Sr. E&S Property Underwriter

Socket.dev; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Socket.dev is seeking a Senior Property Underwriter for its Specialty Risks team in the United States. This on-site role focuses on Excess & Surplus property risks, with responsibility for new business and renewals in a wholesale-focused book.

You will evaluate complex commercial property risks, collaborate with wholesale brokers, and help drive profitable growth through disciplined underwriting decisions and strong relationship management.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of commercial property underwriting experience, preferably E&S/wholesale.
• Strong knowledge of CAT-exposed risks and property underwriting fundamentals.
• Experience underwriting both new business and renewals.
• Established relationships with wholesale brokers and broker-facing skills.
• Ability to evaluate complex risks and disciplined underwriting decisions.
• Understanding of pricing, coverage, terms, conditions, and portfolio management.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative underwriting environment.
• Strong commercial judgment with focus on profitable growth.

Responsibilities

• Underwrite new and renewal E&S property business, evaluating risk, exposure, pricing, terms, and conditions.
• Develop and manage a profitable book of business aligned with underwriting strategy.
• Analyze CAT exposures, property valuations, loss history, occupancy, construction, geography.
• Build relations with wholesale brokers as underwriting partner.
• Structure coverage, negotiate terms, exercise sound underwriting judgment.
• Monitor portfolio performance and adjust pricing, capacity, risk selection.
• Collaborate with claims, actuarial, risk engineering, and other underwriters.
• Stay current on market conditions, CAT trends, and E&S property developments.
• Contribute to portfolio strategy and identify profitable growth opportunities.

Skills

Commercial property underwriting

CAT-exposed risks

New business & renewals

Broker relationships

Pricing & terms

Communication & negotiation

Job description

United States | On-Site (4 days in office per week)

Our client is a leading global specialty insurance organization seeking a Senior Property Underwriter to join its Specialty Risks team. This is an opportunity to underwrite sophisticated Excess & Surplus (E&S) property risks within a wholesale-focused environment, with responsibility for both new business and renewals.

The Role

The Senior Property Underwriter will evaluate and underwrite complex commercial property risks, balancing growth, profitability, and portfolio performance. The role will work closely with wholesale brokers to assess opportunities, structure coverage, and develop a profitable book of business.

You will have significant ownership of underwriting decisions across a portfolio that includes CAT-exposed and other complex property risks, with the opportunity to build relationships with leading wholesale distribution partners.

What You'll Do

• Underwrite new and renewal E&S property business, evaluating risk, exposure, pricing, terms, and conditions.
• Develop and manage a profitable book of business consistent with underwriting strategy and appetite.
• Analyze CAT exposures, property valuations, loss history, occupancy, construction, geography, and other key risk characteristics.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with wholesale brokers, serving as a knowledgeable and responsive underwriting partner.
• Structure coverage, negotiate terms, and exercise sound underwriting judgment on complex risks.
• Monitor portfolio performance and make informed decisions around pricing, capacity, and risk selection.
• Collaborate with internal teams including claims, actuarial, risk engineering, and other underwriting professionals.
• Stay current on market conditions, emerging exposures, CAT trends, and developments within the E&S property market.
• Contribute to broader portfolio strategy and help identify opportunities for profitable growth.

What We’re Looking For

• 3+ years of commercial property underwriting experience, ideally within the E&S / wholesale market.
• Strong knowledge of property underwriting fundamentals and CAT-exposed risks.
• Experience underwriting both new business and renewals.
• Established relationships with wholesale brokers and strong broker-facing skills.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate complex risks and make disciplined underwriting decisions.
• Strong understanding of pricing, coverage, terms, conditions, and portfolio management.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative underwriting environment.
• Strong commercial judgment and a demonstrated focus on profitable growth.

Work Environment

This is an on-site position requiring four days per week in the office, providing an opportunity to work closely with an experienced specialty underwriting team and broker partners.