Head of Commercial Lines Underwriting (Hybrid)

Westfield Insurance; United States; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Westfield Insurance is seeking a Commercial Lines Underwriting Manager to lead a team of underwriters handling medium- to high-touch new and renewal business. The role focuses on expert risk decision making, workload balance, and maintaining underwriting quality.

The position emphasizes coaching, development of underwriting acumen, and collaboration with underwriting operations and territory leaders to drive profitable results. Hybrid work options are available for qualified candidates.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of Commercial Lines Underwriting experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in related field and/or commensurate work experience.

Responsibilities

• Leads a team of Commercial Line underwriters handling medium-touch / high-touch new and renewal business that requires underwriting expertise and individual risk decision making aligned to the Commercial Lines appetite.
• Manages productivity, prioritization, balancing of workloads, and sound underwriting decisions of their team of underwriters.
• Handles underwriting referrals exceeding the authority limits of their team members. Exercises underwriting authority to achieve profit through quality risk selection and exposure control.
• Ensures alignment and collaboration with the Underwriting Operations Team and Territory Managers/Leaders, driving business development best practices in the underwriting environment, aligned to field operations.
• Partners with Territory Leader/Managers ensuring alignment to territory strategy & vision, creating a shared accountability and team environment for underwriting, underwriting support, and territory partners.
• Ensures efficient, consistent, quality underwriting decisions and ensures adherence to compliance of all underwriting rules and policies.
• Utilizes knowledge, experience, technical underwriting and subject matter expertise to coach and mentor team members. Performs talent management responsibilities including employee selection, performance management, coaching in technical and career development, employee-related issues, employee morale and work environment.
• Partners with the QA underwriting function, utilizing findings to help develop underwriting acumen and decision making of the team.
• Works to increase the overall business and underwriting acumen of the team and its members through one-on-one interactions (e.g., reviewing underwriting decisions, answering questions, listening to phone calls).
• Ensures individual authority grants for underwriters are established following a well-calibrated, objective, data-driven process.
• Participates in professional industry groups and stays abreast of industry changes, advancements, and jurisdictional issues to communicate, develop, and incorporate best practices in Commercial Lines.

Skills

Leadership

Underwriting expertise

Risk assessment

Team coaching

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Job description

Westfield Insurance is seeking a Commercial Lines Underwriting Manager to lead a team of underwriters handling medium- to high-touch new and renewal business. The role focuses on expert risk decision making, workload balance, and maintaining underwriting quality.

The position emphasizes coaching, development of underwriting acumen, and collaboration with underwriting operations and territory leaders to drive profitable results. Hybrid work options are available for qualified candidates.