Director of Underwriting, Dealers Division

Utica National Insurance Group•New Hartford, NY

1d•$170,000 - $225,000

About The Position

Utica National is seeking an experienced Director of Underwriting to lead underwriting strategy, execution, and talent for its Dealers Division, which provides specialized insurance solutions for automobile dealerships. The role combines technical underwriting leadership, portfolio management, people development, and agency partnership to support profitable growth and strong underwriting results. The Director provides underwriting direction across the Dealers portfolio, overseeing risk selection, pricing, coverage, underwriting authority, and execution. The role monitors portfolio and loss performance, maintains underwriting quality, and adapts underwriting strategies to changing rates, coverages, regulations, market conditions, and dealership exposures. The Director leads and develops underwriting professionals, strengthens relationships with agency and distribution partners, and partners with Sales and business leaders to pursue profitable opportunities. The role also brings specialty expertise to cross-functional initiatives and serves as a senior underwriting resource for complex risks and strategic opportunities. This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position that is not eligible for overtime. The salary range is $170,000–$225,000, with eligibility for a Variable Compensation Bonus plan. Final salary and position within the range depend on factors including experience, geographic location, education, certifications, role scope, responsibilities, and other qualifications.

Requirements

Significant commercial property and casualty underwriting experience.
Strong technical knowledge across commercial lines, particularly Commercial Auto, General Liability, Property, Workers Compensation, and related coverages.
Experience leading and developing underwriting professionals.
Demonstrated success managing underwriting profitability and portfolio performance.
Strong understanding of pricing, risk selection, underwriting authority, and agency distribution.
Ability to interpret loss and performance data and turn insights into underwriting actions.
Strong communication, decision-making, and relationship-building capabilities.
Experience working closely with independent agents or brokers.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
CPCU, AU, CIC, or other relevant insurance education or designations.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and direction for underwriting within the Dealers Division.
Oversee risk selection, pricing, coverage, underwriting authority, and execution across the portfolio.
Establish and reinforce underwriting standards that support profitable growth and consistent decision-making.
Monitor portfolio and loss performance and develop underwriting actions to improve results.
Evaluate changes in rates, coverages, rules, regulations, market conditions, and dealership exposures, and translate them into underwriting strategies.
Maintain underwriting quality through ongoing portfolio review and quality assurance.
Monitor underwriting results and identify opportunities to improve growth, retention, profitability, and portfolio performance.
Use loss experience, production results, marketplace insights, and other performance data to guide underwriting decisions.
Balance growth opportunities with appropriate risk selection and underwriting discipline.
Partner with business and enterprise leaders on strategies supporting the long-term success of the Dealers portfolio.
Lead, coach, and develop underwriting professionals supporting the Dealers business.
Build technical expertise and commercial acumen throughout the underwriting team.
Set clear expectations and reinforce accountability for underwriting quality, responsiveness, and results.
Identify development opportunities and provide coaching, training, and technical guidance.
Support talent selection, performance management, career development, and succession planning.
Develop strong relationships with agency and distribution partners serving the dealership marketplace.
Provide underwriting leadership during agency discussions, account reviews, and business planning conversations.
Partner with Sales and other business teams to identify and pursue profitable growth opportunities.
Ensure underwriting strategy and execution support a responsive, solutions-oriented agency experience.
Communicate underwriting appetite, changes, and expectations to distribution partners.
Stay current on trends affecting automobile dealerships and the broader insurance marketplace.
Anticipate evolving exposures and translate them into underwriting strategies and practices.
Partner across Underwriting, Claims, Product, Sales, Risk, and other areas on initiatives affecting the Dealers business.
Serve as a senior underwriting resource on complex risks and strategic opportunities.

Benefits

Medical and prescription drug benefit
Dental benefit
Vision benefit
Life insurance and disability benefits
401(k) Profit Sharing and Investment Plan, including an annual company financial contribution and discretionary profit-sharing contribution based on annual company financial results
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Flexible Spending Accounts
Tuition assistance, training, and professional designations
Company-paid family leave
Adoption/surrogacy assistance benefit
Voluntary benefits, including group accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, legal, identity theft protection, and pet insurance
Student loan refinancing services
Care.com membership with backup care and senior solutions
Business travel accident insurance
Matching Gifts program
Paid volunteer day
Employee referral award program
Wellness programs
Variable Compensation Bonus plan eligibility