Commercial Property Underwriting Leader (Director)

Shepherd • Fort Worth, TX

23h • $250,000 - $350,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Shepherd is launching a Retail Commercial Property vertical to expand its current Property and Inland Marine offerings. The Commercial Property Underwriting Leader will help build the new vertical and define its underwriting strategy, go-to-market approach, and path to profitable growth. The role calls for deep commercial property expertise, a strong retail broker network, leadership experience, and an entrepreneurial approach to building a new business with modern technology.

The role defines the production strategy and underwriting framework for retail commercial property, underwrites primary and excess property business, and owns the vertical’s financial and portfolio results. The leader partners with Product, Engineering, and Data to develop underwriting workflows and tools, builds and coaches the underwriting team as the book grows, and works across underwriting, claims, actuarial, customer experience, and finance. The position is based in Shepherd’s New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, or Dallas–Fort Worth offices, with approximately 25% travel.

The base salary range is $250,000–$350,000, plus an annual performance bonus and equity. Offers within the range depend on location, experience, relationships, and market following.

Requirements

• 10+ years of commercial property underwriting experience, with deep expertise in retail middle-market and large accounts across classes such as real estate, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, and technology.
• Proven record of profitable growth, including quoting, binding, and building a property book while managing loss-ratio and combined-ratio targets.
• Strong technical command of risk selection, COPE analysis, valuation, pricing, coverage, primary and excess layering, and manuscript forms.
• Hands-on CAT modeling experience using RMS, AIR, or Verisk, and disciplined aggregate and exposure management.
• Established regional and national retail broker relationships capable of driving submission flow.
• People leadership experience leading, mentoring, or managing underwriters, including setting authority and running underwriting audits.
• Executive presence to present strategy and results to leadership, capacity partners, and reinsurers.
• Ability to make sound decisions with incomplete information and adapt as the business evolves.
• Willingness to travel approximately 25%.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Define the retail commercial property production strategy, including target classes, TIV bands, geographies, appetite, and growth and loss-ratio targets.
• Support development of underwriting guidelines, the authority framework, referral rules, and rating approach.
• Partner with Product, Engineering, and Data to design the submission-to-bind workflow, pricing tools, and CAT-exposure views.
• Underwrite new and renewal primary and excess property business within assigned authority.
• Own premium, profit, loss-ratio, retention, and expense results for the vertical.
• Use retail broker relationships to drive submission flow and represent Shepherd as its senior property voice with brokers, clients, and other stakeholders.
• Hire, coach, and develop property underwriters and support staff as the book scales.
• Work with Corporate Underwriting to set letters of authority, conduct underwriting audits, and coach based on audit results.
• Coordinate with Claims, Actuarial, Customer Experience, and Finance to support effective underwriting, servicing, and reporting.
• Travel approximately 25% to meet brokers, partners, and the team.

Benefits

• 100% company contribution to top-tier health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Fertility benefits and family-building support.
• Unlimited PTO.
• Daily lunches, dinners, and snacks.
• Professional development, including access to premium coaching and leadership development.
• Competitive 401(k) plan.
• Dog-friendly office.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director