AVP/VP Underwriting Builders Risk

Howden Group; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Unlimited PTO

401k with company match

Paid volunteer days

Job summary

DUAL North America, Inc. is seeking an AVP/VP Underwriter for the Builders Risk division in a leadership capacity. The role focuses on defining underwriting strategy, managing a 1-5 person team, and growing a profitable national construction portfolio.

The ideal candidate will own broker relationships, drive portfolio growth, and collaborate with product, claims, and actuarial teams to optimize profitability. Travel up to 30% is required, with a competitive salary range of $140,000–$200,000.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in risk management or a related field preferred.
• Proven underwriting experience and leadership capabilities.
• Strong broker relationships and portfolio growth focus.
• Excellent analytical and negotiation skills.
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute underwriting strategy for builders risk portfolio.
• Lead and develop a team of underwriters (1-5) and manage performance.
• Cultivate broker relationships and corporate partnerships.
• Ensure profitability targets and alignment with product, claims, and actuarial.
• Monitor risk, capacity, and pricing within underwriting guidelines.

Skills

Leadership

Underwriting strategy

Broker relationships

Team management

Risk assessment

Analytical skills

MS Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree in risk management or related field

Tools

MS Office

Job description

At DUAL North America, our core values dictate how we live and work. We are a group with independence and people at its heart and we are a home for talent with a unique culture: the biggest small company in the world. The focus on being a People First business has always been at the very heart of the Group; Our vision was to create an independent business with a unique culture and one that would survive and thrive as a business controlled by the people working for it. And finding the most talented and entrepreneurial people to join the Group has been and will continue to be key. DUAL North America, Inc. is seeking a AVP/VP Underwriting Builders Risk Classification: Exempt/Full-time Reports to: SVP Underwriting or above Travel: Up to 30% or more Salary: $140,000.00- $200,000.00

Role overview

DUAL North America is seeking an AVP/VP Underwriter for the Builders Risk division. At DUAL, AVP/VP Underwriters play a critical leadership role in defining the underwriting strategy and fostering new broker relationships. In this role, you will act as the subject matter expert in wood frame builders risk project evaluation and underwriting, manage a team of 1-5 through the employee lifecycle, and own profitable portfolio growth. Leading a team of underwriters within the builder’s risk division, you will work with the division president and other team leads to manage the underwriting direction for the national construction portfolio, train and oversee junior underwriters including referrals for team members, and oversee strategy for large ,complex projects. This role includes executive oversight of broker relationships, profitability targets, and cross-functional alignment with product, claims, and actuarial.

Role responsibilities

• Manage and grow your own portfolio of projects evaluating risk and utilizing and maximizing our carrier capacity within carrier agreements and underwriting guidelines
• Train and foster careers of Associate Underwriters and Underwriters within the team
• Manage a small to mid-sized team and be responsible for performance evaluations, hiring and recruiting, and termination decisions
• Define team production goals that align to division goals, and drive execution in a hands‑on fashion
• Review referrals from team members
• Curate a portfolio of business in accordance with Underwriting Guidelines and prescribed pricing tools within UW guidelines; may provide input to governance and defining underwriting guidelines
• Owns division level projects or initiatives outside of direct area of expertise to gain knowledge and exposure to larger organizational operations
• May manage budget for a small team or portion of the division, including staffing and T&E costs
• Working level knowledge of capacity and expectation to build relationships with capacity providers
• Act as Subject Matter Expert for their respective business to peers and leadership and those within their team
• Demonstrates advanced understanding of technical underwriting principles and risk underwriting characteristics which will include more nuanced risks in the wood frame and renovation market, deployment of capacity limits, and managing pricing cycles.
• Execute on annual new business goals by achieving agreed premium income and hitting quote numbers with desired hit ratios, and ensuring the team is executing on these goals as well
• Foster and build new relationships with key producers – expectation is to gain more business and place it

Underwriting Authority

Has Underwriting authority as outlined in LOA

Key requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in risk management, psychology, criminal justice, mathematics, finance, business, or a related field preferred
• 5-12 years of relevant underwriting experience
• Demonstrates a naturally inquisitive mindset with a strong desire to understand processes, solve problems, and improve outcomes.
• In-depth understanding of technical underwriting principles and risk assessment
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and decision-making skills
• Proven ability to manage and build broker and client relationships
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Demonstrated ability to handle complex risks with sound judgment
• Highly self‑motivated with strong attention to detail
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position approximately 50% of the time, with occasional movement throughout the office to access files and equipment
• Ability to travel up to 30% or more as required for client meetings, conferences, or industry events

What we offer

• We offer all the usual rewards and benefits - including medical, dental, vision, a wide variety of wellbeing offers, competitive salary, unlimited PTO, 401k with company match, paid volunteer days and more.

We provide an environment where new ideas are encouraged and celebrated, where people who want to have a real hand in our success thrive. We want people who want to make a difference - not just in the workplace, but in the industry and in the wider community.

EEO Statement: We consider our people our chief competitive advantage and as such we treat colleagues, candidates, clients, and business partners with equality, fairness, and respect. DUAL North America provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. DUAL will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.