Manager of Underwriting Operations

About Kinetic Backed by Nationwide, we’re transforming workers’ comp with technology-driven solutions for injury prediction, prevention, and management—helping employers create safer, healthier workplaces. We also work directly with enterprise clients. Our platform is built for labor intensive industries including parcel delivery, manufacturing, and wholesale/warehousing operations. From wearable tech that reduces strain and sprain injuries by over 60% to a tech-driven program that speeds up return-to-work and generative AI for claims management, we're redefining what workers' comp can do. We’re a remote-first team headquartered in New York City, growing fast—10x in the past two years—and driven by accountability, continuous improvement, and collaboration. If you're excited to build a career with impact, we’d love to meet you. Kinetic has been named to: Business Insurance's Best Place to Work in Insurance 2025. The Role The Manager of Underwriting Operations owns the operational engine connecting Kinetic’s distribution partners to our underwriting and policy outcomes. You will make sure submissions move through the funnel quickly and accurately, bound policies are processed and serviced without error, commissions and dividends are paid correctly and on time, and brokers receive the white-glove experience Kinetic is known for — all at a continuously improving cost per bound submission. You will lead an operations team (located in the Philippines) that executes this work, owning capacity planning, training, quality-assurance and audit programs, goal-setting and performance tracking, and the development of the lead who reports to you through coaching, skip-level engagement, and escalation support. What You'll Own Submission operations Oversee intake, clearance, and data accuracy so that every cleared submission is accurate and underwriter-ready within service-level targets, supported by a reliable follow-up system for any outstanding items. Post-bind processing Manage policy issuance, endorsements, cancellations, reinstatements, and audit support within bind-to-renewal service-level targets, with no broker-visible rework and every action and communication documented in our core systems. Maintain a dependable follow-up system for outstanding items across the bind-to-renewal cycle. Broker experience Own the end-to-end broker experience through the funnel: acknowledgment speed, status transparency, declination handling, automated communications — including the judgment to recognize when automation is not appropriate — and case and ticket management. Take responsibility for the full experience, including the dependencies and constraints that sit with our capacity partners and other factors beyond your direct control. Data integrity Ensure that all data and communications are documented in our core systems, and that workflows and service-level standards are documented in their current state and transparent to any team member who needs them. Keep dividend data accurate and audit-ready at all times, including timely review actions at defined post-issuance milestones with capacity partners to ensure prompt review and payment. Own dividend calculation accuracy, on-time payment, reconciliation, and dispute resolution, and maintain rigorous quality-assurance processes that catch errors early — before internal stakeholders or external partners do. Automation and continuous improvement Identify and quantify automation opportunities across distribution, pre-bind, and post-bind operations, steadily improving accuracy and driving down the cost per bound submission over time. Partnership with Product Identify operational problems, quantify their impact, and build the business case for solutions in partnership with our Product team. Product owns prioritization, solution design, and delivery; once a solution ships, you re-engage to own adoption and measure realized benefit against the original business case. What You'll Bring Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field preferred. Five or more years of experience in insurance operations, with experience at an MGA, carrier, or wholesale broker required; workers’ compensation or broader property and casualty insurance experience strongly preferred. Demonstrated success leading and developing multi-level teams, including experience managing distributed or global operations teams. Deep understanding of the insurance policy lifecycle, including submissions, clearance, policy issuance, endorsements, dividends, cancellations, reinstatements, and premium audit. Proven track record of managing service-level agreements (SLAs) and operational performance metrics while driving improvements in accuracy, efficiency, turnaround time, and cost. Proficiency with CRM platforms such as Salesforce, with a strong commitment to maintaining complete, accurate, and timely system documentation. Strong analytical and financial acumen, with the ability to develop data-driven business cases for operational investments and process improvements. Demonstrated strategic planning and project management capabilities, with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives from planning through execution. Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels. Experience thriving in a fast-paced, high-growth, and evolving business environment. Strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making skills. Experience mapping, optimizing, and standardizing business processes to improve operational effectiveness. Understanding of cultural differences and best practices for collaborating and communicating effectively across global teams preferred. What we offer: Fully distributed, remote team across all continental US time zones Medical, dental, and vision insurance 20 vacation days per year 9 federal holidays off Parental Leave Pre-tax 401k contribution HSA with compatible health plans FREE: Health Advocate FREE: Telehealth Membership FREE: OneMedical Account Compensation The base pay range for this role is $110,000 – $140,000 per year.