Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Underwriting Program Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Underwriting Program Coordinator supports the design, implementation, administration, and continuous improvement of insurance underwriting programs and delegated authority arrangements. This role acts as the operational hub between underwriting leadership, agents/brokers, claims, actuarial and compliance teams — ensuring accurate policy issuance, consistent application of underwriting guidelines, timely renewals, robust data reporting, and proactive risk mitigation. The Coordinator also drives program documentation, program onboarding, performance monitoring, and stakeholder communication to maintain profitable, compliant, and scalable underwriting portfolios.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Underwriting Assistant / Junior Underwriter
Insurance Operations Analyst
Broker Support or Client Services Representative

Advancement To:

Senior Underwriting Program Coordinator
Underwriting Manager / Program Manager
Portfolio Manager or Product Underwriter

Lateral Moves:

Delegated Authority Analyst
Underwriting Operations Manager
Risk & Compliance Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Coordinate the end-to-end administration of underwriting programs including new program set-up, policy issuance workflows, delegated authority documentation, binder management, and program renewals to ensure consistent and compliant delivery of coverage.
Maintain and apply program underwriting guidelines, rating matrices, and referral rules; proactively update documentation and communicate changes to underwriters, brokers, and distribution partners.
Serve as the primary operational contact for brokers and agents on program submission requirements, endorsements, policy changes, and issuance timelines to ensure high service levels and reduce processing delays.
Manage submission intake and triage: review submissions for completeness, queue for underwriter review, request supplemental information, and track decision timelines to accelerate placement.
Administer delegated authority agreements and underwriting binds, including drafting and maintaining contracts, scopes of authority, error/omission thresholds, and audit schedules.
Reconcile premium accounting entries, assist with premium audit coordination, and liaise with finance to resolve discrepancies related to program policies and endorsements.
Prepare, distribute, and present monthly and quarterly portfolio performance reports (loss ratios, hit/decline rates, average premium, exposure measures) to underwriting leadership and stakeholders.
Monitor portfolio metrics and claims trends; escalate emerging underwriting issues, concentration risks, and adverse loss trends with recommended action plans to minimize volatility.
Coordinate new product and program launches: create operational checklists, test policy administration system configurations, validate rating logic, and support go-to-market readiness.
Drive continuous process improvement initiatives across underwriting operations using root cause analysis; document process standards, SLAs, and best practices to increase accuracy and throughput.
Execute quality assurance and file audits for delegated authorities and in-house underwriting files, document findings, and track remediation items with accountable parties.
Maintain accurate policy data in policy administration systems and distribution platforms; perform data clean-up, validation, and batch processing as needed.
Facilitate cross-functional working sessions between underwriting, claims, actuarial, IT, and compliance to align on program governance, reporting requirements, and system enhancements.
Support underwriting pricing exercises by aggregating submission data, preparing exposure schedules, and coordinating information exchange with actuarial and pricing teams.
Coordinate renewals and mid-term adjustments: prepare renewal recommendations, manage renewal quotes and communications, and ensure continuity of coverage with minimal lapses.
Administer endorsements, cancellations, and re-issues in accordance with company policies and regulatory requirements, ensuring accurate documentation and client notifications.
Oversee program document libraries and knowledge bases, including underwriting manuals, forms, submission checklists, FAQs, and training materials for internal and external users.
Provide regular training and onboarding for brokers, delegated partners, and internal staff on program rules, system usage, and underwriting requirements to drive consistency.
Manage and resolve underwriting-related escalations from brokers, insureds, and internal stakeholders within established SLAs, documenting root causes and corrective actions.
Coordinate and support statutory and internal audits related to underwriting programs, compile required documentation, and implement audit recommendations to improve control environment.
Maintain regulatory and compliance awareness for program jurisdictions; ensure program documentation, filings, and processes adhere to local insurance regulations and company risk appetite.
Support system implementations and enhancements for underwriting and policy administration platforms by defining functional requirements, testing, and coordinating user acceptance.
Track and reconcile delegated authority financial reporting, commission schedules, and settlement processes with distribution partners and finance teams.
Lead or participate in cross-functional projects to automate routine underwriting tasks, increase straight-through processing, and reduce manual interventions.

Secondary Functions

Produce ad-hoc analyses and dashboards to support underwriting decision-making and executive reporting.
Support development and refinement of program KPIs and SLAs to objectively measure operational performance and service delivery.
Assist with vendor and third-party relationships, including third-party administrators and delegated partners, to maintain service quality and compliance.
Contribute to knowledge-sharing initiatives and act as a subject-matter resource for underwriting operations and program management.
Participate in product profitability reviews and strategic business planning sessions to inform growth and retention strategies.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Deep knowledge of underwriting program administration, delegated authority frameworks, and policy issuance lifecycles.
Strong proficiency in policy administration systems and rating engines (e.g., Guidewire, Duck Creek, or equivalent policy systems).
Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, Power Query) and experience preparing analytical reports and dashboards.
Experience with SQL or data query tools to extract and validate policy and claims datasets for reporting and analysis.
Familiarity with BI and reporting tools (Power BI, Tableau, or similar) to create and maintain performance dashboards.
Understanding of insurance accounting fundamentals, premium reconciliation, and basic actuarial concepts.
Knowledge of insurance regulatory requirements and compliance for property & casualty, specialty lines, or applicable product lines.
Experience managing delegated authority agreements, audits, and document control for third-party underwriters or MGAs.
Proven ability to document processes, author underwriting manuals, and maintain knowledge bases and SOPs.
Hands-on experience with CRM or broker portals and producer management systems to support distribution relationships.

Soft Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to translate technical underwriting guidelines to brokers and non-technical stakeholders.
Strong project coordination and multi-tasking ability; comfortable managing multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Analytical mindset with attention to detail and the ability to identify patterns in portfolio performance and claims trends.
Stakeholder management and relationship-building skills to work effectively with underwriting, sales, finance, claims, and IT teams.
Problem-solving orientation, proactive follow-up, and the ability to drive issues to resolution.
Customer service focus with a professional and diplomatic approach to escalations and sensitive negotiations.
Adaptability to change and openness to continuous process improvement and automation.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Risk Management, Insurance, or a related field (Associates degree plus significant relevant experience may be considered).

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Risk Management, Insurance, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
Professional insurance designations (CPCU, AU, AINS, ARe) or program management certification is a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Risk Management & Insurance
Finance / Accounting
Business Administration
Actuarial Science / Mathematics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–6 years of relevant underwriting operations, program coordination, delegated authority administration, or insurance operations experience.

Preferred:

3–5+ years administering underwriting programs or working within underwriting operations for specialty lines, commercial P&C, or managing delegated authority partners.
Experience with policy administration systems, data reporting tools, and exposure to regulatory filings and audits is highly desirable.