AVP, Underwriting

The AVP, Underwriting role has the responsibility of ensuring underwriting excellence for the North American Major Accounts Inland Marine Product Line. The role is responsible for providing overall excellence through promoting and supporting the Inland Marine organization through underwriting integrity. This includes contributions to the development and assurances of proper execution on the division’s strategic objectives. The position assists in the development and implementation of operational objectives for underwriting, authority, guidelines, tools, platforms, systems, metrics and product development. The position has accountability for and emphasis on ensuring proper execution, building organizational capability, talent management, and promoting a culture of superior and effective product underwriting.
RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure the achievement of continued profitability, growth, and operational efficiencies of the business unit by providing input on risk selection criteria, exposure evaluation, risk pricing, coverage wordings as well as market appetite and emerging risk/underwriting issues. Communicates with staff and management effectively on both the present and long-term priorities for the business unit and organization.
• Champion opportunities and recommendations to enhance efficiencies and performance through close collaboration with Actuarial, Compliance, Loss Control and OGC, as well as data management including direct involvement of system development.
• Input and assistance in the development and maintenance of underwriting guidelines, forms/wordings libraries, best practices and strategies.
• Development, implementation and training on workflow procedures with focus on continued improvement.
• Work closely with Operations to improve Policy Issuance standards, accuracy and timeliness.
• Ensure field underwriting team is adhering to guidelines and authority levels including appropriate documentation via business reviews and audits.
• Assistance and input on the profitability of the Major Accounts Inland Marine book of business – analyzing product portfolio for opportunities and providing input on product, distribution channel, and geography.
• Participate in data collection in support of underwriting strategy and initiatives, portfolio management and actuarial analytics.
• Support for reinsurance placements as necessary and as requested.
• Coordinate system access authority and management.
• Provide input on the development and implementation of strategic and operational objectives for the North American (US & Canada) markets.
• Development of talent to meet the objectives of the business unit through day-to-day business dialogue and formal training sessions.

• Advanced critical evaluation and analytical skills.
• Ability to apply critical thinking to complex business models and scenarios, providing business recommendations/solutions.
• Ability to effectively translate complex issues into standard business/financial language that can be used to make decisions.
• Ability to work effectively in a matrix environment.
• Highly effective business written and oral communication skills, including clear and concise written skills, strong presentation skills and influencing/persuasive skills.
• Proficiency/fluency in AI models and how to apply them practically to enhance operational effectiveness and underwriting processes/workflow.
• Strong Microsoft Office suite skills preferred (Excel, Sharepoint, etc.)

EDUCATION//EXPERIENCE:

• 7+ years of experience of relevant P&C business and progressively more responsibility within the property underwriting line of business.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Finance, Management, Actuarial, Liberal Arts, or related field.
• Extensive knowledge of underwriting practices, products, processes, and industry trends, particularly in the Inland Marine/Builders Risk area.
• Organizational skills to aid in the management and analysis of data.
• Leadership skills needed to set a standard of underwriting excellence by directing staff on complex underwriting issues.