Chief Underwriting Officer Construction Program

The Jonus Group•Walnut Creek, CA

About The Position

Seeking an experienced and highly skilled Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) to lead the underwriting strategy, portfolio performance, and carrier/reinsurance relationships for a growing construction-focused MGA/MGU. This is a unique opportunity to join an organization at an early stage and play a pivotal role in building a best-in-class construction underwriting platform. The ideal candidate will bring extensive expertise in commercial construction underwriting, particularly in California construction risks, and possess a strong reputation within the reinsurance and underwriting community.

Requirements

A minimum of 7+ years of commercial insurance underwriting experience, with preference for senior-level expertise.
Deep knowledge of commercial construction insurance, particularly in California construction risks.
Strong technical underwriting skills across primary general liability and excess liability.
Experience underwriting risks related to homebuilders, general contractors, and construction-related exposures.
A proven track record of profitable underwriting and disciplined risk selection.
Established relationships and credibility with reinsurers, carriers, brokers, and wholesale distribution.
A reputation as a technically sound and respected underwriter within the market.
Experience developing or managing underwriting guidelines, appetite, authority, and portfolio strategy.
Strong communication and leadership skills.
An entrepreneurial mindset with the desire to build and grow a new underwriting platform.

Responsibilities

Serve as the senior underwriting authority for the construction program.
Develop and maintain underwriting guidelines, appetite, pricing philosophy, and risk selection standards.
Underwrite and oversee California construction risks, including homebuilders, general contractors, primary general liability, excess liability, and construction-related casualty exposures.
Build a disciplined and profitable portfolio while supporting strategic growth initiatives.
Establish underwriting authority levels and referral protocols.
Collaborate with the brokerage sister company to leverage market intelligence, distribution, and producer relationships.
Build and maintain strong relationships with carriers, reinsurers, actuaries, and other key market partners.
Represent the organization as a credible underwriting authority with reinsurers and capacity providers.
Participate in the development and negotiation of reinsurance and capacity arrangements.
Monitor portfolio performance, including loss ratios, severity trends, and overall profitability.
Develop underwriting standards and processes to support organizational scaling.
Mentor and build an underwriting team as the program grows.
Partner with senior leadership on strategic growth initiatives and new product opportunities.
Maintain a strong market presence and reputation within the construction insurance community.