Executive Director - Early Career Programs; INSURANCE

COMPANY INTRO

ARU, founded in 2016, has quickly risen to become the U.S. leader in specialty property insurance underwriting, product development, loss control, and technology.

The Executive Director – Early Career Programs (EDECP) will work closely with Will Johnson and lead the design and execution of a world‑class MGA / MGU summer internship program. The role involves partnering with regional colleges and universities, especially UNC, to champion specialty insurance to students and grow the next generation of insurance talent.

• You will work closely with founder Will Johnson, a nationally‑recognized insurance leader. You will lead the development and execution of a world‑class educational and professional development program.
• You will receive a competitive compensation package, with base annual salary, annual bonus, and company‑provided benefits, including 100% employer‑paid health insurance, generous PTO, and a 100% vested retirement plan with company match.
• You will have a position in a fast‑growing, modern, technology‑based company where your contribution will be critical to success and directly improve the lives of others.

• Help ARU be the best in the world at what we do and actively participate in collaborative problem‑solving.
• Treat every assignment as an opportunity to learn, grow as an insurance professional, and prepare for increased responsibilities.
• Represent ARU professionally, building relationships with university leaders, students, and industry partners.
• Address internal and external business challenges with urgency, thoroughness, and accuracy.
• Program Vision & Design
  • Architect a “better‑than‑best‑practice” internship program demystifying specialty insurance across MGA, underwriting, claims, loss control, operations, sales, data, GIS, marketing, software, AI, etc.
  • Build a modular curriculum blending classroom sessions, simulations, project sprints, and job‑shadow rotations across ARU teams.
  • Define clear learning outcomes and map each module to on‑job skills and measurable competencies.
• University Partnerships & Outreach
  • Own relationships with priority schools, especially UNC, and other regional/national universities; secure faculty champions and career‑services partners.
  • Design year‑round campus engagement: guest lectures, micro‑workshops, student case competitions, and “Risk Studios” hosted at ARU.
  • Create easy‑access pathways for non‑business majors to discover specialty insurance careers.
• Recruiting & Selection
  • Build a high‑signal recruiting funnel: targeted outreach, portfolio‑based applications, structured interviews, work‑sample assessments, and reference checks.
  • Champion diversity of backgrounds and ensure equitable, consistent selection processes.
• Instruction & Talent Development
  • Personally teach cornerstone modules such as Intro to MGAs/MGUs, Risk Thinking & Judgment, Insurance as a Data Product.
  • Identify opportunities for field instruction in collaboration with ARU resources.
  • Coach interns weekly, deliver actionable feedback, and cultivate professional polish.
• Program Operations & Experience
  • Own the end‑to‑end intern journey: onboarding, schedules, rotations, mentors, events, housing guidance, and showcase demo days.
  • Ensure a safe, compliant environment; manage policies, handbooks, and risk protocols.
• Brand, Marketing & Storytelling
  • Partner with Marketing to build an on‑campus brand that is smart, modern, and unmistakably specialty‑insurance.
  • Produce high‑quality collateral: landing pages, syllabus snapshots, student spotlights, and post‑program case studies.
• Vendor & Budget Management
  • Source, contract, and manage expert third‑party instructors, assessment providers, and experiential‑learning partners.
  • Build and manage the annual budget; track ROI with rigor.
• Data, Outcomes & Continuous Improvement
  • Define and track success metrics such as application volume, offer‑accept rate, NPS of 70+, conversion to full‑time, time‑to‑productivity, and hiring manager satisfaction.
  • Run after‑action reviews; iterate the program each cycle and publish insights to senior leadership.
• Technology & AI Enablement
  • Leverage ARU’s…