Who are we?

Western National Insurance Group is a private mutual insurance company with over 120 years of experience serving customers' property-and-casualty insurance needs in the Midwestern, Northwestern, and Southwestern United States. Known as “The Relationship Company®,” we define success as a measure of the relationships we’ve built over time. In everything that we do, we know that delivering a friendly and helpful interaction makes for a better experience for everyone involved. That’s the power of “nice”. At Western National, nice is something we work to bring to every person and organization with whom we partner and serve.

Does this opportunity interest you?

Western National is seeking a Commercial Lines Product Manager to join our team!

This individual will develop and take ownership of the commercial lines strategy and roadmap. The individual in this role will have the opportunity to lead the product design, development, and delivery process, from idea generation to post-implementation evaluation for assigned business lines. They will possess detailed knowledge of coverage, pricing, and underwriting for commercial lines and will be responsible for profit and loss.

What are the responsibilities and opportunities of this role?

• Monitors performance of assigned product lines and industry classes to ensure company objectives are met; identifies opportunities and threats to product performance and generates product and pricing additions or modifications to address concerns.
• Researches industry and other trends to identify, evaluate, and recommend new and modified product offerings; establishes priority and leads development and execution of approved initiatives.
• Creates strategic plan and establishes priority for product initiatives and enhancements based on the significance of impact in achieving company objectives; gains consensus from senior management.
• Sets direction and leads and manages the backlog for the assigned cross-functional product team; collaborates with product owners, business analysts, and other members of product delivery teams to ensure successful implementation of product initiatives.
• Collaborates with underwriting, pricing, technology, and data resources to vet product, pricing, and automation enhancements; gain consensus and establish priority for implementation.
• Works with actuaries, data scientists, and others to evaluate opportunities to create, evaluate, augment, and refine predictive pricing models; partners with analysts to ensure models are favorably impacting business lines post-implementation.
• Partners with pricing actuaries in rate review process; provides direction based on market intel, underwriting input, and product performance to influence pricing proposals.
• Plans, researches, and oversees filing and implementation of products to ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
• Establishes regular communication with other product teams to ensure a working knowledge of initiatives planned and in process across the organization.
• Ensures deliverables achieve organizational user / customer experience objectives.
• Routinely engages technology leaders to ensure both alignment and awareness of company product technology trends, directions, and roadmaps.
• Integral to product development and planning in partnership with other departments and senior management.
• Participates in the selection and implementation of appropriate tools and systems to support product development and management.
• Applies knowledge and experience to help solve problems of broad scope and complexity.
• Works cross-functionally to develop and execute product management methodologies, governance, guidelines, and standards.
• Evaluates, understands, and delivers on customer expectations for insurance products and delivery.
• Consistently meets our customer experience standards, including responding quickly, maintaining a positive attitude, building rapport, demonstrating empathy, managing the customer’s expectations, using the proper communication channel for the situation, and taking ownership to ensure the customer’s issue is resolved.
• Performs special projects and other duties as assigned.

What are the must-have qualifications for a candidate?

• 3-5 years of prior experience in commercial lines product management.
• Experience working with cross-functional product delivery teams.
• Experience maintaining products in policy administration and customer portal systems.
• Demonstrated ability to influence others at all levels on key decisions and direction.
• Proven ability to foster a collaborative and productive environment within a team and across the organization.
• Working knowledge of regulatory requirements.
• Able to multitask and solve complex problems.

What will our ideal candidate have?

• Four-year degree in relevant field preferred.
• CPCU designation preferred.
• Proficient use of various core systems and internet-based technologies, office and computer equipment, and software packages.

Compensation overview

The full hiring range for this role is $110,000 - $176,000, annually. However, the base pay offered may vary depending on the job-related knowledge, skills, credentials, and experience of each candidate as well as other factors such as the scope and location of the role. Candidates looking for compensation outside of the posted range are encouraged to apply and will be considered based on their individual qualifications and/or may be considered for other positions.

Culture and Total Rewards

Western National has long been known as “The Relationship Company®” and caring for our employees is part of that relationship commitment. We value connectiveness, empowerment, and accountability, and we believe that our employees are our biggest asset.

Currently ranked as the 41st largest private company by revenue in Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal), Western National has earned accolades year-over-year as an employer of choice and garnered multiple awards for wellness in the workplace. Western National was also named a Star Tribune Top Workplace in 2021, 2022, and 2023. In addition, the Group is consistently recognized as a Ward’s 50 property-and-casualty insurance company for its outstanding financial results.

Western National offers full-time employees a significant Total Rewards Package, including:

• Medical insurance plan options and other standard employee benefits, including dental insurance, vision benefits, life insurance, disability insurance, and more!
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 401(k) Plan (participants are eligible for 100% matching on the first 6% of their contributions)
• Wellbeing Program, including onsite fitness studio
• Paid Time Off – including holiday, vacation, and volunteer
• 100% company-paid tuition reimbursement for approved job-relevant coursework and access to The Institutes (Risk and insurance education)
• Paid parental leave
• Bonus opportunities

Western National believes in supporting balance between work and life by providing a flexible work environment, which includes a variety of hybrid and remote work arrangements designed to balance individual, job, department, and company needs.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Western National provides employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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