Director of Underwriting

USA Underwriters Insurance Company; Birmingham (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

USA Underwriters Insurance Company in Michigan seeks an Insurance Manager to join our leadership team. Working with the Underwriter Manager, you will supervise, mentor, and optimize the underwriting staff to deliver exceptional service.

This player-coach role combines hands-on underwriting firefighting with team development, requiring strong technical expertise and a collaborative approach to align with state regulations and internal standards.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of managing and developing a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Deep P&C underwriting expertise with high-frequency/high-severity risk awareness.
• CPCU designation is highly desirable; pursuing CPCU encouraged.
• Ability to interpret complex data and make documented decisions under pressure.
• Experience creating and implementing underwriting policies and procedures.
• Strong communication to share leadership space with the current supervisor.
• Collaborative, proactive leadership style aligned with high-performance culture.
• Comfort with multi-state compliance oversight.
• Experience leading process improvements in underwriting workflows.

Responsibilities

• Supervise underwriting staff with the existing supervisor to maintain elite service levels.
• Develop and implement underwriting policies and procedures.
• Monitor queues and redistribute workloads to optimize throughput.
• Provide hands-on support during peak cycles or system transitions.
• Conduct regular file audits to elevate staff technical skills.
• Ensure actions comply with state-specific regulations.

Skills

Team Supervision

Policy & Procedure Development

Workload Management

Technical Underwriting Support

Mentorship & Training

Regulatory Compliance

Process Optimization

Analytical Decision-Making

Leadership Collaboration

Communication Skills

Job description

The Company is seeking a high-caliber Insurance Manager to join our leadership team. Working side-by-side with our existing Underwriter Manager, you will be responsible for the direct supervision, mentorship, and operational excellence of the Underwriting department staff.

This is a "player-coach" role intended for a leader who thrives on team development and process optimization but possesses the deep technical expertise to step into the trenches and "firefight" at the same time.

Primary Responsibilities

• Team Supervision: Partner with the existing Underwriting Supervisor to provide daily leadership to the underwriting staff, ensuring adherence and creating internal productivity standards.
• Policies and Procedures: Creating and Implementing.
• Workload Management: Monitor departmental queues and requests; redistribute workloads as necessary to maintain elite service levels across our multi-state footprint.
• Technical "Firefighting": Act as the co‑primary escalation point for complex underwriting decisions. Provide hands‑on support to the team during peak cycles or system transitions.
• Performance Mentorship: Conduct regular file audits. Focus on elevating the technical skill set of the staff and ensuring consistent application of underwriting guidelines.
• Compliance Oversight: Ensure all underwriting actions align with state‑specific regulations.
• Process Engineering: Collaborate with existing Supervisor to identify bottlenecks in the underwriting workflow and implement "Clear" system improvements together.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Management Experience: Proven track record of managing and developing a team in a fast‑paced environment.
• Industry Expertise: Strong P&C (Property & Casualty) underwriting experience is mandatory, with a deep understanding of high‑frequency/high‑severity risk profiles.
• Professional Certification: A CPCU designation is highly desirable. We also strongly encourage candidates who are currently "go-getters" pursuing their CPCU to apply.
• Analytical Prowess: Ability to interpret complex data and make firm, documented decisions under pressure.
• Implementation: Prior experience creating and implementing policies and procedures.
• Leadership Style: A proactive, collaborative spirit. You must be able to share leadership space effectively with the existing Supervisor while maintaining a unified front for the department.
• Communication Mastery: Exceptional ability to deliver feedback that is firm yet professional, consistent with our high‑performance culture.

Education & Experience

4+ years of underwriting experience with at least 2 years in a supervisory or lead capacity.

Compensation

• Competitive Salary: Base salary is aligned with Detroit Metro 2026 benchmarks.