Title: Commercial Lines Underwriting Director
Are you the rare insurance professional who sees opportunity where others see challenges? Do you thrive when building and revitalizing teams? This is a career-defining role for an underwriting leader ready to make their mark!
We're partnered with a well-established, A-rated national carrier seeking a Commercial Underwriting Director. You'll have the support and autonomy to transform our underwriting operation in a territory ripe with untapped potential. The ideal candidate isn't just looking for a job—they're looking for a mission to drive meaningful change, rebuild agency relationships, and develop a high-performing team.
This role offers what many leaders search their entire careers for: the chance to point to tangible results and say, “I built that. I made that difference.”
Location: Illinois-based (Chicago preferred, but open to candidates throughout the state); Primarily remote with occasional travel to Chicago office.
Essential Functions:
-
Leads and directs the branch underwriting process while enforces guidelines and procedures established by Corporate Office Underwriting.
-
Develops and enforces underwriting guidelines and procedures specific to their branch territory and models smart and effective underwriting practices for individual accounts, all lines of business, and different classes.
-
Sets and implements strategies to address challenges to profit and communicates strategies throughout the underwriting department.
-
Answers questions, shares recommendations for complex situations, such as difficult accounts, communication strategies or problematic agency relationships and explains the rationale for recommendations and serves as the subject matter expert for the branch and makes final decisions on complex or high-risk accounts.
-
Oversees and directs the underwriting department team, focusing on both long-term and short-term success.
-
Special consideration on ability to lead a profitable growth sales culture within our underwriting team, including leading by example by being out physically visiting our agency partners and involved with key industry association events.
-
Collaborates with team members to establish performance goals and monitors status, conducts reviews, and provides coaching.
-
Partners closely with the Branch Human Resources Business Partner Manager to identify training needs for the department and individuals and ensure that it is delivered.
-
Partners with Underwriting Supervisors oversee workloads and workflow processes to ensure that branch objectives can be met.
-
Directs existing and develops and fosters new agency relationships to grow profitable relationships and rehabilitate unprofitable and low growth relationships.
-
Collaborates with Branch Vice President to determine underwriting strategy and practices and establishes short-term and long-term underwriting goals
Why Join Us?
- Opportunity to make an immediate, significant impact in a key region
- Strong support from passionate, collaborative leadership
- Excellent work/life balance in a primarily remote role
- Comprehensive benefits package including pension
- Exciting period of growth and transformation – all eyes are on Illinois!
- Chance to build something meaningful in a market with tremendous untapped potential
Education & Experience:
-
Bachelor's degree, preferably in insurance or business administration or equivalent relevant experience
-
Ten years of commercial lines underwriting experience
-
Previous supervisory/leadership experience
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
-
Superior knowledge of underwriting and risk analysis
-
Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to make sound decisions
-
Ability to oversee multiple projects at one time and make decisions under challenging circumstances
-
Excellent ability to translate technical ideas into more general terms for business customers
-
Excellent leadership skills and ability to motivate team
-
Excellent ability to effectively communicate products, procedures, business planning and system information
-
Exceptional customer service skills
-
Ability to speak effectively before groups
-
Occasional travel; a valid driver’s license with an acceptable motor vehicle report per company standards will be required if driving
