Assistant Vice President / Vice President Underwriter, SDI

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance•Atlanta, GA

1d•$170,000 - $220,000

About The Position

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) is seeking an experienced construction insurance professional to join its team as an Assistant Vice President / Vice President, Subcontractor Default Insurance (SDI). This highly visible leadership role will help build and grow BHSI’s SDI capabilities and shape the business’s strategy, underwriting approach, market presence, and long-term portfolio. The position calls for deep construction and risk-transfer expertise, sound underwriting judgment, strong commercial instincts, and the ability to develop lasting relationships with sophisticated contractors and distribution partners. The successful candidate will work with significant autonomy and accountability while collaborating across underwriting, claims, actuarial, legal, risk engineering, and other BHSI functions. BHSI describes itself as a strategic insurance partner providing commercial property, casualty, and specialty insurance coverage and service to customers and brokers worldwide. Its values include respect, integrity, excellence, collaboration, and passion, and it emphasizes an inclusive culture where teammates can contribute and be recognized.

Requirements

At least 5 years of relevant experience in Subcontractor Default Insurance, construction insurance underwriting, risk management, surety, or a closely related discipline.
Demonstrated expertise evaluating large and sophisticated general contractors and construction managers.
Strong understanding of contractor financial statements, work-in-progress schedules, backlog, cash flow, subcontractor prequalification, project controls, and construction operations.
Thorough understanding of SDI program structures, coverage, retentions, claims dynamics, and loss-mitigation practices.
Strong analytical capabilities, sound judgment, and the ability to make decisions when information is incomplete.
Demonstrated ability to originate and develop business and build trusted relationships internally and externally.
Ability to negotiate complex insurance structures while balancing customer needs with disciplined underwriting.
Strong written, verbal, and communication skills.
Collaborative approach and willingness to work across disciplines to solve problems and make informed decisions.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant professional experience.
Ability to travel as appropriate to develop and manage customer, broker, and industry relationships.

Nice To Haves

Significant, direct SDI experience is strongly preferred.
Candidates with a construction project and/or risk management background and experience managing SDI programs will be considered.
CPCU, ARM, CRIS, CPA, engineering, construction-management, or other relevant professional credentials are a plus.

Responsibilities

Help develop and execute BHSI’s SDI business strategy, including appetite, distribution, underwriting approach, portfolio management, and policy management.
Source, evaluate, structure, price, and negotiate complex SDI opportunities with leading general contractors and construction managers.
Assess contractors’ financial condition, operational capabilities, subcontractor prequalification and monitoring practices, project controls, geographic and trade concentrations, loss experience, and risk-management discipline.
Develop an understanding of customers’ construction portfolios, operating models, subcontractor management practices, and risk-retention strategies.
Establish appropriate program structures, limits, retentions, terms, conditions, and risk-management expectations.
Build and maintain relationships with contractors, brokers, and other participants in the construction insurance marketplace.
Partner with Claims throughout the account lifecycle, including on emerging subcontractor issues, mitigation strategies, and underwriting lessons.
Collaborate with actuarial, finance, legal, and senior leadership on pricing, aggregation, portfolio performance, and emerging construction trends.
Monitor changes in contractor financial strength, subcontractor performance, construction economics, geographic and trade concentrations, and other developing risks.
Help establish scalable underwriting standards, processes, tools, and portfolio-management disciplines for the growing SDI business.
Represent BHSI in the construction marketplace and contribute to its reputation as a knowledgeable, responsive, long-term risk partner.
Mentor and develop teammates as the business grows.