Executive Underwriter

We are seeking a highly experienced Underwriting Leader to oversee and direct our underwriting operations. As part of our team, you will have the opportunity to grow, contribute, and gain experience that matters.

This position is fully remote and can be based anywhere in the U.S.

• You will oversee and direct the underwriting operations within the business unit, ensuring adherence to established guidelines while contributing to the development and implementation of new underwriting standards specific to the Specialty unit.
• You will demonstrate sound and effective underwriting practices across all individual accounts, lines, and business classes within the unit.
• You will review and manage referrals beyond Assistant Manager and Manager authority, providing well-founded recommendations for complex cases, including challenging accounts, strategic communication approaches, and agency relationship management, with clear justification for proposed actions.
• You will continuously monitor business performance to ensure underwriters operate within designated authority limits, established guidelines, and service directives, while maintaining alignment between pricing and quality across the portfolio and achieving targeted rate objectives.
• You will engage in strategic collaboration with Industry Segment Leaders to define underwriting policies and procedures, establishing both short-term and long-term objectives.
• You will play a key role in the unit's five-year business plan, leading discussions on underwriting trends and their impact on overall profitability.
• You will contribute to the formulation and execution of underwriting guidelines, pricing models, and business strategies to enhance operational effectiveness.
• You will partner with Industry Segment Leaders to develop and implement targeted approaches for addressing profitability challenges, ensuring seamless communication of these strategies across the underwriting department.
• You will work in close coordination with regional offices, Sales Directors, Territory Managers, and Specialty Unit Industry Segment Leaders to devise and execute comprehensive initiatives aimed at expanding specialty lines offerings.
• You will engage collaboratively with team members to establish performance objectives, systematically monitoring progress, conducting evaluations, and providing strategic coaching.
• You will oversee the recruitment process, including interviewing candidates, making hiring decisions, and recommending salary adjustments.
• You will lead succession planning efforts by identifying high-potential talent and establishing development strategies for critical roles.
• You will champion diversity and inclusion initiatives, fostering an environment of innovation by supporting new ideas and guiding potential improvements.
• You will work closely with the Business Unit Human Resources Business Partner Manager to assess departmental and individual training needs, ensuring effective delivery.
• You will meet with and educate agents to develop their understanding of products, specialty underwriting appetite, systems and services to help generate a flow of quality new business opportunities.
• You will work with the Industry Segment Leaders to deliver effective presentations to existing and potential new agents as well as agent associations to develop and strengthen brand in the marketplace and agents impression of company.
• You will analyze insurance trends within the specialty unit across the United States, focusing on general coverages, rates, and market conditions.
• You will continuously monitor the competitive marketplace by tracking the strategies of competitors, regulatory changes, and economic factors that may influence market dynamics.
• You will possess a comprehensive understanding of the legal landscape across the United States, actively analyzing evolving legislation and shifting market dynamics to ensure strategic alignment with business unit objectives.
• You will provide detailed recommendations for value-added services or coverages to enhance competitiveness.
• You will coordinate with other business units, such as Lines of Business (LOB), Claims, Marketing, Premium Audit, and Loss Control, to identify and address improvement opportunities that will drive profitable growth and mitigate threats to profitability.

The following skills and qualifications are required for this position:

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in insurance or business administration or equivalent relevant experience
• Ten years of commercial lines underwriting experience, preferably in specialty segment classes (Transportation, Petroleum Marketers, Dealerships, Telecommunications, Amusement/Recreation)
• Five years of experience leading underwriting teams, mentoring underwriters and overseeing underwriting operations
• CPCU designation or other underwriting-related designation(s) preferred

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• A competitive salary range of $138,330-$198,267 or $152,515-$218,599 depending on location
• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• A dynamic and supportive work environment
• A commitment to diversity and inclusion