Underwriting Trainee - Summer 2025

National Interstate is a member of Great American Insurance Group. As one of the leading commercial transportation insurers in the nation, we offer risk financing solutions in all 50 states tailored to meet the needs of a wide variety of transportation classes. Our offerings include traditional insurance and innovative alternative risk transfer (ART) programs, including more than a dozen group captive programs catering to niche wheels markets. We are proud to be a multiple NorthCoast 99 winner and Cleveland Plain Dealer Top Workplace in Northeast Ohio. It is because of our talented and dedicated team that we are able to live out our company values of integrity, transparency, fairness, accountability, empowerment and collaboration with each transaction we make. If you are ready to join an engaging and driven team such as ours, we would love to hear from you!

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities

Participates in/performs activities related to risk selection/rejection, pricing, retention, growth, and profitability per divisional objectives.

• Learns to use independent judgment and initiative to support business goals.
• Learns to maintain a high level of customer service.
• Learns to analyze coverage and limit requests and to decide what terms to offer.
• Learns to price business in accordance with company guidelines.
• Learns to assess risk quality and compliance within company guidelines and to initiate appropriate loss prevention actions.
• Learns to order and screen miscellaneous reports needed in the rating and underwriting processes, such as Motor Vehicle reports, loss history reports, credit checks, outside inspections, loss control, etc.
• Learns to develop and maintain effective business relationships with internal and external customers/coworkers in order to attract and retain profitable business.
• Interprets, explains, and markets products and services.
• Develops relationships with agents & brokers through telephone interactions.  
• Learns to apply underwriting rules and guidelines, rating manual rules, and insurance laws and regulations.  
• Successfully completes all coursework/education as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned.  

National Interstate and Vanliner’s Graduate Development Program, Ignition 

During the program you will:

• Participate in instructor led, self-paced and on-the-job training, gaining a true understanding of what National Interstate does and how your role fits in the big picture.
• Become immersed in our company by learning our business model and value proposition.
• Gain exposure to other areas of the business outside of your discipline through interactive presentations from industry experts.
• Sharpen professional skills through weekly personal development trainings.
• Develop your professional network with leaders and fellow participants through weekly teambuilding and social activities.

The program is taking place in June 2025. The role will be expected to work in the Richfield, Ohio office.

Job Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Field of Study: Business, Liberal Arts or a related discipline.

Experience: Typically part of a formal training program. 0 to 6 months of experience.

Scope of Job: Performs work under close supervision and technical direction. Relies on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job.  Develops working knowledge of business systems and processes used to perform the functions of the job.  Works within narrowly defined limits and authority on assignments of low complexity.  Position requires occasional travel.

Physical Requirements

• Requires prolonged sitting.
• Requires continuous use of computer.
• May lift, carry, push, or pull objects up to 10 lbs.
• Requires regular and predictable attendance.