VP, Middle Market Underwriting

Position Overview

WCF Insurance is an “A” rated, innovative property and casualty carrier with more than a century of experience serving businesses across the Western United States. Since 1917, we have built our reputation on doing the right thing, being great at what we do, and helping others succeed. As we continue to grow, we are looking for individuals who share these values and want to contribute to delivering an excellent insurance experience.

• Lead Middle Market underwriting operations and achieving growth, profitability, retention, and combined ratio goals.
• Own the Middle Market profit and loss, underwriting strategy, and operating plan across assigned territories.
• Oversee and develop underwriting teams to achieve department and company initiatives and strategy.
• Attract and retain quality business to achieve loss, retention, profit, growth and combined ratio targets.
• Implementing underwriting guidelines, authority levels, policies, procedures, and audit processes.
• Analyze data to understand trends, progress to goals, underwriter book management and improvement opportunities.
• Developing a culture that is customer focused and embraces innovation.
• Approve underwriting decisions exceeding delegated authority and provide oversight on complex accounts.
• Analyze portfolio performance, underwriting results, and market trends to identify opportunities and risks.
• Partner with Sales, Product, IT, and other departments to execute strategic priorities.
• Support rate and form filings, product development, and underwriting innovation.
• Build strong relationships with agents, policyholders, and key industry partners.
• Own business results and hold leaders accountable for performance.
• Use data and performance metrics to drive decisions and improve outcomes.
• Create a culture focused on customer service, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Align business unit priorities with WCF's enterprise strategy.
• Effectively lead organizational change and support business growth.
• Develop successors and strengthen leadership bench strength.
• Create and maintain strong positive working relationships with other departments to achieve company goals.

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related field.
• Master’s degree or CPCU, CIC, CRIS designation strongly preferred.
• At least eight years of commercial lines underwriting experience; including leadership of middle market underwriting operations.
• At least three years of insurance company leadership experience.
• Proven success managing underwriting profitability, portfolio performance, and multi-state operations.
• Strong knowledge of property and causality underwriting, rating, regulations, products, market conditions, insurance company operations and finance.
• Excellent in implementing underwriting strategies, authority structures, operational improvements, and technology initiatives.
• Strong relationship building skills at all levels with demonstrated ability to influence and engage stakeholders and translate information into actions plans
• Ability to manage vision and purpose, set direction aligned with company strategy and lead the business unit with innovative and creative thinking.
• Experience with performance metrics and measures, customer assessment, cost/benefit analysis, benchmarking and problem identification.
• Demonstrated experience leading leaders, developing talent, and building organizational bench strength.

WCF Insurance offers an extensive compensation package. Benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Company paid life insurance 401K with a generous 6% employer match
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Time off to volunteer in the local community
• All employees earn 4 weeks of vacation their first year.

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