Senior Underwriter, SDI

AXA XL; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 108,000 - 209,000; Full time

Job summary

AXA XL's construction underwriting team in Chicago seeks an experienced underwriter to tailor risk transfer solutions for large contractors and brokers. You will develop tailored risk evaluations, manage new and renewal accounts, and collaborate with industry experts to deliver client-focused outcomes.

You will leverage underwriting knowledge, analytical skills, and negotiation abilities to enhance profitability and client service.

Qualifications

• Extensive underwriting experience with technical knowledge of underwriting and rating.
• Large account experience is a plus.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with customers, producers and trading partners.

Responsibilities

• Develop tailor-made solutions to enhance customer and broker experience.
• Procure new business and meet with prospective clients.
• Evaluate risk premium considering costs and reinsurance to ensure profitability.
• Utilize sales and negotiating skills to close new business and renewals.
• Initiate and collaborate with other units to pursue cross-selling opportunities.
• Manage new and renewal accounts including referrals, quotes, binders and policies.
• Advise, assist, and service clients on insurance and risk management matters.
• Coach and mentor for development of skills and competencies of less experienced colleagues.
• Develop best practices and share underwriting knowledge within the team.
• Proactively engages renewal clients to understand needs.

Skills

Underwriting experience

Relationship building

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Marketing and negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s Degree preferred

CPCU/ARM designations a plus

Job description

At AXA XL we provide dedicated expertise to solve risk management challenges for large contractors & deliver unique solutions, significant capacity and diverse construction experience. As a result, our construction underwriting team will tailor the buyer’s policy to fit each client’s unique needs.

Using your in-depth underwriting expertise, you will tailor high touch effective solutions for our current and prospective clients partnering with dedicated industry experts who have extensive construction industry risk management experience.

You will report to the Underwriting Manager.

What You’ll Be DOING

What will your essential responsibilities include?

• Develop and structure tailor-made solutions through our risk transfer and service-related products, in accordance with the Underwriting guidelines and relevant best practices, to enhance our customer and broker experience.
• Procure new business opportunities through effective marketing strategies designed around supporting our key brokers, fostering new broker relationships, and meeting with prospective clients.
• Evaluate appropriate risk premium by considering the risk costs, reinsurance cessions as well as the underwriting and general administration costs to ensure profitability.
• Utilize effective sales and negotiating skills to bring new business and renewal transactions to a successful close.
• Initiate and collaborate internally with other business units to uncover and pursue cross-selling opportunities.
• Manage timely implementation of new and renewal accounts, including but not limited to, referrals, quotes, binders, facultative reinsurance, policies, engineering services, in accordance with company standards.
• Advise, assist, and service clients on insurance and risk management matters to ensure clients satisfaction and respond to client and AXA XL queries in a timely manner.
• Coach and mentor for the development of skills, knowledge and competencies of less experienced colleagues.
• Develop best practices and the sharing of underwriting knowledge within the team.
• Proactively fosters positive relationships with renewal clients, including pre-renewal and stewardship engagements to get a mutual understanding of their needs
• Ability to lead and/or assist in continuous improvement projects to benefit Property and in some cases, the broader organization

You will report to the Underwriting Manager.

What You Will BRING

Required Skills And Abilities

• Extensive underwriting experience with thorough technical knowledge of underwriting, rating methodologies, forms and business processes.
• Large account experience is a plus.
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with customers, producers and trading partners.

Desired Skills And Abilities

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred; professional designations CPCU, ARM a plus.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent marketing, presentation and negotiation skills.
• Solid leadership and management skills.
• Excellent decision-making skills.

Who WE Are

AXA XL, the P&C and specialty risk division of AXA, is known for solving complex risks. For mid-sized companies, multinationals and even some inspirational individuals we don’t just provide re/insurance, we reinvent it.

How? By combining a comprehensive and efficient capital platform, data-driven insights, leading technology, and the best talent in an agile and inclusive workspace, empowered to deliver top client service across all our lines of business - property, casualty, professional, financial lines and specialty.

With an innovative and flexible approach to risk solutions, we partner with those who move the world forward.

Learn more at axaxl.com.

What we OFFER

Inclusion

AXA XL is committed to equal employment opportunity and will consider applicants regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity and origins, marital status, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic. At AXA XL, we know that an inclusive culture and enables business growth and is critical to our success. That’s why we have made a strategic commitment to attract, develop, advance and retain the most inclusive workforce possible, and create a culture where everyone can bring their full selves to work and reach their highest potential. It’s about helping one another — and our business — to move forward and succeed.

• Five Business Resource Groups focused on gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity and origins, disability and inclusion with 20 Chapters around the globe.
• Robust support for Flexible Working Arrangements
• Enhanced family-friendly leave benefits
• Named to the Diversity Best Practices Index
• Signatory to the UK Women in Finance Charter

Learn more at Inclusion & Diversity at AXA XL | AXA XL. AXA XL is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Total Rewards

AXA XL’s Reward program is designed to take care of what matters most to you, covering the full picture of your health, wellbeing, lifestyle and financial security. It provides enterprising compensation and personalized, inclusive benefits that evolve as you do.

We’re committed to rewarding your contribution for the long term, so you can be your best self today and look forward to the future with confidence.

Sustainability

At AXA XL, Sustainability is integral to our business strategy. In an ever-changing world, AXA XL protects what matters most for our clients and communities. We know that sustainability is at the root of a more resilient future. Our 2023-26 Sustainability strategy, called "Roots of resilience", focuses on protecting natural ecosystems, addressing climate change, and embedding sustainable practices across our operations.

Our Pillars

• Valuing nature: How we impact nature affects how nature impacts us. Resilient ecosystems - the foundation of a sustainable planet and society - are essential to our future. We’re committed to protecting and restoring nature - from mangrove forests to the bees in our backyard - by increasing biodiversity awareness and inspiring clients and colleagues to put nature at the heart of their plans.
• Addressing climate change: The effects of a changing climate are far-reaching and significant. Unpredictable weather, increasing temperatures, and rising sea levels cause both social inequalities and environmental disruption. We're building a net zero strategy, developing insurance products and services, and mobilizing to advance thought leadership and investment in societal-led solutions.
• Integrating ESG: All companies have a role to play in building a more resilient future. Incorporating ESG considerations into our internal processes and practices builds resilience from the roots of our business. We’re training our colleagues, engaging our external partners, and evolving our sustainability governance and reporting.
• AXA Hearts in Action: We have established volunteering and charitable giving programs to help colleagues support causes that matter most to them, known as AXA XL’s "Hearts in Action" programs. These include our Matching Gifts program, Volunteering Leave, and our annual volunteering day - the Global Day of Giving.

For more information, please see Sustainability at AXA XL.

The U.S. base salary range for this position is USD 107,620 - 209,100.

Actual pay will be determined based upon the individual’s skills, experience and location. We strive for market alignment and internal equity with our colleagues’ pay.

At AXA XL, we know how important physical, mental, and financial health are to our employees, which is why we are proud to offer benefits such as an enterprising retirement savings plan, health and wellness programs, and many other benefits. We also believe in fostering our colleagues' development and offer a wide range of learning opportunities for colleagues to hone their professional skills and to position themselves for the next step of their careers. For more details about AXA XL’s benefits offerings, please visit US Benefits at a Glance 2026.