SSIU | Senior Underwriter – West Coast (Remote)

Ssiuw; Walnut Creek (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

South Shore Insurance Underwriters (SSIU) seeks a Senior Underwriter to expand the Western U.S. book, emphasizing California. The role blends strong underwriting expertise with a relationship-driven, growth mindset, building trust with brokers, agencies, and carrier partners.

You will travel within the territory, underwrite and price risks, manage a profitable book, and contribute to SSIU's ongoing expansion across the region.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of Property & Casualty underwriting, brokerage, or related insurance experience.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain productive broker/agent relationships.
• Willingness to travel across the Western U.S. for agency visits and meetings.

Responsibilities

• Underwrite, price, and manage risks per guidelines and authority.
• Grow a profitable Western U.S. book with emphasis on California.
• Build relationships with wholesale brokers, agents, and carrier partners.
• Market SSIU capabilities and identify new business opportunities.
• Manage territory, pipeline, and production targets to achieve results.
• Maintain well-documented underwriting files in compliance with requirements.

Skills

California market experience

Underwriting

Relationship building

Travel

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Risk Management, Insurance, or related field

Job description

The Person Who Will Thrive Here

You're an underwriter, but you're also a relationship builder. You enjoy digging into a risk and making sound underwriting decisions, but you also understand that great books of business are built through great relationships.

You're comfortable calling brokers, visiting agencies, attending industry events, asking for opportunities, and following through when someone gives you a shot. You know how to cultivate relationships not only with agents and brokers, but also with carrier partners, and you understand the importance of those partnerships in building a successful book.

You take ownership of your territory and your results. You're curious about the market, competitive by nature, responsive to your partners, and motivated by growth targets and measurable goals. You're energized by building something—not simply maintaining what's already there.

The Opportunity

South Shore Insurance Underwriters (SSIU) is looking for an experienced Senior Underwriter to help expand our presence across the Western U.S., with a particular focus on California.

This is more than a traditional underwriting role. We are looking for someone who combines strong technical underwriting expertise with a relationship-driven, growth-oriented mindset. The ideal candidate understands the California insurance marketplace and broader Western U.S. property landscape and is excited about the opportunity to build relationships, grow a territory, and contribute directly to SSIU's continued expansion.

California-based candidates are preferred; however, we are open to experienced candidates located elsewhere in the Western U.S. who bring strong California market experience and relationships.

What You'll Do

• Underwrite, price, and manage risks in accordance with established guidelines and authority.
• Develop and grow a profitable book of business across the Western U.S., with a strong focus on the California market.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with wholesale brokers, agents, carrier partners, and other industry partners.
• Cultivate carrier relationships and work collaboratively with carrier partners to identify opportunities, understand appetite, and support profitable growth.
• Proactively market SSIU's capabilities and identify opportunities to generate new business.
• Take ownership of established growth targets and production goals, actively managing your territory and pipeline to achieve results.
• Travel within the territory for agency visits, carrier meetings, industry events, conferences, and other relationship-building opportunities.
• Evaluate submissions, exposures, loss history, catastrophe considerations, valuations, and other underwriting factors.
• Negotiate terms, conditions, pricing, and coverage while balancing growth and profitability.
• Manage renewals and identify opportunities to expand existing relationships.
• Maintain well-documented underwriting files and ensure compliance with company and carrier requirements.
• Stay informed about California and Western U.S. market conditions, competitive trends, emerging risks, carrier appetites, and growth opportunities.

What We're Looking For

• California market experience, including an understanding of the state's unique property exposures, market conditions, and insurance environment.
• Familiarity with property exposures and market dynamics throughout the Western U.S.
• 5+ years of Property & Casualty underwriting, brokerage, or related insurance experience.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain productive broker and agent relationships.
• Experience cultivating and managing relationships with carrier partners.
• Proven track record of growing and managing a profitable book of business.
• Goal-oriented and motivated by production targets, growth objectives, and measurable results.
• Comfortable marketing, networking, and asking for business—not simply waiting for submissions.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work independently while remaining highly connected to a collaborative team.
• Willingness to travel throughout the territory as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• California-based or currently managing a meaningful California book of business.
• Established relationships with California and/or Western U.S. brokers, agents, and carrier partners.
• Excess & Surplus Lines experience is valued but not required.
• CPCU, CIC, AINS, CRM, or other insurance designations are a plus.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Risk Management, Insurance, or a related field preferred.