VP, Pet Insurance Product & Underwriting

Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC; Illinois; On-site; USD 195,000 - 275,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Parental leave

Retirement savings plan

Paid time off

Wellness day off

Job summary

Independence Pet Holdings is seeking a Vice President, Product, Underwriting & Insurance Products to lead product strategy, pricing, underwriting standards, and governance across North America. You will partner with carrier, operations, finance, legal, and commercial teams to drive profitable growth and regulatory compliance.

The role requires building and mentoring Product, Underwriting, and actuarial teams, developing innovative insurance products, and guiding go‑to‑market initiatives across

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Actuarial Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Finance, Risk Management, Business, Data Science, or a related quantitative discipline.
• Associate or Fellow designation from the SOA or CAS.
• 10+ years of insurance industry experience with significant responsibility in product management, underwriting, pricing, actuarial analysis, or insurance operations.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive leadership experience in product, underwriting, or insurance management roles.
• Demonstrated experience developing insurance products, underwriting guidelines, and pricing strategies.
• Experience with insurance regulatory filings, rate development, and form management.
• Strong knowledge of personal lines, property & casualty insurance, and risk management principles.
• Proven success leading cross-functional initiatives within matrix organizations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute short and long-term product strategies aligned with company growth and profitability objectives.
• Lead the design, development, implementation, and enhancement of pet insurance products, pricing structures, coverage offerings, and underwriting programs.
• Conduct market research, competitive analysis, and industry trend assessments to identify opportunities for innovation and product expansion.
• Establish annual business plans, budgets, and performance objectives for Product and Underwriting functions.
• Ensure products, services, pricing, and risk eligibility guidelines meet the evolving needs of customers, MGA partners, and strategic stakeholders.
• Oversee go-to-market strategies and product implementation initiatives across all channels.
• Direct actuarial analyses, pricing strategies, and financial modeling to support growth and profitability targets.
• Leverage advanced pricing methodologies utilizing predictive analytics, statistical modeling, and emerging data sources.
• Analyze portfolio performance, loss trends, retention metrics, utilization patterns, and profitability at both geographic and product levels.
• Establish management reporting and KPIs to monitor business performance and identify corrective actions when necessary.
• Drive continuous enhancement of pricing sophistication and analytical capabilities to maximize underwriting margin and customer retention.
• Establish and maintain underwriting philosophy, policies, procedures, risk acceptance guidelines, and governance frameworks.
• Ensure underwriting execution aligns with strategic objectives, regulatory requirements, and profitability goals.
• Conduct underwriting and claims audits to evaluate performance, compliance, and operational effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain underwriting manuals, rules, rating plans, guidelines, and related documentation.
• Monitor underwriting quality, portfolio mix, and emerging risk trends, implementing action plans to address adverse developments.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to optimize risk assessment and risk management practices.
• Lead the development, maintenance, filing, and approval of policy forms, endorsements, rates, rules, and product documentation.
• Prepare and submit state regulatory filings and respond to regulatory inquiries and objections.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable insurance regulations across the United States.
• Maintain strong relationships with regulators, industry associations, carrier partners, and external stakeholders.
• Provide oversight for underwriting compliance and governance requirements.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with the centralized Product team, carrier partners, fronting carriers, regulators, and industry organizations.
• Collaborate with business leaders to identify growth opportunities and support strategic initiatives.
• Serve as a senior representative in discussions related to risk exposure, product development, underwriting strategy, and business performance.
• Assist in the development and negotiation of MGA and partner agreements.
• Prepare and deliver executive presentations, business cases, and strategic recommendations to leadership and partners.
• Lead, develop, and mentor Product, Underwriting, and actuarial teams.
• Build organizational capabilities through talent development, succession planning, and ongoing training programs.
• Recruit, retain, and develop high-performing leaders and subject matter experts.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Work cross-functionally to ensure effective execution of strategic initiatives and operational excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Regulatory knowledge

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree; actuarial/science related; SOA/CAS designation

Tools

Actuarial software

Statistical modeling tools

Job description

Independence Pet Holdings is seeking a Vice President, Product, Underwriting & Insurance Products to lead product strategy, pricing, underwriting standards, and governance across North America. You will partner with carrier, operations, finance, legal, and commercial teams to drive profitable growth and regulatory compliance.

The role requires building and mentoring Product, Underwriting, and actuarial teams, developing innovative insurance products, and guiding go‑to‑market initiatives across