Commercial Lines Underwriting Manager

The Jacobson Group; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Jacobson Group, a well-established player in the insurance sector, seeks an experienced Commercial Lines Underwriting Manager to lead and inspire its underwriting team in Massachusetts. You will direct underwriting activities, optimize portfolio performance, and foster strong agency relationships to ensure profitable growth and high-quality risk selection.

You will use analytics and market insight to develop strategic initiatives, mentor staff, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive property and casualty insurance experience with significant commercial lines underwriting background.
• Demonstrated experience leading underwriting teams and managing portfolio, territory or agency-level results.
• Proven ability to leverage analytics to drive business decisions and develop productive agency relationships.
• Experience working across underwriting and related business functions; project or process-improvement experience (preferred).
• Sound judgment and decision-making capabilities to balance growth, profitability, risk and agency expectations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement underwriting and portfolio strategies that support company growth and profitability objectives.
• Oversee underwriting quality, risk assessment, authority limits, compliance, workflows, and service standards to maintain high operational excellence.
• Evaluate portfolio, territory, and agency performance to identify growth opportunities, emerging trends, and address underperforming segments.
• Provide technical guidance on complex or high-value accounts to ensure sound risk management.
• Improve underwriting processes, technology, and automation initiatives in collaboration with internal stakeholders to enhance efficiency.
• Analyze portfolio, territory, agency, and underwriting performance metrics and translate findings into actionable strategies for growth and improved results.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators to measure operational and strategic success.
• Partner with cross-departmental teams including Product, Actuarial, Marketing, Claims, Operations, and IT to implement initiatives affecting commercial lines performance.
• Build trusted relationships with independent agents, assist in business reviews, and identify opportunities for growth aligned with company appetite.
• Clearly communicate underwriting standards, product offerings, priorities, and expectations to agency partners.
• Lead, mentor, and develop underwriting staff, fostering a culture of high performance, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
• Set team and individual goals, provide coaching, and manage performance to ensure professional growth and alignment with organizational objectives.

Skills

Leadership

Analytics

Underwriting

Portfolio management

Coaching

Communication

Relationship-building

Education

Bachelor’s degree

CPCU (preferred)

Tools

Business intelligence tools

Microsoft Office

Underwriting systems

Job description

Job Description:

A well-established organization in the insurance industry is seeking an experienced Commercial Lines Underwriting Manager to lead and inspire its commercial lines underwriting team. The role involves directing underwriting activities, optimizing portfolio performance, and fostering strong agency relationships to ensure profitable growth and high-quality risk selection. The manager will utilize underwriting expertise, market insight and analytics to develop strategic initiatives that align with organizational goals while creating a motivating environment for professional development and team excellence.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement underwriting and portfolio strategies that support company growth and profitability objectives.
• Oversee underwriting quality, risk assessment, authority limits, compliance, workflows, and service standards to maintain high operational excellence.
• Evaluate portfolio, territory, and agency performance to identify growth opportunities, emerging trends, and address underperforming segments.
• Provide technical guidance on complex or high-value accounts to ensure sound risk management.
• Improve underwriting processes, technology, and automation initiatives in collaboration with internal stakeholders to enhance efficiency.
• Analyze portfolio, territory, agency, and underwriting performance metrics and translate findings into actionable strategies for growth and improved results.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators to measure operational and strategic success.
• Partner with cross-departmental teams including Product, Actuarial, Marketing, Claims, Operations, and IT to implement initiatives affecting commercial lines performance.
• Build trusted relationships with independent agents, assist in business reviews, and identify opportunities for growth aligned with company appetite.
• Clearly communicate underwriting standards, product offerings, priorities, and expectations to agency partners.
• Lead, mentor, and develop underwriting staff, fostering a culture of high performance, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
• Set team and individual goals, provide coaching, and manage performance to ensure professional growth and alignment with organizational objectives.

Requirements:

• 8+ years of progressive property and casualty insurance experience with significant commercial lines underwriting background
• Demonstrated experience leading underwriting teams and managing portfolio, territory or agency-level results
• Proven ability to leverage analytics to drive business decisions and develop productive agency relationships
• Experience working across underwriting and related business functions; project or process-improvement experience (preferred)
• Bachelor's degree; relevant professional designation such as CPCU (preferred)
• Strong expertise in commercial lines underwriting and portfolio management
• Excellent analytical, strategic and business acumen
• Effective leadership, coaching, communication, relationship-building and influencing skills
• Sound judgment and decision-making capabilities to balance growth, profitability, risk and agency expectations
• Ability to lead change initiatives and foster continuous improvement
• Proficiency with business intelligence tools, Microsoft Office and underwriting systems

Contact:

Alexandria Van Riper

[e-mail]

Salary Range:

The anticipated pay range for this position is $140,000.00 - $170,000.00 annually. We understand salary is an important factor in a job search and we encourage you to apply even if you feel that your desired compensation may fall outside of the listed range. The final pay for this position is determined based on several factors including but not limited to, relevant experience, skills and certifications, education and training, geographic location, market conditions, and internal equity. We are committed to finding the right candidate for this role and are open to discussing how your unique qualifications align with our needs.