General Description:
The Director of Underwriting is responsible for the strategic leadership, operational management, and technical excellence of Commercial and Personal Lines underwriting operations. This position provides leadership for Line and Staff Underwriting functions and is accountable for profitable risk selection, underwriting quality, operational efficiency, service excellence, regulatory compliance, and talent development.
The Director partners closely with Product Management, Sales, Claims, Actuarial, Information Technology, Compliance, Accounting, and other key stakeholders to develop and execute underwriting strategies that support profitable growth, operational excellence, strong business relationships, and competitive market positioning.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Underwriting Strategy & Portfolio Management
- Develop and execute underwriting strategies that support profitable growth across Commercial and Personal Lines.
- Establish and maintain underwriting appetite, eligibility guidelines, referral authority, and risk selection standards.
- Monitor portfolio performance, market trends, catastrophe exposures, and competitive conditions and recommend appropriate actions.
- Partner with Product Management and Actuarial/Pricing to evaluate profitability, product performance, and competitive positioning.
- Recommend underwriting guidelines, coverage, and product enhancements based on portfolio results and market conditions.
- Develop and oversee action plans to address underperforming products, territories, agencies, or business segments.
Operational & Talent Leadership
- Establish underwriting department goals, priorities, and performance expectations aligned with corporate strategic objectives.
- Direct underwriting operations to achieve established service, quality, productivity, and customer experience standards.
- Oversee staffing, workload distribution, workflows, and operational efficiency.
- Develop and enhance underwriting processes and procedures to improve consistency, quality, automation, and service.
- Lead, coach, and develop underwriting leaders and staff, including performance management, career development, and succession planning.
- Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, employee engagement, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure appropriate underwriting education, technical training, and professional development programs are in place.
Data, Technology & Performance Management
- Utilize data and analytics to monitor underwriting trends, portfolio and agency performance, premium leakage, operational effectiveness, and underwriting consistency.
- Establish and monitor underwriting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and dashboards and implement corrective action plans when appropriate.
- Provide business leadership for underwriting technology initiatives, workflow automation, and system enhancements.
- Partner with Information Technology to establish business requirements, prioritize underwriting technology initiatives, and support system and product implementations.
- Ensure underwriting systems and processes support established guidelines, operational requirements, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Present underwriting performance, key trends, risks, and action plans to senior and executive leadership.
Agency & Market Relationships
- Develop and maintain effective relationships with key agency and business partners.
- Partner with Territory Sales Managers on agency performance, underwriting strategy, and relationship management.
- Participate in strategic agency meetings and assist with the resolution of complex underwriting and service matters.
- Represent the Company at appropriate industry meetings and professional organizations.
Vendor Management, Compliance & Governance
- Provide oversight of underwriting-related vendors and programs, including inspection, consumer reporting, premium audit, and loss control services.
- Monitor vendor performance, service quality, contractual requirements, invoice accuracy, and operational effectiveness.
- Ensure underwriting practices comply with applicable state insurance regulations, underwriting authority guidelines, consumer protection requirements, corporate governance standards, and internal controls.
- Partner with Compliance and Legal, as appropriate, regarding regulatory requirements and underwriting-related compliance matters.
- Support responses to Department of Insurance inquiries, consumer complaints, market conduct examinations, and regulatory or internal audits.
Cross-Functional & Strategic Leadership
- Collaborate with Product Management, Sales, Claims, Actuarial, Information Technology, Compliance, Accounting, and Customer Service to align underwriting strategy with profitability, growth, operational capabilities, and customer experience.
- Participate in strategic corporate initiatives and underwriting-related projects.
- Support mergers, acquisitions, book transfers, and other business initiatives, as applicable.
- Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.
Perform other duties as required.
Supplemental Information:
This job description has been prepared to indicate the general nature and level of the work that the employees perform within their classification. This description is not and cannot be interpreted as an inventory of all the duties, tasks, responsibilities and qualifications required for the employees assigned to this job.
Education and/or Experience:
Bachelor's degree required; MBA and/or CPCU preferred.
Minimum of 10 years of carrier underwriting experience, primarily within Commercial Lines. Experience across multiple lines of business preferred; Personal Lines experience is a plus.
Minimum of 5 years of progressive underwriting leadership and management experience, including responsibility for performance management and employee development.
Demonstrated experience developing and implementing underwriting strategies, programs, guidelines, processes, and procedures.
