VP Underwriting, Excess Casualty

Argonaut Management Services, Inc; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 171,000 - 257,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Argo Group is seeking a senior leader to guide the excess casualty underwriting unit in Los Angeles. You will drive profitable growth, develop strategic initiatives, and collaborate with executive management to reach corporate goals.

The role requires deep underwriting experience, strong leadership, and the ability to manage a mid-to-large team on-site during standard business hours. A bachelor’s degree is required, with an emphasis on strategic risk management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and minimum 15 years underwriting experience with leadership responsibilities.
• Management experience with a proven ability to lead a team; 10 years preferred.
• Strong market knowledge, producer relationships, and strategic thinking.
• Excellent written and oral communication; able to influence decisions.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction to the excess casualty underwriting unit.
• Drive profitable growth and lead business development initiatives.
• Collaborate with executive leadership on strategic/tactical plans.
• Lead and mentor regional staff; recruit and develop talent.
• Analyze profit and loss statements to inform decisions; manage risk.
• Build strong distribution relationships and negotiate partnerships.

Skills

Underwriting leadership

Team management

Strategic planning

Executive collaboration

Financial analysis

Communication skills

MS Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Company

Argo Group

Argo Group is an underwriter of specialty insurance products in the property and casualty market. Argo offers a full line of products and services designed to meet the unique coverage and claims-handling needs of businesses. The Argo entities are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Clearbrook Group Holdings Inc.

Job Description

To provide strategic guidance and direction to the excess casualty underwriting business unit in regard to business development, underwriting excellence, and operational/shared services to promote profitable underwriting results. Responsible for driving profitable growth for assigned product or territory. Collaborates with executive management to develop strategic and tactical initiatives to reach the organization's goals.

This is a 100% in-office position. Candidates must be able to work on-site at a designated company office during standard business hours.

Essential Responsibilities

• Identify and support profitable new business and product opportunities.
• Identify strategic agencies and facilitate effective partnerships with underwriting and marketing.
• Lead process improvementand underwriting strategies for assigned area.
• Identify program opportunities and coordinate underwriting resources to accomplish.
• Drive product and platform expansion.
• Establish and communicate production and profit-related goals including new business development, distribution platform management, target loss ratios, policy count, hit ratios, renewal retention as it relates to new product/program launch, etc.
• Provide leadership, mentoring and advice to regional staff regarding underwriting risks.
• Proactively develop strategies and actions to resolve adverse trends or deviations from established underwriting standards identified through producer and account review audits.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with distribution community at a senior level. Adds tangible value to the composition of our current distribution platform.
• Collaborate with executive management when needed to analyze profit and loss statements to make appropriate business decisions.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships within and outside Argo Group to develop and drive new business opportunities.
• Act as a role model demonstrating belief in, and commitment to, the aspiration values of the Argo Group continuing to build and lead a value-based organization committed to long-term success.
• Typically manages a mid-size team of professional level underwriters and people managers.
• Participate in the recruitment and selection process to ensure the organization has the necessary talent to accomplish business goals.
• Promote an environment that encourages self-motivation, teamwork and collaboration.
• Ensure professional development of underwriting team including continued growth in underwriting knowledge and skills as well as professional behavior.

Additional Responsibilities

• As necessary, work with reinsurers and reinsurance intermediaries.

Qualifications / Experience Required

• Bachelor's degree and minimum of 15 years underwriting experience with experience underwriting and marketing or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Management experience required with a proven ability to successfully lead a team. 10 years management experience highly preferred.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the external market, producer community, competitive environment and contributes to the development of business strategy.
• Superior oral and written communication skills with the ability to influence decisions.
• Ability to influence, motivates, and promotes a team atmosphere to achieve desired results.
• Recognized as a leader within the organization that provides advice and guidance to others.
• Ability to read, understand and interpret company financial and actuarial reports to achieve business goals.
• Strong ability to partner with claims, finance, actuarial, IT and marketing resources.
• Independent decision maker - takes full responsibility for making decisions and consequences associated with decisions.
• Demonstrate significant contribution to underwriting profit.
• Continually seeks opportunities for niche products and potential agent opportunities.
• Experience in delivering presentations to internal and external audiences.
• Requires demonstrated experience in developing and implementing an annual department business plan.
• Proven employee development, mentoring, coaching and performance management skills.
• Recognized as a leader within the organization that provides advice and guidance to others.
• Ability to travel as needed, and with short notice.
• Proficient in the use of computer programs, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Strong computer skills required. Must be able to work closely with various support systems and understand and apply basic programming tactics.

The base salary range provided below is for hires in those geographic areas only and will be commensurate with candidate experience. Pay ranges for candidates in other locations may differ based on the cost of labor in that location.

In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for an annual bonus based on company and individual performance as well as a generous benefits package.

• Los Angeles and San Francisco Pay Range: $171,000 - $257,000

PLEASE NOTE

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. At this time, we are not able to sponsor or assume sponsorship of employment visas.

If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar state or local law and you wish to discuss potential reasonable accommodations related to applying for employment with us, please contact our Benefits Department at 210-321-8400.

Benefits and Compensation

We offer a competitive compensation package, performance-based incentives, and a comprehensive benefits program-including health, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.

Core Values

At Clearbrook our Core Values are Integrity, Collaboration, Pursuit of Excellence and Forward Thinking. These values reflect who we are today and who we aspire to be - guiding how we work, how we lead and how we succeed.