Vice President, Underwriting

AmTrust Financial Services, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & Dental Plans

Life Insurance

Health Care Flexible Spending

Dependent Care

401k Savings Plans

Paid Time Off

Job summary

AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. is seeking a VP, Underwriting to lead a diverse team across the Midwest and drive profitable growth for small to complex commercial risks.

The role emphasizes hands-on underwriting leadership, strategic portfolio management, and collaboration with sales, actuarial, and risk control partners to sustain growth and profitability.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of leadership experience with underwriting focus.
• Existing agent/broker relationships in the Midwest.
• Advanced risk assessment and product specialization.
• Ability to read complex contracts and reports.
• Strong presentations and stakeholder communication.
• Proven acquisition and integration knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the underwriting team to profitable growth.
• Negotiate terms with agents and brokers in a competitive market.
• Set strategy, guidelines, and pricing for the portfolio.
• Collaborate with Sales, Claims, Actuarial, and Risk Control.
• Coach, mentor, and develop employees for broader roles.

Skills

Underwriting leadership

Risk assessment

Strategic planning

Stakeholder collaboration

Data-driven decision making

Education

CPCU or other industry certifications

Tools

Underwriting systems

Job description

Overview

The VP, Underwriting role is an experienced professional that should have a proven track record of leading functional leaders and teams and building profitable commercial lines books distributed via independent agencies, brokers, and wholesale partners, targeting small, middle-market and complex risks across various targeted industries. classes. The VP, Underwriting will be a “hands‑on” technical expert focused on targeting a wide variety of commercial risks throughout the U.S. across. This individual maintains a solid understanding of AmTrust’s mission, vision, and values. Upholds the standards of the AmTrust organization. Reports to the Vice President – Midwest Region and has Underwriting responsibility across the 12 Midwest States: IL, IN, IA, KY, MI, MN, MO, ND, OH, SD, WI and WV

The VP, Underwriting role is an experienced professional that should have a proven track record of leading functional leaders and teams and building profitable commercial lines books distributed via independent agencies, brokers, and wholesale partners, targeting small, middle-market and complex risks across various targeted industries. classes. The VP, Underwriting will be a “hands‑on” technical expert focused on targeting a wide variety of commercial risks throughout the U.S. across. This individual maintains a solid understanding of AmTrust’s mission, vision, and values. Upholds the standards of the AmTrust organization. Reports to the Vice President – Midwest Region and has Underwriting responsibility across the 12 Midwest States: IL, IN, IA, KY, MI, MN, MO, ND, OH, SD, WI and WV

Responsibilities

• Leads leaders and a team that underwrites a profitable book of small, middle market and complex risks, employing the appropriate analytical diagnostics to assess acceptability.
• Demonstrate expertise in analyzing pricing adequacy.
• Negotiate terms and conditions in a highly complex and competitive environment with a broad range of independent agencies, brokers and wholesale partners.
• Exhibit advanced analytical and creative problem-solving skills with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks.
• Underwrite and develop a profitable book of business in support of strategic business plans while retaining a diversified mix of business to achieve overall growth and profit objectives.
• Lead the Underwriting team in developing strategy, position statements, underwriting authority and guidelines, portfolio management and pricing strategies, and a balanced scorecard for the company.
• Work closely with the Midwest Sales team in negotiating terms, conditions and premiums with agents and brokers for all lines of business.
• Continue the assessment of the current book of business and work closely with the team in ensuring continued profitability.
• Effective collaboration with AVP/RSD Sales partner and all internal business partners to drive profitable growth across the Midwest Region
• Work with Claims and Risk Control to identify claims trends and identify underwriting changes necessary to address claim development.
• Work with Actuarial to price the book to an underwriting profit
• Participate in reinsurance negotiations for treaties that support the business.
• Evaluate cost/benefit of market opportunities and new initiatives and make recommendations based upon cost/benefit analysis.
• Promotes and leads a performance enhancement culture by actively coaching and mentoring direct reports, providing regular feedback and developing employees for wider roles and responsibilities to foster professional growth and development.
• Managing change in a fast‑paced and dynamic environment to ensure high level of engagement and performance.
• Keeps current with market trends and demands.
• Performs other functionally related duties as assigned.

Required

Qualifications

• 8+ years of leadership experience, with a particular emphasis on underwriting.
• Existing agent and broker relationships within the Midwest States
• Advanced risk assessment skills with proven experience in product specialization.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret detailed subject matters including but not limited to; rate manuals, business and financial reports, contracts, legal documents, trade periodicals or professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to make effective and persuasive presentations and respond to questions from top management, group of managers, customers, or public groups.
• Strong skills in planning, organization and development.
• Strong visionary with sales and marketing skills and the ability to communicate the vision to internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience implementing a customer focused, service-oriented underwriting function.
• Involvement with successful acquisition strategies and knowledge of techniques for successful and rapid integration of acquired companies or new business of products and/or services.
• Ability to make sound decisions based on data and risk assessment as well as ability to make a positive impact on the long‑term success of the overall business.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills. Proven track record as a team player, able to foster excellent relationships and create a partnership atmosphere with internal and external stakeholders while achieving key objectives.
• A decisive and collaborative style that matches the speed of change and culture of the company.
• Strong critical thinking skills to lead the team to achieve optimum results.
• Property & Casualty insurance industry experience with increasing responsibility and prior supervisory experience leading a team of supervisors or managers.

Preferred

• 8+ years’ experience in a senior leadership role in underwriting.
• Existing agent and broker relationships within the Midwest States
• CPCU or other relevant industry certifications.
• Proficient understanding of underwriting systems and technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to strategically drive business growth and profitability.

Desired work location in Chicago, but can be based out of any of the 12 Midwest States

The expected salary range for this role is $150,200-$ 225,000 /year.

Please note that the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon a wide range of factors considered in making the compensation decision, including, but not limited to, candidate skills, experience, education and training, the scope and responsibilities of the role, as well as market and business considerations.

What We Offer

AmTrust Financial Services offers a competitive compensation package and excellent career advancement opportunities. Our benefits include: Medical & Dental Plans, Life Insurance, including eligible spouses & children, Health Care Flexible Spending, Dependent Care, 401k Savings Plans, Paid Time Off.

AmTrust strives to create a diverse and inclusive culture where thoughts and ideas of all employees are appreciated and respected. This concept encompasses but is not limited to human differences with regard to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, culture, religion or disabilities.

AmTrust values excellence and recognizes that by embracing the diverse backgrounds, skills, and perspectives of its workforce, it will sustain a competitive advantage and remain an employer of choice. Diversity is a business imperative, enabling us to attract, retain and develop the best talent available. We see diversity as more than just policies and practices. It is an integral part of who we are as a company, how we operate and how we see our future.