Experience with underwriting operations, quality assurance, vendor management, loss control, premium audit, and agency performance management.
Demonstrated experience utilizing data and analytics to evaluate underwriting results, identify trends, and implement corrective action plans.
Experience with underwriting systems, workflow improvement, automation, and technology implementations.
Strong knowledge of applicable insurance regulatory requirements and underwriting compliance practices.
Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop teams and establish effective succession and talent development strategies.
Strong analytical, business judgment, communication, and decision-making skills.
Proven ability to collaborate effectively across functions and influence stakeholders at various levels of the organization.
Experience developing and presenting results, recommendations, and strategic initiatives to senior and executive leadership.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and potentially conflicting responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to travel as required.
Licenses and / or Certifications:
CPCU preferred. but not required.
Language:
Effective ability to communicate in English orally and in written form with management, internal and external customers, including ability to provide highly effective customer service. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, procedures, or regulations. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from internal and external business partners /customers. Spanish speaking skills are a plus, but not required.
Math Skills:
General mathematical skills as required from general educational studies.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be complied with by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The employee may be required to sit in front of a computer monitor for long periods of time, generally for 6 to 8 hours each workday, with employee being able to take breaks throughout the day as necessary.
The work is in the office and is considered a sedentary position. It may require occasional walking and standing in addition to sitting at a desk. It may require lifting of items, but at any time no more than 10-20 pounds typically.
Work Environment:
The characteristics of the work environment here described are those that represent what the employee does while he/she performs the essential duties of the job. The company can reasonably accommodate disabled employees so that they can accomplish the essential functions of the job.
For on-site employees, the work is done in the interior of the building at normal temperature, air conditioning, good illumination, clean areas with minimal risks.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Off-site employees are exposed to temperature changes and moderate noise levels.
Competencies:
Adaptability
This competency measures employees' ability to understand the purpose behind change. Employees with adaptability understand that any change needs to be communicated with a comprehensive approach to facilitate the process of adjustment. These employees can be flexible and work in a wide variety of situations, with individuals or groups. They effectively modify their behaviors to manage change. They understand and appreciate differences and opposite perspectives. Adaptable employees understand how the ability of accepting and managing change makes possible the accomplishment of organizational objectives.
Application of functional and organizational knowledge
This competency is focused on employees' technical and organizational knowledge and how these are applied for the benefit of the organization. Employees possess the skills and knowledge required for the position; and perform their duties competently. They align their own behaviors with the needs, priorities and objectives of the organization and act in such a way as to promote the company's objectives and needs. They perform tasks within given time, avoid unnecessary interruptions and plan their time to comply with standards and achieve desired results. They understand how their decisions impact the organization. They demonstrate the ability to apply their knowledge in everyday situations to obtain expected results. They show interest in developing new knowledge and skills. They are considered a learning resource for their teammates.
Strategic and analytical capabilitiesThis competency focuses on the skills that allow employees to anticipate future situations (advantages and threats) by performing a series of planned actions and by making decisions that are beneficial to the business. Employees with this competency are able to analyze and understand situations from several perspectives. They demonstrate the ability to organize a problem or situation in a systematic way and can establish comparisons from different angles. They recommend action plans to meet objectives of the organization without losing perspective of its mission and vision.
Communication and interpersonal relationships
This competency is focused on the employees' ability to transmit clear ideas to customers, colleagues and leaders to facilitate the communication process and to achieve the goals of the team. Employees with strong communication and interpersonal skills are able to listen carefully to understand the information and can respond with empathy. They promote an environment of professional respect which helps to maintain excellent working relationships.
Leadership and human development
The competency of leadership and human development is focused on having the ability which allows individuals to influence, support and direct others. Leaders that demonstrate this competency are able to identify strengths and opportunities in their employees. They provide a work environment where employees can turn their abilities and potential into action. They also create development plans for the continuity of learning of their team. They promote the effective achievement of results. These leaders communicate objectives and provide feedback on team members' demonstrated ability to meet these goals in a timely and clear manner to maximize their performance. They recognize errors, learn from their mistakes and take corrective action.
Personal accountability and resources administration
This competency focuses on employees' demonstrated commitment and dedication to their obligations. Employees fulfill their duties in a variety of situations at work. They show responsibility in abiding by policies and regulations governing the business. They show skills to administer entrusted resources with responsibility and care.
