Director of Underwriting, Educational Institutions
Utica National Insurance Group•New Hartford, NY
•$170,000 - $225,000
About The Position
Utica National is seeking an experienced Director of Underwriting to lead underwriting for its Educational Institutions specialty business. The role combines technical underwriting leadership, portfolio management, people development, and agency partnership to support profitable growth and strong underwriting results. The Director will work closely with Educational Institutions business leadership and agency partners to refine underwriting approaches, respond to market changes, develop underwriting talent, and deliver a strong experience to agents and educational institutions.
Requirements
- 5+ years of commercial property and casualty underwriting experience.
- Strong technical underwriting and risk-selection expertise.
- Experience leading, coaching, or developing underwriting professionals.
- Strong understanding of commercial insurance coverages, pricing, portfolio management, and profitability.
- Ability to evaluate loss experience and translate insights into underwriting actions.
- Strong communication, decision-making, and relationship-building skills.
- Experience partnering with independent agents or brokers.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
- CPCU, AU, or similar professional insurance education or designation.
Responsibilities
- Lead underwriting operations for the Educational Institutions business segment.
- Provide technical direction and oversight for risk selection, pricing, coverage, and underwriting decisions.
- Maintain underwriting quality through ongoing review and quality control.
- Monitor portfolio and loss performance and take underwriting actions to improve results.
- Evaluate changes in rates, coverages, rules, regulations, and market factors, and translate them into underwriting actions.
- Recommend underwriting practices and strategy changes based on portfolio results and emerging trends.
- Lead, coach, and develop underwriting professionals supporting the portfolio.
- Set clear expectations and promote sound technical underwriting practices and decision-making.
- Identify development opportunities and provide training, coaching, and technical guidance.
- Support talent selection, performance management, career development, and succession planning.
- Build and maintain relationships with agency partners serving the educational institutions marketplace.
- Partner with Sales and Marketing to support profitable new business and retention.
- Provide underwriting leadership and expertise in agency meetings and business reviews.
- Ensure underwriting strategies and service practices support a strong agency experience.
- Partner with Educational Institutions business leadership to improve workflows, service, and underwriting effectiveness.
- Analyze loss experience and portfolio trends to identify opportunities and areas requiring action.
- Balance disciplined risk selection with business growth objectives.
- Communicate changes in underwriting appetite, rates, coverages, procedures, and guidelines to agency partners and internal teams.
- Stay informed about trends and developments affecting educational institution risks and insurance needs.
Benefits
- Medical and prescription drug benefit
- Dental benefit
- Vision benefit
- Life insurance and disability benefits
- 401(k) Profit Sharing and Investment Plan, including 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
- Business travel accident insurance
- Matching Gifts program
- Paid volunteer day
- Employee Referral Award Program
- Wellness programs
- Personal insurance discount
- Variable Compensation Bonus Plan eligibility
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
No Education Listed
