth ambitions.

• Initiating and leading key regional projects and participating in global projects where required.

• Supporting and driving productivity initiatives and adopting related tools like SNOW.

What You’ll Bring to the Role 

• 3-5 years’ experience in core insurance function, preferably in Operations or Underwriting; 

• 1+ years of experience in leadership roles, which may include managing direct reports, coaching or mentoring team members, or leading projects within a matrix environment;

• Experience working with international teams and remote colleagues; 

• Experience managing performance/achievements with cross functional teams;

• Advance understanding of policy administration life cycle, relevant products, wordings, terms and conditions and coverages; 

• Ability to lead diverse teams in complex projects, drive strategic initiatives, and/or project framework;

• Ability to train and coach staff;

• Excellent verbal and written communications skills with an ability to communicate with a variety of people across the organization; 

• Ability to utilize AI tools to support day-to-day tasks, improve efficiency and contribute to data-driven decision making; and

• Strong time management and organizational skills.