Commercial Insurance Placement Advisor

Bell Bank•Bloomington, MN

About The Position

The Commercial Insurance Placement Advisor is the technical architect behind our commercial insurance programs. This role analyzes client risk, designs marketing strategies, negotiates with underwriters, and ensures policies are placed accurately and competitively. This role partners closely with producers to drive new business and renewal success while maintaining strong carrier relationships and deep market knowledge.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, risk management, insurance, or a related field; or equivalent experience.
6 - 8 years of progressive commercial insurance experience in marketing, placement, underwriting, or complex risk analysis.
Ability to analyze risk exposures, financial statements, loss runs, contracts, and program structures.
Strong quantitative ability to interpret actuarial projections, loss trends, and exposure modeling.
Ability to build coverage comparisons, analyze competing quotations, and recommend strategic placements.
Skilled at solving complex risk challenges through creative program design.
Exceptional negotiation skills with the ability to advocate for clients while maintaining strong carrier relationships.
Ability to influence underwriting outcomes and escalate challenging submissions through well-established networks.
Ability to translate complex coverage structures into clear, client-ready explanations.
High professional integrity, confidentiality, and accountability.
Highly detail-oriented, with strong organizational and time-management skills.

Nice To Haves

3 - 5 years as a middle market or complex risk underwriting is preferred.
Certifications such as CPCU, CIC, CRM are preferred.
Experience working directly with middle market or large/complex commercial accounts.

Responsibilities

Risk Strategy, Marketing & Negotiation
Conduct thorough review of client exposures, including applications, financials, COIs, contracts, supplemental questionnaires, loss runs, and historical program structures.
Determine market strategy: identify which carriers, programs, or specialty markets best align with the client’s risk profile and appetite.
Prepare complete underwriting submissions, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and appropriate risk positioning.
Manage the marketing timeline across admitted and E&S carriers, tracking quote progress and anticipating underwriting requests.
Lead all negotiations with underwriters on pricing, terms, conditions, deductibles/SIRs, manuscript endorsements, and coverage structure.
Prepare side-by-side comparisons and coverage analyses to support internal recommendations on carrier selection.
Program Design, Proposal Development & Placement Execution
Translate client needs into well‑designed insurance programs, considering both traditional and alternative risk approaches.
Draft proposals, marketing narratives, renewal strategies, and executive-ready presentations for producers.
Analyze gaps, exclusions, and policy language to recommend improvements or alternative solutions.
Coordinate binding, including accuracy of binder terms, subjectivities, and conditional approvals.
Oversee issuance and quality control: confirm all policies, endorsements, schedules, and forms match negotiated terms.
Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, lender/contract obligations, and internal documentation standards.
Support risk consulting efforts by identifying mitigation strategies, loss control opportunities, and long-term program recommendations.
Market Intelligence, Relationships & Technical Expertise
Maintain strong day-to-day relationships with carrier underwriters, marketing reps, senior line managers, and specialty brokers.
Leverage market relationships to escalate difficult negotiations, secure creative solutions, or expedite complex submissions.
Track shifts in market conditions (rate movement, capacity changes, appetite updates) and advise producers proactively.
Develop expertise in key industry verticals or coverage lines to support complex or niche business opportunities.
Stay current on regulatory, legislative, and industry trends impacting risk and coverage needs.
Maintain robust data in the agency management system (EPIC, Origami, Advisen), including submission tracking, quote documentation, and policy details.
Serve as a technical resource for producers and account managers, providing insight on coverage structure, underwriting strategy, and market positioning.
Bell Bank Culture, Policy and Accountability Standards:
Know by name and face as many customers and employees as possible, calling them by name as often as possible.
Know and practice LOCBUTN, our Golden Rules, and Bell Bank Customer Service Standards.
Know, understand, and live the company values and bottom line.
Conduct activities consistent with established Bell Bank policies, procedures and systems, the Bell Bank Employee Conduct policies, the Bank Secrecy Act and all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
All employees are responsible for information security, including compliance with policies and standards which protect sensitive information.
Prompt and reliable attendance.
Perform other duties as assigned.