Commercial Lines Underwriting Manager

A well-established organization in the insurance industry is seeking an experienced Commercial Lines Underwriting Manager to lead and inspire its Commercial Lines underwriting team. The role involves directing underwriting activities, optimizing portfolio performance, and fostering strong agency relationships to ensure profitable growth and high-quality risk selection. The manager will utilize underwriting expertise, market insight, and analytics to develop strategic initiatives that align with organizational goals while creating a motivating environment for professional development and team excellence.

Primary focus on property, including BOP, some commercial auto, and liability within BOP.

• Develop and implement underwriting and portfolio strategies that support company growth and profitability objectives.
• Oversee underwriting quality, risk assessment, authority limits, compliance, workflows, and service standards to maintain high operational excellence.
• Evaluate portfolio, territory, and agency performance to identify growth opportunities, emerging trends, and address underperforming segments.
• Provide technical guidance on complex or high-value accounts to ensure sound risk management.
• Improve underwriting processes, technology, and automation initiatives in collaboration with internal stakeholders to enhance efficiency.
• Analyze portfolio, territory, agency, and underwriting performance metrics and translate findings into actionable strategies for growth and improved results.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators to measure operational and strategic success.
• Partner with cross-departmental teams including Product, Actuarial, Marketing, Claims, Operations, and IT to implement initiatives affecting commercial lines performance.
• Build trusted relationships with independent agents, assist in business reviews, and identify opportunities for growth aligned with company appetite.
• Clearly communicate underwriting standards, product offerings, priorities, and expectations to agency partners.
• Lead, mentor, and develop underwriting staff, fostering a culture of high performance, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
• Set team and individual goals, provide coaching, and manage performance to ensure professional growth and alignment with organizational objectives.

• 8-10+ years of progressive Property and Casualty insurance experience with significant Commercial Lines underwriting background.
• Demonstrated experience leading underwriting teams and managing portfolio, territory, or agency-level results.
• Proven ability to leverage analytics to drive business decisions and develop productive agency relationships.
• Experience working across underwriting and related business functions; project or process-improvement experience is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required; relevant professional designation such as CPCU is preferred.
• Strong expertise in Commercial Lines underwriting and portfolio management.
• Excellent analytical, strategic, and business acumen.
• Effective leadership, coaching, communication, relationship-building, and influencing skills.
• Sound judgment and decision-making capabilities to balance growth, profitability, risk, and agency expectations.