Personal Lines Underwriting Director Strategy

Socket.dev; Howell (MI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

The Hanover is seeking an Underwriting Director of Strategy for Personal Lines to lead risk appetite and portfolio strategy, define growth targets, and guide portfolio decisions aligning underwriting with pricing and capital. This executive will partner across Product, Actuarial, Finance, and Underwriting to optimize performance and risk tradeoffs.

You will develop KPIs, governance, and a portfolio view across products, geographies, and channels, while coaching a high-performing strategy team to

Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant work experience and 3+ years of proven experience leading cross functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the Personal Lines risk appetite framework with growth targets and thresholds.
• Develop and maintain a portfolio strategy across products, segments, and channels.
• Assess performance relative to risk appetite; identify emerging risks and opportunities.
• Lead scenario analysis and stress testing to understand portfolio impacts.
• Align underwriting strategy with pricing, capital considerations, and financial outcomes.
• Translate portfolio insights into clear strategic direction for Product and Underwriting teams.
• Establish KPIs and dashboards for leadership oversight and decision making.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives including rebalancing and growth pivots.
• Manage and mentor a team of strategy professionals.

Skills

Portfolio & Risk Strategy

Enterprise Thinking

Advanced Analytical Judgment

Strategic Influence

Future-Oriented Mindset

People Leadership

Executive Presence

Job description

For more than 170 years, The Hanover has been committed to delivering on our promises and being there when it matters the most. We live our values every day, demonstrating we CARE through our values, Sustainability initiatives and inclusive corporate culture.

Our Personal Lines team is looking to add an Underwriting Director of Strategy.

This is a full time, exempt role.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Director, PL Underwriting Strategy – Risk Appetite & Portfolio Strategy is a strategic leader responsible for defining, monitoring, and optimizing the risk and growth posture of the Personal Lines portfolio. This role owns the strategic articulation of risk appetite, target returns, growth priorities, and portfolio guardrails, and ensures these are clearly communicated and operationalized across the organization.

This leader provides an enterprise view of portfolio performance and risk tradeoffs, proactively identifying opportunities and vulnerabilities. The role partners closely with Product, Actuarial, Finance, Underwriting, and Enterprise Risk to influence where and how the company chooses to compete.

IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL:

• Define and evolve the Personal Lines risk appetite framework, including growth targets, profitability thresholds, volatility tolerance, and concentration limits
• Develop and maintain a portfolio strategy view across products, segments, geographies, and distribution channels (for example, high value and agency partnership strategy)
• Assess portfolio performance relative to risk appetite and strategic objectives; identify emerging risks, exposure shifts, and opportunity areas
• Lead scenario analysis and stress testing to understand portfolio impacts under varying market, weather, and competitive conditions
• Partner with Actuarial and Finance to ensure alignment between underwriting strategy, pricing adequacy, capital considerations, and financial outcomes
• Translate portfolio insights into clear strategic direction for Product, Underwriting, and Underwriting teams
• Provide strategic recommendations on where to grow, where to maintain, and where to pull back, supported by rigorous analysis (for example, aggregation)
• Establish key portfolio KPIs and dashboards to support senior leadership oversight and decision-making
• Prepare and present executive- and Board-level materials on portfolio health, tradeoffs, and strategic options
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that require a portfolio-level perspective, including rebalancing actions and growth pivots
• Manage and develop a team of strategy professionals; provide coaching, feedback, and career development
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to PL leadership on long-term market positioning and enterprise risk tradeoffs, including reinsurance strategy

KEY SKILLS & COMPETENCIES:

• Portfolio & Risk Strategy Expertise – Strong understanding of insurance portfolio dynamics, risk appetite frameworks, and return tradeoffs
• Enterprise Thinking – Ability to connect underwriting, pricing, capital, and growth strategies into a coherent portfolio view
• Advanced Analytical Judgment – Comfortable interpreting complex analyses, scenarios, and tradeoffs without oversimplification
• Strategic Influence – Able to challenge assumptions, influence senior leaders, and drive difficult tradeoff discussions
• Future-Oriented Mindset – Proactively anticipates market, competitive, regulatory, and climate-related portfolio shifts
• People Leadership – Proven experience leading and developing high-performing strategy teams
• Executive Presence – Strong written and verbal communication skills; credible and persuasive with senior leaders and Boards

WHAT YOU NEED TO APPLY:

• 7+ years of relevant work experience and 3+ years of proven experience leading cross functional teams

CAREER DEVELOPMENT:

It's not just a job, it's a career, and we are here to support you every step of the way. We want you to be successful and fulfilled. Through on-the-job experiences, personalized coaching and our robust learning and development programs, we encourage you – at every level – to grow and develop.

BENEFITS:

We offer comprehensive benefits to help you be healthy, build financial security, and balance work and home life. At The Hanover, you'll enjoy what you do and have the support you need to succeed.

Benefits include:

• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• 401K with a company match
• Tuition reimbursement
• PTO
• Company paid holidays
• Flexible work arrangements
• Cultural Awareness Day in support of IDE
• On-site medical/wellness center (Worcester only)

EEO statement:

The Hanover values diversity in the workplace and among our customers. The company provides equal opportunity for employment and promotion to all qualified employees and applicants on the basis of experience, training, education, and ability to do the available work without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex/gender, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, ancestry or any other status protected by law. Furthermore, The Hanover Insurance Group is committed to providing an equal opportunity workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment based on national origin, race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information or any other status protected by law. As an equal opportunity employer, Hanover does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities who wish to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, or to perform essential job functions, should contact us at [e-mail] and include the link of the job posting in which you are interested.

Applicants who are California residents:

To see the types of information we may collect from applicants and employees and how we use it, please.

Compensation:

The target hiring range for this role may vary based on geographic location and other factors, including merit or performance, demonstrated proficiency, skills for the role, education, travel requirements, and experience. Additional compensation may include an annual bonus (which could take the form of a general bonus, sales incentive, or short-term incentive), long-term incentive or spot recognition awards. The posted range reflects our ability to hire at different position titles and levels depending on background and experience.