[Hiring] Commercial Underwriter @First American

Role Description

First American is seeking a Commercial Underwriter to support energy and renewable energy transactions. In this role, you will apply your underwriting and title insurance expertise, research skills, and attention to detail to help support the development, financing, acquisition, and closing of energy projects.

• Work on transactions involving solar, wind, battery storage, transmission, utility-scale development, distributed generation, and other energy-related assets.
• Help identify, analyze, and resolve title issues that may impact site control, project financing, construction, operation, or transfer of energy and renewable energy assets.
• Collaborate with internal teams, title partners, escrow professionals, customers, and outside counsel to support the title process from search and review through commitment, endorsement, policy, and closing.

This is an opportunity to bring your title and underwriting experience into a growing and highly specialized area of the energy market.

What You’ll Do

• Provide underwriting support, and authorization to company personnel and customers related to the issuance of real estate title insurance commitments and policies.
• Utilize underwriting standards and guidelines within delegated authority limits, to underwrite the issuance of title insurance.
• Review complete title searches for energy and renewable energy transactions in accordance with local practices and corporate standards.
• Analyze property records, including liens, judgments, easements, leases, mineral rights, access rights, tax records, surveys, vital statistics, and other documents affecting real property.
• Review legal descriptions, vesting, encumbrances, exceptions, leasehold interests, site control documents, and other title matters affecting energy and renewable energy projects.
• Identify title issues that may impact project development, financing, acquisition, construction, operation, or closing.
• Support transactions involving solar, wind, battery storage, transmission, utility-scale development, distributed generation, and other energy-related assets.
• Review and approve documentation including deeds, leases, easements, operating agreements, corporate resolutions, affidavits, curative documents, and other transaction-related instruments.
• Select appropriate write-ups for commitments and policies for both standard and extended coverage.
• Properly price commitments, endorsements, policies, and guarantees using the appropriate schedule of fees and charges.
• Coordinate with title, escrow, legal, and customer teams to resolve title issues and move transactions forward.
• Communicate clearly with internal and external partners regarding title requirements, exceptions, curative needs, and closing-related matters.
• In some regions or locations, consult with attorneys to review search packages and escalate matters requiring legal guidance.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years title underwriting experience, commercial experience preferred.
• Experience with title transactions involving energy, renewable energy, utilities, land acquisition, project finance, energy infrastructure, or large multi-site portfolios.
• Renewable energy transaction experience is strongly preferred; experience with utility-scale solar, wind, battery storage, transmission, project finance, land acquisition, or energy infrastructure matters is a plus.
• Strong understanding of title insurance concepts, commitments, policies, endorsements, exceptions, and closing requirements.
• Familiarity with real property interests commonly involved in energy projects, such as leases, easements, access rights, mineral rights, survey matters, and legal descriptions.
• Ability to analyze complex property records and identify title matters that may affect development, financing, construction, operation, or transfer of energy assets.
• Natural curiosity and an interest in researching property history, land rights, ownership, and recorded documents.
• Proven problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate issues, gather information, and support practical resolutions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with internal teams, customers, underwriting partners, escrow professionals, and outside counsel.
• Ability to navigate internal and external resources to answer questions and resolve title issues.
• Professional, customer-focused approach with a positive and solutions-oriented attitude.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple transactions and priorities.
• Comfort guiding, supporting, and sharing knowledge with others as they grow in the title insurance field.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and the ability to quickly adapt to new software applications and technologies.
• Flexibility, organization, and the ability to multitask while handling multiple aspects of title support.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401k, PTO/paid sick leave.
• Employee stock purchase plan.