AVP, Middle Market Property Underwriting - Commercial

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company; Ohio; Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

401(k) with company match

Pension plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company is seeking a technical executive leader for Middle Market underwriting. You will manage a team of experts, shape strategic direction, and drive profitable growth across multiple lines including Auto, General Liability, Workers Compensation, Umbrella, Property and Inland Marine.

The role requires extensive underwriting knowledge, leadership excellence, and collaboration with actuarial and product teams to deliver innovative solutions and enterprise-wide

Qualifications

• 15+ years of Middle Market and/or other related commercial lines underwriting experience
• At least 5 years of management experience
• Strong strategic and organizational agility with business acumen
• Proven problem-solving and decision-making abilities
• Ability to influence across all levels and build cross-functional relationships

Responsibilities

• Develop and present strategies for the assigned line(s) of business to achieve growth and profitability targets.
• Collaborate with Loss Control and Claims teams to refine underwriting practices and services.
• Analyze market trends to identify opportunities for expansion.
• Oversee pricing, portfolio performance, and profitability of property/casualty lines.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team of technical experts and stakeholders.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Underwriting expertise

Portfolio management

Financial analysis

Stakeholder collaboration

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or related field

Graduate studies preferred

Job description

If you’re passionate about helping people protect what matters most to them at a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales, as well as innovating and simplifying processes and operations to provide the best customer value, then Nationwide’s Property and Casualty team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers and partners are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

Addendum: With the integration of N2G responsibilities, this role will have 3-4 direct reports including oversight of the N2G Technical Director for Property. In addition, the role will assume responsibility for an additional $50M in Property premium and a broader product portfolio, including four distinct product lines: ISO-based Commercial Property, Commercial Output Property, Inland Marine, and Capital Assets (domestic and international). The role will also provide leadership and oversight for potential shared and layered international Property offerings, requiring a high degree of product expertise, strategic direction, and portfolio management.

Job Description Summary Are you a proven leader with strategic, creative and technical commercial product and underwriting skills? Do you have deep insights into the commercial insurance industry and competition with the ability to translate those insights into strategic and technical underwriting practices and partner with underwriting leaders to implement the practices across Commercial Lines Middle Market insurance? If you have these abilities and a drive to achieve financial goals, set strategic direction and make a difference, then we want to hear from you!

This technical executive leader will be assigned lines of business, responsible for or managing a team of experts that support Middle Market technical underwriting. They will build and oversee the implementation of the strategic direction set forth by executive leadership as it pertains to the line, drive profitable growth through consistent monitoring and reporting on the health of the portfolio, as well as recommend and implement innovative solutions to enhance our product offering. The role requires a strong technical ability for the assigned line of business, effective leadership, as well as an understanding of the property and casualty landscape, market trends and competitive dynamics. The assigned lines of businesses will include a group of the following: Auto, General Liability, Workers Compensation, Umbrella, Property and Inland Marine.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and present strategies for the assigned line(s) of business to achieve growth and profitability targets.
• Regularly collaborate with Loss Control and Claims teams to learn about trends and suggest areas of refinement in either underwriting practice, Loss Control capabilities or Claims insights to continually improve both our underwriting capabilities and service offerings.
• Analyze market trends and competitive landscape to identify opportunities for expansion.
• Analyze claims and pricing study data to uncover loss drivers impacting the portfolio and recommend tactical and strategic changes to drive performance.
• Oversee the design and development of (property or casualty) specific enhancements, ensuring they meet the needs of Industry Practice Leaders and Middle Market clients.
• Routinely meet with Actuarial partners to provide feedback and suggest improvements to pricing capabilities to ensure relevance based on current market trends.
• Manage underwriting compliance for the assigned area in accordance with applicable rating plans and may respond to requests from departments of insurance or rating bureaus.
• Serve as Subject Matter Expert on the respective lines for the development of training, capabilities, or enterprise-wide initiatives.
• Setting strategy for policy limits (property or casualty) for leveraging facultative reinsurance placement when limits exceed strategy and/or guidelines.
• Creates industry white papers to further the education of our entire Middle Market organization and our broker partners.
• Regularly collaborate with product/portfolio, industry practices, underwriting capabilities, actuary and inside/field underwriting leadership teams as it relates to executing on the assigned line of business strategy.
• Oversees associate management of a high performing team of technical experts including performance management, engagement, salary administration, training, development, workflow, organization planning, day to day management, hiring and disciplinary actions.
• May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships:

Reports to SVP, Commercial Lines - Middle Market.

Typical Skills and Experiences:

• Education: Undergraduate studies preferably in business or a related field, graduate studies preferred.
• Experience: Typically, 15+ years of Middle Market and/or other related commercial lines underwriting experience to include extensive technical understanding of specific lines of business and at least 5 years of management experience.
• Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Comprehensive knowledge and mastery of industry strategy including underwriting, pricing, operations, finance, and product development. Strong underwriting acumen, insurance industry segments acumen, and overall business acumen. Demonstrated competency in strategic and organizational agility and managing a vision and purpose. Has strong problem-solving skills and proven record of strong decision quality. Strong analytical skills and aptitude for financial evaluation of business performance. Ability to collaborate and build strong relationships across the organization. Can influence, drive results, deal with ambiguity, and communicate effectively at all levels in the organization. Strong self-starter who is innovative with initiative. Proven track record of setting goals and delivering results. Extensive underwriting expertise with the ability to integrate knowledge across product lines and segments. Advanced level of technical and industry expertise. Knowledge of commercial property & casualty products; insurance operations; finance and actuarial concepts; regulatory environment; reinsurance; account management; underwriting; producer management; and product development; analyzing and problem solving; decision making, building relationships; courage; innovation; communicating effectively, engaging and motivating people; negotiation; influencing others; focusing on service; managing and improving processes; executing well; planning and organizing work.
• Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence. Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and Human Resource Business Partner.

Values:

• Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions:

• Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible
• Working Conditions: Remote within the U.S.
• ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.

We currently anticipate accepting applications until 11/20/2026. However, we encourage early submissions, as the posting may close sooner if a strong candidate slate is identified before the deadline.

Benefits

• medical/dental/vision
• life insurance
• short and long term disability coverage
• paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off
• 401(k) with company match
• company-paid pension plan
• business casual attire
• and more.

To learn more about the benefits we offer,

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged.

Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

This position could be filled within any of the lower 48 U.S. states.

Smoke-Free Iowa Statement: Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries comply with the Iowa Smokefree Air Act. Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed areas on or around company premises as well as company issued vehicles. The company offers designated smoking areas in which smoking is permitted at each individual location. The Act prohibits retaliation for reporting complaints or violations. For more information on the Iowa Smokefree Air Act, individuals may contact the Smokefree Air Act Helpline at 888-944-2247.

For NY residents please review the following state law information: Notice of Employee Rights, Protections, and Obligations LS740 (ny.gov) https://dol.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/02/ls740_1.pdf