Personal Lines Underwriting Director Strategy Execution

Socket.dev; Howell (MI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401K with company match

Tuition reimbursement

PTO

Company paid holidays

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

The Hanover is seeking an Underwriting Director of Strategy Execution within Personal Lines. This full-time exempt role leads the design, governance, and evolution of underwriting guidelines, rules, and models, aligning with risk appetite and portfolio objectives.

You will partner with Analytics, Product, IT, and Underwriting Operations to ensure scalable deployment of underwriting intents. You will drive modernization, governance, and decision automation, translating analytics into actionable

Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant work experience and 3+ years of proven experience leading cross functional teams.
• Experience designing underwriting guidelines, rules, decision logic, and models.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end underwriting guidelines strategy for Personal Lines, ensuring clarity and alignment.
• Lead development, governance, and evolution of underwriting rules, decision trees, and eligibility frameworks.
• Define the strategic roadmap for underwriting models, including risk segmentation and pricing support.
• Translate analytic outputs into actionable underwriting guidance for automated and human decisioning.
• Establish governance to ensure changes, model updates, and deployments are auditable.
• Drive underwriting modernization with increased automation and straight-through processing.
• Partner with IT to implement strategies in systems and monitor post-deployment.
• Develop monitoring and feedback loops to assess guideline and model performance.

Skills

Underwriting expertise

Strategic thinking

Analytics collaboration

Operational mindset

Change leadership

People leadership

Executive communication

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 Execution.

This is a full time, exempt role.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Director, PL Underwriting Strategy – Guidelines & Models is a strategic leader responsible for the design, governance, and strategic evolution of underwriting guidelines, rules, decision logic, and rating/underwriting models across Personal Lines. This role translates the company’s risk appetite and growth objectives into clear, executable underwriting strategies that are embedded in systems, tools, and frontline decision-making.

This leader partners closely with Analytics, Product, IT, and Underwriting Operations to ensure underwriting intent is precisely articulated, analytically supported, and consistently deployed at scale. The role manages a team of strategy professionals and plays a critical role in modernizing underwriting through data, automation, and advanced analytics.

IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL:

• Own the end-to-end underwriting guidelines strategy for Personal Lines, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with enterprise risk appetite and portfolio objectives
• Lead the development, governance, and evolution of underwriting rules, decision trees, and eligibility frameworks across channels and products
• Define the strategic roadmap for underwriting models, including risk segmentation, pricing support, and decision automation in partnership with Analytics and Actuarial
• Translate complex analytic outputs into actionable underwriting guidance suitable for both automated and human decisioning
• Establish and maintain strong governance frameworks to ensure guideline changes, model updates, and rule deployments are controlled, documented, and auditable
• Drive underwriting modernization initiatives, including increased automation, straight-through processing, and model-driven decisioning
• Partner with IT and Delivery teams to ensure underwriting strategies are accurately implemented in systems and monitored post-deployment
• Develop robust monitoring and feedback loops to assess guideline and model performance, identify issues and recommend enhancements
• Produce executive-ready materials explaining underwriting logic, tradeoffs, and impacts in a clear and compelling manner
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of strategy professionals; set expectations, provide coaching, and manage performance
• Represent underwriting strategy in senior leadership forums and cross-functional design decisions

KEY SKILLS & COMPETENCIES:

• Underwriting & Decision Science Expertise – Deep understanding of underwriting guidelines, decision frameworks, and the practical application of predictive models
• Strategic Translation – Ability to convert abstract risk appetite and analytic insight into executable underwriting rules and guidance
• Analytical Fluency – Comfort partnering with data science, actuarial, and analytics teams; able to challenge and interpret model outputs
• Operational Mindset – Understands system constraints, frontline usability, and the realities of deploying strategy at scale
• Change Leadership – Proven ability to lead teams through significant change in tools, processes, and ways of working
• People Leadership – Demonstrated success as a people manager, including talent development and performance management
• Executive Communication – Ability to explain complex underwriting and modeling concepts succinctly to senior leaders

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)
• Click here for the full list of Benefits

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.

Privacy Policy:

To view our privacy policy and online privacy statement, click here.

Applicants who are California residents:

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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.