VP, Specialty Product Line

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…