AVP, Policy Wording & Forms

US HoldCo; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid work model

Annual bonus

Health benefits

Retirement savings

Volunteer opportunities

Job summary

Aviva Specialty in the United States seeks an AVP, Policy Wording & Forms to lead drafting, review, and governance of policy wordings, forms, and endorsements across U.S. specialty lines.

You will align wording with underwriting strategy, oversee forms library, and coordinate regulatory filings. You'll collaborate with Compliance, Legal, Product, Actuarial, and Operations while mentoring underwriters and brokers on coverage interpretation.

Qualifications

• 8–12+ years of experience in policy wording, forms development, product development, coverage, or underwriting within commercial or specialty property & casualty insurance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the drafting, review, and maintenance of policy wordings, forms, endorsements, and clauses across Aviva Specialty’s U.S. specialty lines.
• Manage regulatory filing strategy and process for policy forms across excess & surplus lines markets.
• Develop and implement a risk-based wording governance framework with clear approval authorities.
• Collaborate with Claims, Product, Actuarial, Operations, and Technology to align forms with systems and product launches.
• Provide training to underwriters and colleagues on policy wordings, coverage intent, and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Policy wording

Form development

Regulatory knowledge

Underwriting collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Law, Insurance, Risk Management

JD or legal background

CPCU/AIC/ARM/RPLU or equivalent

Tools

SERFF

Job description

Experience Aviva Individually, we are people, but together we are Aviva. Individually, these are just words, but together they are our Values: Care, Commitment, Community, and Confidence. At Aviva, we help customers build resilience and move forward with confidence. We foster an inclusive workplace where diverse perspectives are valued, innovation is encouraged, and colleagues are empowered to grow their careers while making a meaningful impact. As we establish Aviva’s presence in the United States, we’re seeking talented individuals inspired to build, shape, and lead this new organization. Joining Aviva Specialty means stepping onto the ground floor of a thoughtfully designed Commercial Insurance organization built for the long term, blending underwriting heritage, disciplined execution, and capital strength with agility, innovation, and entrepreneurial thinking.

The Opportunity

As AVP, Policy Wording & Forms, you will report to the Chief Underwriting Officer and play a significant role in establishing and maintaining the policy wordings, forms, and endorsements that underpin Aviva Specialty’s U.S. products. You will lead the drafting, review, governance, and regulatory filing of policy forms across the specialty lines portfolio, ensure wordings are clear, consistent, and compliant with applicable laws and regulations, and help translate underwriting strategy and risk appetite into coverage language that supports disciplined underwriting and good customer outcomes. The successful candidate combines deep policy wording and forms expertise, strong regulatory knowledge, sound coverage judgment, and the ability to influence outcomes across underwriting, product, claims, legal, compliance, actuarial, and operations.

What You’ll Do

Policy Wording Development & Ownership

Lead the drafting, review, and maintenance of policy wordings, forms, endorsements, and clauses across Aviva Specialty’s U.S. specialty lines, including new products and enhancements to existing programs.

• Ensure wordings are clear, consistent, and aligned with underwriting intent, risk appetite, reinsurance terms, and Aviva’s product strategy.
• Establish and maintain a forms library, standard wording templates, and version control to support consistent and efficient use of approved language.
• Review manuscript wordings and non-standard coverage requests, providing technical guidance to underwriters on coverage intent, exposures, and potential unintended coverage.
• Analyze market forms, competitor wordings, and ISO or bureau developments to inform product positioning and coverage enhancements.

Regulatory Compliance & Forms Filing

Manage the regulatory filing strategy and process for policy forms across excess & surplus lines markets, ensuring compliance with applicable state laws, regulations, and industry standards.

• Prepare and coordinate form filings, respond to Department of Insurance objections and requests for information, and track filing status and approvals.
• Monitor regulatory, legislative, and judicial developments affecting policy language; assess impact and recommend changes to wordings and procedures as necessary.
• Partner with Compliance and Legal to support regulatory inquiries, examinations, and audits related to policy forms.

Wording Governance & Risk Management

Develop and implement a risk-based wording governance framework, including approval authorities, review protocols, and periodic reviews of forms in use.

