Dealers Underwriting Director - Growth & Talent

Utica National Insurance Group; United States; Remote; USD 170,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and Prescription Drug Benefit

401(k) Profit Sharing and Investment

Company-Paid Family Leave

Tuition Assistance, Training, and Prof

Wellness programs

Job summary

Utica National Insurance Group seeks a Director of Underwriting for the Dealers Division to lead underwriting strategy, execution, and talent for this specialty business. The role combines technical leadership, portfolio management, and agency partnership to drive profitable growth and strong results.

You will lead a high-performing team, set underwriting standards, collaborate with agency partners, and steer the portfolio toward optimized risk and profitability across Commercial Auto, General

Qualifications

• Significant commercial property and casualty underwriting experience.
• Strong knowledge across commercial lines (Commercial Auto, General Liability, Property, Workers’ Compensation).
• Experience leading underwriting professionals.
• Proven track record managing underwriting profitability and portfolio performance.
• Strong understanding of pricing, risk selection, underwriting authority, and agency distribution.
• Ability to interpret loss and performance data and turn insights into underwriting actions.
• Strong communication, decision-making, and relationship-building capabilities.
• Experience working closely with independent agents or brokers.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent professional experience.
• CPCU, AU, CIC, or other relevant insurance education/designations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead underwriting strategy and execution for the Dealers Division.
• Oversee risk selection, pricing, coverage, underwriting authority, and execution across the portfolio.
• Establish and reinforce underwriting standards that support profitable growth and consistent decision-making.
• Monitor portfolio and loss performance and develop underwriting actions designed to improve results.
• Evaluate changes in rates, coverages, rules, regulations, market conditions, and dealership exposures and translate them into effective underwriting strategies.
• Maintain strong underwriting quality through ongoing portfolio review and quality assurance.
• Monitor underwriting results and identify opportunities to improve growth, retention, profitability, and overall portfolio performance.
• Use loss experience, production results, marketplace insights, and other performance data to guide underwriting decisions.
• Balance growth opportunities with appropriate risk selection and underwriting discipline.
• Partner with business and enterprise leaders on strategies that support the long-term success of the Dealers portfolio.
• Lead, coach, and develop underwriting professionals supporting the Dealers business.
• Build technical expertise and commercial acumen throughout the underwriting team.
• Establish clear expectations and reinforce accountability for underwriting quality, responsiveness, and results.
• Identify development opportunities and provide coaching, training, and technical guidance.
• Support talent selection, performance management, career development, and succession planning.
• Develop strong relationships with agency and distribution partners serving the dealership marketplace.
• Provide underwriting leadership during key agency discussions, account reviews, and business planning conversations.
• Partner with Sales and other business teams to identify and pursue profitable growth opportunities.
• Ensure underwriting strategy and execution support a responsive, solutions-oriented agency experience.
• Clearly communicate underwriting appetite, changes, and expectations to distribution partners.

Skills

Commercial underwriting leadership

Portfolio performance analysis

Pricing risk selection

Agency relationships

People leadership

Communication skills

Data interpretation

Independent agents collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

CPCU/AU/CIC designation or equivalent

Job description

Utica National Insurance Group seeks a Director of Underwriting for the Dealers Division to lead underwriting strategy, execution, and talent for this specialty business. The role combines technical leadership, portfolio management, and agency partnership to drive profitable growth and strong results.

You will lead a high-performing team, set underwriting standards, collaborate with agency partners, and steer the portfolio toward optimized risk and profitability across Commercial Auto, General