VP, Middle Market Underwriting

WCF Insurance; Sandy (OR); On-site; USD 146,000 - 206,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive bonus opportunities

Relocation assistance may be available

401K with 6% employer match

Vacation and time off

Job summary

WCF Insurance, headquartered in Sandy, OR, seeks a Vice President of Middle Market Underwriting to lead underwriting operations across six states. The role demands deep P&C expertise and a focus on profitable growth, portfolio management, and talent development.

It is a full-time, exempt position with relocation consideration and executive-level compensation. The VP will guide strategy, performance, and partnerships with sales, product, IT, and other departments to drive innovation and results,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related field required; Master’s or related professional designation preferred.
• At least eight years of Property & Casualty commercial lines underwriting experience with leadership in middle market.
• At least three years of insurance company leadership experience.
• Proven success managing underwriting profitability, portfolio performance, and multi-state operations.
• Strong knowledge of property and casualty underwriting, rating, regulations, and market conditions.
• Excellent at implementing underwriting strategies, authority structures, and technology initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead Middle Market underwriting operations and achieve growth, profitability, retention, and ratio goals.
• Own the Middle Market profit and loss, underwriting strategy, and operating plan across territories.
• Oversee and develop underwriting teams to meet initiatives and strategy.
• Attract and retain quality business to achieve loss, retention, profit, growth and ratio targets.
• Implement underwriting guidelines, authority levels, policies, and audit processes.
• Analyze data to understand trends, progress to goals, and opportunities for improvement.
• Develop a customer-focused culture that embraces innovation.
• Approve decisions exceeding delegated authority and provide oversight on complex accounts.
• Analyze portfolio performance, underwriting results, and market trends for opportunities and risks.
• Partner with Sales, Product, IT and others to execute strategic priorities.
• Support rate and form filings, product development, and underwriting innovation.
• Build strong relationships with agents, policyholders, and industry partners.
• Own business results and hold leaders accountable for performance.
• Use data and metrics to drive decisions and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Underwriting strategy

Portfolio management

Relationship building

Data analysis

Change leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business or related field

Master’s degree or CPCU, CIC, CRIS designation

Job description

WCF Insurance is an “A” rated, innovative property and casualty carrier with more than a century of experience serving businesses across the Western United States. Since 1917, we have built our reputation on doing the right thing, being great at what we do, and helping others succeed. As we continue to grow, we are looking for individuals who share these values and want to contribute to delivering an excellent insurance experience.

Position Overview

As the Vice President of Middle Market Underwriting, you’ll lead underwriting operations across six states, guiding strategy, profitability, and portfolio performance. This role requires deep expertise in Property & Casualty insurance and a strong understanding of the Middle Market segment, including underwriting strategy, portfolio management, agency relationships, and profitable growth. Working through a team of underwriting leaders, you’ll help develop talent, strengthen underwriting discipline, and collaborate with business partners to implement initiatives that support WCF’s growth and long-term objectives.

This is a full-time, exempt position based out of WCF Insurance’s Sandy headquarters. This position is open to external and internal candidates. Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and candidate qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead Middle Market underwriting operations and achieving growth, profitability, retention, and combined ratio goals.
• Own the Middle Market profit and loss, underwriting strategy, and operating plan across assigned territories.
• Oversee and develop underwriting teams to achieve department and company initiatives and strategy.
• Attract and retain quality business to achieve loss, retention, profit, growth and combined ratio targets.
• Implementing underwriting guidelines, authority levels, policies, procedures, and audit processes.
• Analyze data to understand trends, progress to goals, underwriter book management and improvement opportunities.
• Developing a culture that is customer focused and embraces innovation.
• Approve underwriting decisions exceeding delegated authority and provide oversight on complex accounts.
• Analyze portfolio performance, underwriting results, and market trends to identify opportunities and risks.
• Partner with Sales, Product, IT, and other departments to execute strategic priorities.
• Support rate and form filings, product development, and underwriting innovation.
• Build strong relationships with agents, policyholders, and key industry partners.
• Own business results and hold leaders accountable for performance.
• Use data and performance metrics to drive decisions and improve outcomes.
• Create a culture focused on customer service, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Align business unit priorities with WCF’s enterprise strategy.
• Effectively lead organizational change and support business growth.
• Develop successors and strengthen leadership bench strength.
• Create and maintain strong positive working relationships with other departments to achieve company goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related field. Master’s degree or CPCU, CIC, CRIS designation strongly preferred.
• At least eight years of Property & Casualty commercial lines underwriting experience; leadership of middle market underwriting operations preferred.
• At least three years of insurance company leadership experience.
• Proven success managing underwriting profitability, portfolio performance, and multi-state operations.
• Strong knowledge of property and causality underwriting, rating, regulations, products, market conditions, insurance company operations and finance.
• Excellent in implementing underwriting strategies, authority structures, operational improvements, and technology initiatives.
• Strong relationship building skills at all levels with demonstrated ability to influence and engage stakeholders and translate information into actions plans
• Ability to manage vision and purpose, set direction aligned with company strategy and lead the business unit with innovative and creative thinking.
• Experience with performance metrics and measures, customer assessment, cost/benefit analysis, benchmarking and problem identification.
• Demonstrated experience leading leaders, developing talent, and building organizational bench strength.

Compensation & Executive Benefits

In addition to the base salary, Vice Presidents are eligible for executive bonus opportunities and receive allowances associated with WCF’s leadership positions. Starting salary may exceed the posted range based on the selected candidate’s qualifications, including relevant experience, education, specialized skills, certifications, and overall alignment with the position’s responsibilities.

Benefits

WCF Insurance offers an extensive compensation package. Benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Company paid life insurance
• 401K with a generous 6% employer match
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Time off to volunteer in the local community
• All employees earn 4 weeks of vacation their first year.

The expected salary range for this position is 146,100.00-206,200.00. This salary range depends on experience, education, and location for this specific position.

Values

The person in this position must demonstrate the WCF values of doing the right thing, being great at your job, and helping others succeed to fulfill the company’s mission of excellence.

Working Conditions

This position is based in an office environment with adequate temperature and lighting control. There are no known hazardous or unpleasant conditions caused by noise, dust, or other environmental factors. There are potentially high-stress situations that require meeting deadlines. The employee must meet the job attendance requirements for this position.

Our People

WCF strives to provide an excellent work experience and cultivate an inclusive environment where anyone who embodies our values will thrive.

WCF Insurance is an Equal Opportunity Employer

WCF Insurance provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants and employees regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability that can be reasonably accommodated, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.