Description
Are you an experienced insurance underwriting professional looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful impact while advancing your career?
CIS is seeking an exceptional Underwriter III, Underwriter IV, or Underwriter V to join our Underwriting & Analytics team. This role offers the opportunity to apply your technical underwriting expertise, influence risk management strategies, collaborate with industry professionals, and help deliver innovative coverage solutions that protect Oregon's public entities and the communities they serve.
If you're energized by analyzing complex risks, exercising sound underwriting judgment, and partnering with stakeholders to develop practical solutions, we invite you to explore this exciting opportunity.
Why CIS?
At CIS, our work matters. We provide essential risk management, insurance, and related services to public entities throughout Oregon. Our team is committed to helping members navigate evolving risks while delivering outstanding service.
When you join CIS, you'll enjoy:
Meaningful work that supports local governments and public services.
A collaborative and mission-driven culture.
Opportunities to influence underwriting strategy and decision-making.
Exposure to complex and unique public entity risks.
Professional development and industry networking opportunities.
Cross-functional collaboration with risk management, claims, actuarial, finance, and member service professionals.
A healthy work-life balance, including a 37.5-hour workweek.
During training, you may be required to work up to three (3) days per week in our Wilsonville Office. After the training period, the number of days required in the office may be reduced. Other days may be worked remotely from your Oregon residence.
Position Summary
The Underwriter III, Underwriter IV, or Underwriter V serves a critical role in evaluating and managing property and liability risks while supporting the organization's underwriting strategy and operational excellence.
This position applies increasingly advanced underwriting expertise based on level, evaluates complex submissions, provides technical guidance, reviews property valuation information, supports underwriting systems and data integrity, and partners with internal and external stakeholders to achieve successful risk management outcomes. Senior-level incumbents additionally contribute to underwriting program development, strategic initiatives, member engagement, and organizational leadership.
Key Responsibilities
Underwriting & Risk Analysis
- Analyze and evaluate complex property and liability risks.
- Apply underwriting judgment to determine appropriate coverage terms, limits, pricing, and conditions.
- Review non-standard or unusual exposures and develop recommendations.
- Communicate underwriting decisions and rationale to members, brokers, reinsurers, and internal stakeholders.
- Review and analyze coverage documents to determine how and if coverage applies.
- Evaluate prospective members for program eligibility consistent with CIS policies and governing documents.
Property & Exposure Management
- Manage and oversee the property appraisal process.
- Review valuation methodologies, schedules, and appraisal data for reasonableness and accuracy.
- Identify discrepancies, trends, and emerging risk concerns
- Technical Leadership
- Serve as a subject matter expert for underwriting systems and data.
- Provide guidance to underwriting staff regarding complex submissions and guideline interpretation.
- Support consistency and quality across underwriting operations.
- Mentor and support less experienced underwriting staff as appropriate to position level.
Strategic Contributions
- Assist with development of underwriting guidelines, program enhancements, and rating methodologies.
- Partner with internal teams to improve workflows, systems, reporting, and operational effectiveness.
- Participate in industry conferences, member meetings, and professional development opportunities.
- Recommend changes to underwriting programs, rating plans, policies, procedures, coverages, and partnerships to meet evolving member needs.
- Monitor underwriting marketplace and regulatory developments and recommend enhancements to CIS programs and services.
- Collaborate with reinsurers, actuaries, auditors, loss data analysts, risk management professionals, and legal partners.
- Provide underwriting data, analysis, and reports to internal and external stakeholders.
- Represent CIS through presentations, member meetings, conferences, and industry events.
Join Our Team
If you're ready to leverage your underwriting expertise in a role where your work directly supports Oregon's public entities and communities, we encourage you to apply.
Interested in Joining CIS? Here’s What to Do Next:
Applying is easy! CIS uses a “quick apply” process — simply submit your resume and answer a few brief questions through GovernmentJobs.com.
To learn more about this opportunity and about working at CIS, visit our Careers Page.
This recruitment may be used to fill current and future vacancies within CIS.
Equal Opportunity & Accommodations
CIS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process and employment.
Bring your underwriting experience. Expand your influence. Help shape the future of public entity risk management at CIS.
Requirements
Qualifications
Underwriter III
We're looking for strong underwriting professionals who bring:
Required
- 5-6 years of commercial insurance underwriting experience, public entity underwriting experience, or closely related insurance experience.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate risk and make sound underwriting decisions.
- Strong knowledge of property and liability underwriting principles.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Candidates with any of the following qualifications are encouraged to apply:
Experience working in a risk pool environment
Risk management or insurance services experience
Experience with public entity or governmental risks
Underwriter IV
For candidates seeking placement at the Underwriter IV level:
Required
- 7-8+ years of progressively responsible underwriting experience
- Advanced technical underwriting expertise
- Demonstrated ability to handle highly complex risk situations and provide technical guidance to others
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
At least ONE of the following professional qualifications:
- Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU)
- Associate in Risk Management (ARM)
- Associate in Commercial Underwriting (AU/AIU) or similar designation
- Property & Casualty Insurance License
Underwriter V
For candidates seeking placement at the Underwriter V level:
Required
- 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in commercial insurance underwriting, public entity pooling, risk management, or a related field.
- Expert knowledge of property and liability underwriting principles and coverage analysis.
- Proven ability to independently handle highly complex underwriting situations and develop practical risk management solutions.
- Demonstrated ability to recommend enhancements to underwriting programs, coverages, rating methodologies, policies, and procedures.
- Strong relationship management and communication skills, including the ability to effectively work with members, brokers, agents, reinsurers, auditors, actuaries, and executive stakeholders.
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in insurance administration, business management, or a related field.
At least ONE of the following professional qualifications:
- Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU)
- Associate in Risk Management (ARM)
- Associate in Commercial Underwriting (AU/AIU) or similar designation
- Property & Casualty Insurance License
Preferred
Experience working in a public entity pool or similar risk-sharing organization.
Risk management or insurance services experience.
Experience with public sector, municipal, governmental, or other complex institutional risks.
The Ideal Candidate
You are:
- A confident underwriting professional who enjoys solving complex challenges.
- Comfortable making decisions and explaining your reasoning.
- Relationship-focused and highly collaborative.
- Curious, analytical, and committed to continuous improvement.
- Passionate about helping organizations effectively manage risk.
- Excited to contribute beyond day-to-day underwriting and help shape strategy for the future.
- Able to influence underwriting practices, mentor colleagues, and contribute to organizational success at a strategic level.
Position Level:
The successful candidate may be hired at the Underwriter III, Underwriter IV, or Underwriter V level based on experience, credentials, demonstrated expertise, and organizational needs.
Underwriter III: Typically requires 5–6 years of related underwriting experience.
Underwriter IV: Typically requires 7–8+ years of related underwriting experience and at least one listed professional credential.
Underwriter V: Typically requires 10+ years of progressively responsible underwriting experience, advanced technical expertise, demonstrated success managing highly complex risks, and the ability to contribute to underwriting program strategy and organizational initiatives.
CIS offers a competitive benefits package, professional development opportunities, and a supportive workplace focused on employee success.
