Title: Middle Market Casualty Principal Commercial Underwriter
Location: Los Angeles United States
Job Description:
We are Farmers where ambition meets opportunity.
At Farmers, were not just known for unforgettable jingle were a team with a passion for purpose and making a real difference in peoples lives. We deliver peace of mind when it matters most. Our results-driven, high-performance culture thrives on creativity, accountability and bold solutions. Here, growth isnt just a goal its a way of life for both the organization and every individual on our team. We tackle challenges head-on, learn from every experience and measure our impact on the customers who trust us.
Join an award-winning, equal opportunity employer, where youll find more than a job youll find a supportive community. Enjoy competitive benefits, take part in meaningful volunteer projects, and help shape the future alongside talented colleagues across all backgrounds. At Farmers, helping others is at the heart of what we do.
Workplace: Hybrid ( #LI-Hybrid ), Remote ( #LI-Remote )
Farmers believes in a culture of collaboration, creativity, and innovation, which thrives when we have the ability to work flexibly in a virtual setting as well as the opportunity to be together in person. Our hybrid work environment combines the best of both worlds with at least three (3) days in office and up to two (2) days virtual for employees who live within fifty (50) miles of a Farmers corporate office. Applicants beyond fifty (50) miles may still be considered.
Job Summary
This position is the technical authority and strategic lead for middle market and complex commercial risks within assigned industry segments. The role is accountable for the profitability, performance, and long-term health of the portfolio, underwriting the organizations most complex and highest-value accounts while shaping underwriting philosophy and risk selection. As a recognized industry expert, this role provides advanced technical leadership and market influence, partnering with agents, field leadership, and enterprise stakeholders to drive disciplined growth, strategic agency engagement, and sustainable portfolio outcomes.
Essential Job Functions
- Serves as the technical underwriter and recognized subject matter expert for middle market and complex commercial risks, including industry-specific, multi-location, and multi-jurisdictional exposures.
- Exercises high levels of individual underwriting authority, independently evaluating, pricing, and structuring coverage for the organizations most complex and highest-value accounts across multiple lines of business.
- Owns portfolio-level results for assigned industry segments, including profitability, growth, retention, pricing adequacy, overall risk mix, and long-term portfolio health.
- Interprets and applies complex coverage forms, endorsements, and manuscript language, providing expert guidance on non-standard and emerging exposures within the assigned segment and influencing underwriting philosophy and risk appetite.
- Identifies portfolio trends, loss drivers, and emerging risks; develops and recommends action plans to improve results, support disciplined risk selection, and sustain long-term performance across market cycles.
- Acts as a trusted advisor to agents and brokers, leading sophisticated underwriting discussions, negotiating terms, positioning underwriting decisions in competitive or challenging market conditions, and influencing strategic agency engagement and relationship outcomes.
- Partners with underwriting leadership and enterprise stakeholders to develop and execute industry-specific underwriting strategy, including appetite definition, authority guidelines, risk selection philosophy, and segment-level strategic positioning.
- Provides technical leadership and mentorship, collaborating with claims, loss control, actuarial, and marketing partners while representing the underwriting function internally and externally as a recognized industry authority. Performs other duties as assigned.
Education Requirements
- High School Diploma or equivalent required. Bachelors degree preferred.
- Professional designations such as CRIS (construction), MRIS (manufacturing and wholesale), CPCU, AU, or ARM, are preferred.
Experience Requirements
- 10+ years of commercial underwriting experience, with demonstrated experience underwriting complex middle market accounts within an industry segment such as Construction or Manufacturing and Wholesale.
Additional Qualification
Demonstrated analytical skills. Demonstrates excellent judgment and decision making skills. Effective negotiation skills. Ability to influence internal and/or external constituents. Effective leadership skills.
Physical Actions
Job is performed in-person at a Farmers office or virtually at an approved alternative work location. The physical work environment is indoors and climate-controlled with adequate lighting and ventilation. Normal and customary distractions include background noise produced by office equipment and chatter among people, as well as interruptions. Frequently sits for prolonged periods of time, up to a full shift. Occasionally moves about the workplace including, navigating stairs, ramps, and level or uneven surfaces. Occasionally moves, pushes, pulls, lifts, carries, and/or places objects or materials weighing up to 25 pounds without assistance. Frequently uses shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers to manipulate equipment, tools, and objects necessary to perform job duties. Frequently performs fine motor tasks such as typing, mousing, or writing, up to a full shift. Rarely performs movements such as bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling, twisting, and reaching overhead or below the knees. Possesses clear vision, with or without correction, to visually read and verify information. Relies on depth perception and peripheral vision to navigate the work environment visually by identifying barriers, changes in terrain and locating objects. Possesses adequate hearing, with or without correction, to communicate with co-workers, respond promptly to auditory signals or alarms, and discern sounds essential for maintaining safety and productivity in the workplace. Jobs in this category require rare, if any, travel.
Benefits
- Farmers offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, qualifications and location.
o CA Only: $102,450 - $174,240
o CO Only: $96,075 - $150,260
o HI/IL/MN/VT Only: $96,075 - $160,710
o MA Only: $96,075 - $160,710
- o MD Only: $96,075 - $160,710
o DC/NJ/NY/OH Only: $96,075 - $174,240
o Albany County, NY/Cleveland, OH: $102,450 - $150,260
o WA Only: $96,075 - $182,625
- Bonus Opportunity (based on Company and Individual Performance)
- 401(k)
- Medical
- Dental
- Vision
- Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts
- Life Insurance
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Parental Leave
- Tuition Assistance
Job Location(s): R_US - United States
