Underwriting Director - Commercial Insurance - Chicago, IL

PMA Companies; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

PMA Companies seeks a Regional Underwriting Director, Commercial Insurance to lead the Midwest underwriting team. The role covers loss-sensitive and guaranteed cost underwriting for workers' compensation, auto, GL, and umbrella lines, with emphasis on profitability and strategy execution.

The candidate will coach staff, manage pricing and terms, and partner with distribution partners to grow the book while maintaining high service levels across brokers and clients.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and at least 7 years work experience in a senior underwriting position in the commercial insurance industry.
• 2 years underwriting management experience is desired or 5+ years senior underwriting experience.
• CPCU or Associate in Risk Management designation or other professional designations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Midwest underwriting team and drive profitable growth aligned with corporate strategy.
• Oversee regional underwriting, pricing, and coverage terms for diverse/complex risks.
• Develop and execute regional distribution and growth strategies with leadership.
• Manage consultative selling with brokers and clients to address needs with solutions.
• Coach and develop underwriting staff, build accountability and succession plans.
• Maintain relationships with distribution partners and coordinate with service teams.
• Partner with Specialty Markets Underwriting and TPA in the Midwest.
• Administer the budget and ensure efficient use of resources.
• Engage in corporate events and maintain compliance and ethics standards.
• Travel as needed to meet employees, clients, and partners.

Skills

Leadership

Underwriting

Strategic thinking

Relationship management

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's Degree

CPCU or Risk Management designation

7+ years underwriting experience

Job description

Job Description

The Regional Underwriting Director, Commercial Insurance is responsible for leading PMA's commercial underwriting team in the Midwest. The team has responsibility for underwriting workers' compensation, commercial automobile, general liability, and umbrella business in a variety of classes, primarily on a loss sensitive basis.

The Regional Underwriting Director must be technically sound in loss-sensitive and guaranteed cost underwriting, possess the ability to develop and execute a strategy for the region, oversee tactical and day-to-day execution, demonstrate exceptional leadership and management skills with an expectation of high performance and underwriting excellence from the team.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the profitable growth of the segment throughout the region in accordance with our corporate plan and strategy, with an emphasis on underwriting excellence.
• Manage the regional production underwriting process and collaborate with Regional and corporate leadership in the execution of innovative, regional distribution management and growth strategies.
• Oversee the selection, analysis and pricing of commercial risks and the determination of coverage terms and conditions for new and renewal business.
• Manage a consultative selling approach to generate new business and in coordination with service team members to include accurately assessing the needs of the broker and the client and formulating solutions that effectively address those needs.
• Lead and direct underwriting staff with an emphasis on coaching, learning and development, accountability, talent management and succession planning. Build a creative and collaborative atmosphere that involves problem-solving to overcome obstacles and challenges.
• Develop and maintain relationships with distribution partners.
• Oversee the region's participation in our account management process, which ensures effective internal communication and the highest levels of customer service in collaboration with the service teams.
• Partner with the colleagues in PMA's Specialty Markets Underwriting segments and TPA in the Midwest.
• Administer the team's expense budget and ensure the effective use of resources in accordance with corporate, segment and regional objectives.
• Participate in corporate and industry-related events, such as internal and external conferences and meetings with clients, distribution partners and employees.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the Company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and apply knowledge of compliance policies, procedures, standards and laws applicable to the responsibilities of this position. Maintain a strong compliance and quality assurance culture within the segment.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree and at least 7 years work experience in a senior underwriting position in the commercial insurance industry.
• 2 years underwriting management experience is desired however candidates with at least 5 years senior, professional underwriting experience will also be considered.
• Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU); Associate in Risk Management designation or other professional designations are preferred.
• Proven technical, leadership, and management skills.
• Experience implementing and maintaining a high-performance culture built on excellence, accountability and trust.
• Ability to grow a book of business across a region, and with an array of distribution partners, clients, and products, in accordance with our corporate business plan.
• Experienced underwriter in the national accounts/large account space. Extensive knowledge of loss sensitive underwriting including incurred loss retros, large deductible, prefunded deductible, and captive programs. Knowledge of guaranteed cost rating and pricing and layer pricing, particularly in the commercial auto, general liability and umbrella lines of business.
• Strong distribution management skills and relationships which can be leveraged within our production underwriting environment and regional management structure.
• Demonstrated the ability to work effectively with functional peers in Corporate Distribution, Actuarial, Finance, Claims, Risk Control, and Corporate and Regional Leadership, as well as cross-functional teams.
• Knowledge of financial analysis, account management, and collateral management.
• Able to analyze and propose solutions to business challenges and problems.
• Comparable leadership and management experience in a matrixed environment. Able to motivate, integrate, and collaborate with cross-functional teams and departments to produce quality outcomes within specified timeframes.
• Adept at managing significant client relationships.
• Strong customer-service orientation.
• Professional written and verbal communication skills, ability to prioritize and organize.
• Willingness to travel for business purposes and be visible with employees, clients, and distribution partners brokers.

Alternate Locations

• Chicago, Illinois, United States
• Schaumburg, Illinois, United States
• Kansas City, Missouri, United States
• St Louis, Missouri, United States