Where you'll work As a key business division of AXA XL our Programs business contains Property, Casualty, and Professional Liability risks. As the Head of Programs, the leader of this team will set strategy and direction for the team in support of the Region's and broader organization's goals. In this role, the leader will have full P&L responsibility including accountability for both financial and operational plans ensuring profitable growth along with creating a culture of underwriting excellence and relentless performance management.
The role directly reports to the Head of Wholesale Solutions, whose responsibility includes the enterprise-wide programs strategy.
What you'll be DOING What will your essential responsibilities include?
- Leading all underwriting operations across an integrated insurance company with an extensive network, working in collaboration with colleagues across the Americas to bring Programs products to market, and seeking to ensure sustained profitably and growth.
- Full P&L responsibility for the Programs portfolio, continuously monitoring performance of each program in the portfolio.
- Manage the Programs overall risk appetite in collaboration with the Americas leadership team, including gross and net strategy and property CAT exposure across the portfolio.
- Develop and manage a robust new business pipeline to onboard new program opportunities aligned with our profitability goals.
- Presenting to the Americas CUO and CEO on a regular basis, including coverage of, but not limited to, performance against plan, underwriting strategy updates, and the monitoring of new business initiatives.
- Creating and executing the Americas Programs annual business plan and strategy, ensuring consistency with agreed risk appetites. Responsible for underwriting profit and loss within Americas Programs, including revenue management on a gross and net level, and business acquisition expense management.
- Overseeing the recruitment and retention of key Programs Underwriting staff with leadership, guidance, and motivation in order to maintain a productive, efficient, and competent workforce, all while ensuring that appropriate underwriting governance is maintained through policies, procedures, reviews, audits, and training.
- Promoting the professional growth of a diverse and engaged underwriting community, while planning effectively to maintain the organization's business continuity goals.
- As a member of the Wholesale Solutions Leadership team, the Head of Programs is responsible for a regional business that will achieve sustained top quartile underwriting performance, including innovation and new offerings, pricing, risk appetite, and capital allocation within the product portfolio
What you will BRING We're looking for someone who has these abilities and skills:
People Skills - Analytical & Strategic Mindset: Set and communicate a clear, multi-year direction for the Programs business. Integrate portfolio data, market dynamics, customer insights, and financial implications to make sound strategic decisions and adjust course as conditions evolve.
- Customer Centricity: Place program partners, brokers, and clients at the center of decision-making while balancing customer needs, underwriting discipline, and sustainable profitability. Build an organization that delivers a consistent, responsive, and differentiated experience.
- Agility / Curiosity & Innovation: Anticipate shifts in customer, partner, and market needs, remain curious about emerging risks and opportunities, and adapt strategy and execution as conditions evolve. Encourage experimentation, continuous learning, and responsible innovation across the Programs business.
- Influence: Shape decisions across senior leaders, underwriting teams, and external partners without relying solely on positional authority. Build alignment around strategy, risk appetite, portfolio actions, and change through credible judgment and compelling communication.
Business Skills - Business and (Re)Insurance Acumen: Apply extensive knowledge of the insurance and reinsurance value chain, delegated arrangements, market cycles, financial drivers, and competitive dynamics to lead the Programs P&L and make enterprise-minded decisions.
- Relationship Management: Build and sustain strategic relationships with MGAs, program administrators, brokers, clients, regulators, and colleagues. Establish trust, clarify mutual expectations, resolve complex issues, and create opportunities for profitable growth.
- Presentation /Storytelling: Communicates complex information clearly and persuasively, tailoring the message to the audience and using data, insights, and compelling narratives to influence decisions and drive understanding.
Technical Skills - Portfolio Management: Lead portfolio strategy across Property, Casualty, and Professional Liability Programs. Monitor performance, concentrations, exposures, pricing, terms, and diversification, and direct actions that align the portfolio with risk appetite and P&L objectives.
- Product Knowledge: Applies deep knowledge of relevant insurance products, coverages, exposures, policy structures, and market practices to assess risk, support underwriting decisions, and deliver effective solutions for clients and brokers.
- Natural Hazard Assessment: Applies knowledge of natural hazards, catastrophe risk, exposure data, and relevant modeling and assessment techniques to evaluate risk, identify potential vulnerabilities, and inform underwriting and risk-management decisions.
Essential Position Information- Location clarity: Located at a current AXA XL office location (NY, PA, CT, MA, AZ, CA) Work arrangement and primary office location will be confirmed for the selected hiring market.
- Employment type: Full-time.
- Working hours: Standard business hours, with flexibility to support business and market needs across the Americas.
- Experience: Extensive, progressively responsible experience in Programs and Delegated Authority, including leadership of complex underwriting portfolios, full P&L accountability, portfolio and risk-appetite management, delegated underwriting governance, and strategic relationships with MGAs and program administrators.
- Education and credentials: Bachelor's degree in Risk Management, Insurance, Business, Finance, or a related field preferred. Advanced degree or relevant insurance designation, such as CPCU, is valued.
- Travel requirements: Over 30% and as business needs require.
- Work authorization: Applicants for this role must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.
The U.S. base salary range for this position is USD
$181,400 to $336,800. Actual pay will be determined based on the individual's skills, experience, and location. We strive for market alignment and internal equity with our colleagues' pay.
At AXA XL, we know how important physical, mental, and financial health are to our employees. We offer benefits such as an enterprising retirement savings plan, health and wellness programs, and a wide range of learning opportunities to help colleagues develop their professional skills and prepare for the next step in their careers.
At AXA XL, we know how important physical, mental, and financial health are to our employees, which is why we are proud to offer benefits such as an enterprising retirement savings plan, health and wellness programs, and many other benefits. We also believe in fostering our colleagues' development and offer a wide range of learning opportunities for colleagues to hone their professional skills and to position themselves for the next step of their careers. For more details about AXA XL's benefits offerings, please visit US Benefits at a Glance 2026.