• Conduct reviews of issued policies and forms usage to confirm approved wordings are applied correctly; identify gaps and recommend corrective actions.
• Assess wording-related risks, including coverage ambiguity, systemic or silent exposures, and claims trends, and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Support internal audits, quality-assurance reviews, and underwriting governance activities related to policy wordings and forms.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Technical Leadership

Serve as the senior technical resource for policy wording and coverage matters, advising the Chief Underwriting Officer, underwriting leaders, and line heads.

• Partner with Claims to incorporate coverage interpretation lessons and claims trends into wording improvements.
• Collaborate with Product, Actuarial, Operations, and Technology to align forms with rating, policy issuance systems, and product launches.
• Engage with brokers and program partners on wording questions, manuscript requests, and coverage negotiations as needed.
• Participate in projects and strategic initiatives as needed, including product development and platform build activities.

Training, Reporting & Customer Outcomes

Develop and deliver training to underwriters and other colleagues on policy wordings, coverage intent, forms usage, and regulatory requirements.

• Prepare reports and presentations for the Chief Underwriting Officer and senior management on forms inventory, filing status, wording risks, and regulatory developments.
• Support the delivery of good customer outcomes through clear, fair, and transparent policy language, enabling Aviva Specialty to act in good faith toward customers, avoid causing foreseeable harm, and support customers in pursuing their financial objectives.

What You’ll Bring

8–12+ years of experience in policy wording, forms development, product development, coverage, or underwriting within commercial or specialty property & casualty insurance.

• Demonstrated experience drafting and maintaining policy forms, endorsements, and manuscript wordings across multiple specialty lines.
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. state insurance regulation and the forms filing process for excess & surplus lines markets.
• Experience managing Department of Insurance filings and objections, including through tools such as SERFF.
• Strong understanding of coverage interpretation, policy construction, and how wording affects underwriting, claims, and reinsurance outcomes.
• Excellent analytical, drafting, communication, and stakeholder‑influence skills, with the ability to explain complex coverage matters clearly.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Law, Insurance, Risk Management, or related discipline.
• Preferred Qualifications JD or legal background with experience in insurance coverage.
• CPCU, AIC, ARM, RPLU, or other relevant professional insurance designation.
• Experience across specialty lines such as Cyber, Financial Lines, Casualty, Property, or delegated authority programs.
• Familiarity with ISO, AAIS, or other bureau forms programs.
• Experience supporting the build or launch of a new insurance carrier, product suite, or forms library.

What You’ll Gain

At Aviva Specialty, we put people first: our colleagues, our customers, and our communities. We’re proud of a culture built on care, inclusion, and collaboration, where your voice matters and your growth is supported.

Competitive base salary ranging from $160,000 - $175,000, depending on experience, qualifications, location, and market considerations.

Compelling rewards package including base compensation, eligibility for an annual bonus, retirement savings, health benefits, and volunteer opportunities.

Opportunity to build the policy wording and forms foundation for a newly established U.S. specialty insurance business.

Flexible hybrid work model.

Outstanding professional development and career growth opportunities.

Competitive vacation package.

Travel Requirements

Up to 10% travel for team meetings, broker and business partner engagements, training sessions, and industry events.

Physical Requirements

This position is primarily performed in an office or remote work environment and requires prolonged periods of computer use, analysis of policy wordings, regulatory, and business information, communication with internal and external stakeholders, and participation in virtual and in-person meetings.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Aviva Specialty welcomes applications from all qualified individuals and has a process in place to provide accommodations for persons with disabilities at all stages of the hiring process and during employment.

If you require an accommodation during the interview or hiring process, please contact your Aviva Talent Acquisition Partner so that an appropriate accommodation can be arranged.

About Aviva

We help our 19.5 million customers to save for the future and manage the risks of everyday life. To give these customers the best possible products and service we know we must make Aviva the most attractive choice for talented, entrepreneurial people with diverse backgrounds and an evolving range of expertise and insight. So, we’re passionate about helping our 23,000 people to do the best work of their lives, to enable them to make a positive difference to the lives of our customers.