VP, Specialty Product Line

Liberty Mutual Insurance; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Liberty Mutual Insurance in Columbus seeks a Senior Leader to manage the Small Commercial Specialty underwriting organization, setting strategy and accountable for profitable growth and underwriting performance across specialty niches.

You will lead a diverse team of underwriting managers and underwriters, partner with actuarial, claims, product, and distribution, and maintain external relationships with agents and brokers while navigating regulatory changes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business or related field required; MBA and CPCU strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive underwriting experience, including at least 4-5 years in underwriting management/leadership.
• Inland Marine and Farm & Ranch experience preferred.
• Demonstrated multi-line underwriting expertise in pricing and coverage.
• Experience building distribution/agent relationships, with demonstrated commitment to customer service.
• Strong financial and analytical acumen, with the ability to communicate complex analyses to executives.
• Willingness/ability to travel as needed (up to 25-33%).

Responsibilities

• Sets underwriting and product strategy for the Small Commercial Specialty segment(s), developing and executing short- and long-term business plans to meet targets.
• Owns full P&L accountability for the specialty portfolio(s) and communicates results, risks, and opportunities to senior management.
• Leads and develops a team of underwriting managers and/or underwriters, driving talent development and succession planning.
• Holds significant underwriting authority and serves as the escalation point for complex decisions.
• Creates marketing, underwriting, and distribution strategies for specialty lines and strengthens agent relationships.
• Monitors market trends and regulatory developments; adjusts pricing and product strategy as needed.
• Oversees underwriting processes, standards, and training in partnership with leadership.
• Maintains external market presence and represents the organization with stakeholders.

Skills

Underwriting leadership

Financial analysis

Strategic planning

Relationship building

Industry knowledge

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business

MBA preferred

CPCU designation preferred

Job description

Description

Leads the Small Commercial Specialty product and underwriting organization, holding end-to-end accountability for the strategic direction, profitable growth, and underwriting performance of one or more specialty niche business segments within Small Commercial. Sets and executes underwriting and product strategy, drives portfolio profitability (premium growth, underwriting profit, expense control, and retention). Leads a team of underwriting managers and/or underwriters, holding full people-leadership responsibility for attraction, development, pay and performance management, and communication of strategy. Serves as the escalation point on complex or novel underwriting decisions and maintains a visible external presence with agents, brokers, and industry stakeholders. Partners closely with actuarial, claims, product, distribution, and technology teams to ensure the specialty portfolio is well-positioned, well-priced, and well-run.

Key Responsibilities

• Sets underwriting and product strategy for the Small Commercial Specialty segment(s), developing and executing short- and long-term business plans to meet premium, growth, retention, and underwriting profit targets.
• Owns full P&L accountability for the specialty portfolio(s); monitors performance, drives corrective action, and keeps senior management apprised of results, risks, and opportunities.
• Leads, develops, and manages a team of underwriting managers and/or underwriters — driving attraction, coaching, performance management, and succession planning, and cultivating a culture of underwriting excellence and teamwork across underwriting, product, marketing, and actuarial functions.
• Holds significant underwriting authority and serves as the point of escalation and referral for complex, high-impact, or novel underwriting decisions.
• Develops marketing, underwriting, and distribution strategies for the specialty product line(s), evaluating alternative distribution channels and cultivating strong relationships with agents, brokers, and other distribution partners.
• Monitors competitive dynamics, market trends, and legal/regulatory developments; recommends and drives changes to pricing, appetite, or product to protect and grow the portfolio.
• Oversees underwriting effectiveness across the segment, including compliance, underwriting process and quality assurance, underwriting standards, and knowledge management/training, in partnership with underwriting and business leadership.
• Maintains a significant external market presence on behalf of the company (e.g., industry engagements, speaking opportunities) and represents the organization with senior stakeholders, positioning it as a known, credible leader in the specialty market.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business or related field required; MBA and/or professional insurance designation (e.g., CPCU) strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive underwriting experience, including at least 4-5 years of underwriting management/leadership experience; Inland Marine and Farm & Ranch experience preferred.
• Demonstrated multi-line underwriting expertise in pricing and coverage, with proven ability to evaluate high-impact and novel underwriting risks.
• Track record of developing and executing multi-year strategies with actionable go-to-market plans, and of managing a portfolio to profitable growth.
• Experience building and leveraging distribution/agent relationships, with demonstrated commitment to customer and agent service.
• Strong financial and analytical acumen, with the ability to communicate complex analyses clearly to executive and external audiences.
• Willingness/ability to travel as needed to support field, distribution, and industry engagement (approx. up to 25-33%).

About Us

Pay Philosophy: The typical starting salary range for this role is determined by a number of factors including skills, experience, education, certifications and location. The full salary range for this role reflects the competitive labor market value for all employees in these positions across the national market and provides an opportunity to progress as employees grow and develop within the role. Some roles at Liberty Mutual have a corresponding compensation plan which may include commission and/or bonus earnings at rates that vary based on multiple factors set forth in the compensation plan for the role.

At Liberty Mutual, our goal is to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and can thrive. We build an environment that welcomes a wide range of perspectives and experiences, with inclusion embedded in every aspect of our culture and reflected in everyday interactions. This comes to life through comprehensive benefits, workplace flexibility, professional development opportunities, and a host of opportunities provided through our Employee Resource Groups. Each employee plays a role in creating our inclusive culture, which supports every individual to do their best work. Together, we cultivate a community where everyone can make a meaningful impact for our business, our customers, and the communities we serve.

We value your hard work, integrity and commitment to make things better, and we put people first by offering you benefits that support your life and well-being. To learn more about our benefit offerings please visit: https://www.libertymutualgroup.com/about-lm/careers/benefits

Liberty Mutual is an equal opportunity employer. We will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, veteran's status, pregnancy, genetic information or on any basis prohibited by federal, state or local law.

Fair Chance Notices

• California
• Los Angeles Incorporated
• Los Angeles Unincorporated
• Philadelphia
• San Francisco