THE OPPORTUNITYThis is a senior leadership role with full accountability for the personal lines and small commercial business unit - a segment that sits at the heart of our community-focused strategy. You will own the book, lead the team, and shape how we grow. This is not a role for someone who wants to manage the status quo; it's for a leader who sees opportunity in this market and wants the authority and support to act on it. Success in year one means a high-performing team, improved retention metrics, and a clear growth plan that the executive team is excited to fund.
DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:- Own the P&L for the personal lines and small commercial book, accountable for hitting revenue growth and retention targets agreed with the executive team.
- Lead, develop, and hold accountable a team of community business advisors, producers, and account managers across the business unit.
- Build and execute go-to-market strategies for personal lines and small commercial, identifying new client segments and cross-sell opportunities.
- Set and monitor team performance metrics (retention rate, new business premium, client satisfaction); deliver regular coaching and structured feedback to every direct report.
- Champion a customer-obsessed culture across the unit - anchoring decisions in both client data and behavior, as well as direct customer insights to deliver a best-in-class experience at every touchpoint.
- Drive operational consistency across service workflows, ensuring processes that scale as the book grows without sacrificing the human relationship at the center of every policy.
- Ensure full compliance with all carrier, regulatory, and company guidelines across the unit.
- Develop and manage carrier and strategic partner relationships to strengthen placement options, appetite access, and remarketing capabilities.
- Analyze market conditions, client needs, and competitor positioning to keep the unit's strategy relevant and differentiated.
- Partner with the executive team on budgeting, forecasting, and agency integration initiatives.
- Foster a team culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Represent the agency at industry events, carrier meetings, and community functions to strengthen market presence and referral networks.
REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES:- Proven track record of growing a personal lines and/or small commercial business unit - demonstrated through revenue, retention, or team performance results.
- A customer-obsessed mindset - you measure success by client outcomes and loyalty, not just premium, and you instill that orientation in your team.
- Strong leadership skills with experience managing producers and service staff; able to hold people accountable while maintaining a high-trust culture.
- High personal integrity with the ability to set clear expectations and model the standards you hold others to.
- Skilled communicator - able to translate strategy into clear direction for the team and build credibility with carriers, clients, and executive leadership alike.
- Pairs data with human judgment - fluent in metrics and trends, but grounds every decision in what truly serves clients and the team.
- Proficient with agency management systems, CRM platforms, and Microsoft Office suite.
- Experience preparing and managing P&L budgets.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:- 10+ years of experience in personal lines and/or small commercial insurance, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
- Deep knowledge of personal lines and small commercial products, markets, and underwriting processes.
- Bachelor's degree in business, insurance, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
- Active P&C license required; CIC, CPCU, or other designations a plus.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:- Regular travel to client and carrier locations within the market area.
- Periodic out-of-town and overnight travel to agency locations.
- Must have a valid driver's license, insured vehicle, and be legally eligible to drive.
