AVP, Casualty Underwriting Performance - E&S/Specialty and Commercial Lines

Nationwide Mutual Insurance•Columbus, OH

6d•$154,000 - $290,000

About The Position

Nationwide is seeking an enterprise-level casualty underwriting leader to support the VP in leading strategic initiatives across multiple casualty business lines. The role sets underwriting philosophy and strategic direction for the casualty portfolio, aligning underwriting execution with profitability goals and risk appetite. It applies deep expertise in E&S/Specialty and commercial casualty products, complex coverage and limits structures, market dynamics, and reinsurance to drive portfolio performance and elevate underwriting capabilities. The role partners across Pricing, Reserving, Corporate Reinsurance, Claims, Product, Legal, Actuarial, Distribution, and other functions, and represents Nationwide with reinsurance and distribution partners. It also leads, coaches, and develops Technical Directors and broader underwriting talent. This role operates with substantial independence and enterprise-wide scope and may directly or indirectly lead a team in a hybrid work environment. The position reports to the VP, Casualty Underwriting Performance. It is exempt and overtime-ineligible, with normal office working conditions; remote work may be considered. The position may be filled in any of the lower 48 U.S. states. Nationwide anticipated accepting applications until November 13, 2026, but the posting may close earlier. The national salary range is $154,000–$290,000, with an expected starting salary range of $154,000–$258,000; actual placement depends on factors including qualifications, role scope, and work location.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field.
Typically 10–25 years of commercial or E&S casualty underwriting experience, including at least five years of leadership experience managing underwriting leaders such as Technical Directors or underwriting managers.
Comprehensive knowledge of admitted and non-admitted casualty markets, domestic and international business, and automated and manually underwritten portfolios.
Experience across casualty segments such as small commercial, middle market, large accounts, umbrella/excess, and alternative markets.
Proficiency with primary, umbrella/excess, quota-shared, reinsured, and layered casualty programs, including attachment point and limits profile management.
Strong understanding of emerging and long-tail liability exposures, litigation trends, and social inflation impacts on casualty portfolios.
Demonstrated leadership in casualty products, insurance operations, field and staff functions, and industry trends, with ability to operate and represent the enterprise at a strategic, cross-portfolio level.
Ability to set strategic direction and hold technical leaders accountable for execution.
Strong decision-making, relationship-building, influence, and communication skills, including the ability to influence senior leaders and reinsurance partners, navigate ambiguity, and represent the organization in external market-facing initiatives.
Ability to develop underwriting leaders or technical experts and lead work across multiple casualty product lines, with a focus on results, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Regularly and consistently demonstrate Nationwide Values.

Nice To Haves

Post-graduate business-related studies.
Professional designations such as CPCU or ARM.
Exposure to both field and staff office operations.

Responsibilities

Set enterprise underwriting philosophy and strategic direction for the casualty portfolio, aligned with profitability and risk appetite targets.
Drive thought leadership on casualty market trends in pricing, coverage, limits, attachment points, and underwriting appetite.
Develop and maintain a strategic roadmap addressing market disruptors, including litigation trends, social inflation, and emerging liability exposures, and translate them into operational underwriting capabilities and guidance.
Engage with reinsurance brokers, reinsurers, and external markets to benchmark performance and strengthen Nationwide’s market position.
Partner with Corporate Reinsurance on casualty reinsurance strategy, including treaty design, ceded structure, and capacity management, where applicable.
Collaborate with Pricing on modeling, rate adequacy, limits profile, and exposure accumulation across the casualty book.
Monitor enterprise casualty portfolio performance and guide risk selection, capacity deployment, and complex coverage and program design.
Establish and maintain enterprise best practices across CLESS casualty underwriting, including underwriting guidelines and letters of authority.
Lead portfolio-level business reviews and drive corrective action plans when performance goals are at risk, resolving or escalating issues across product lines.
Ensure compliance with corporate underwriting standards and drive continuous improvement in production, retention, and expense management across the Casualty COE.
Partner with Claims, Legal, Actuarial, Product, Distribution, and other enterprise functions to resolve complex issues and improve underwriting outcomes.
Coach, mentor, and develop Technical Directors and broader underwriting talent, building technical leadership capability and addressing capability gaps.
Influence enterprise decisions on training investment, audit scope, vendor and data partnerships, and underwriting systems.
Collaborate with other Underwriting Performance teams to deliver actionable insights, key performance indicators, audit scopes, and third-party data that support profitable underwriting outcomes and capabilities.
Directly or indirectly lead a high-performing team in a hybrid work environment, depending on the organization structure.
Perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Life insurance.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
Paid time off, with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days per full calendar year, prorated quarterly based on hire date.
Nine paid holidays.
Eight hours of Lifetime paid time off.
Eight hours of Unity Day paid time off.
401(k) with company match.
Company-paid pension plan.
Business casual attire.