Director of Underwriting

The Jonus Group•Orlando, FL

About The Position

The Director of Underwriting provides strategic and operational leadership across Commercial and Personal Lines underwriting operations for an established Property & Casualty insurance carrier. The role is responsible for developing and executing underwriting strategies, optimizing portfolio performance, ensuring profitable risk selection, enhancing operational efficiency, and fostering strong agency relationships. It also leads underwriting technology initiatives, process improvements, and talent development. The ideal candidate has extensive carrier-side Commercial Lines underwriting experience, proven leadership capabilities, and a record of developing effective underwriting strategies, guidelines, and high-performing teams. Personal Lines underwriting experience is a plus. The position is based in Florida, is full-time, and may require travel as needed. Base salary is $150,000–$170,000 annually, commensurate with experience, with performance-based bonus opportunities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required.
At least 10 years of carrier-side underwriting experience, primarily within Commercial Lines.
At least 5 years of progressive underwriting leadership and management experience.
Demonstrated success developing and implementing underwriting strategies, guidelines, programs, processes, and procedures.
Strong knowledge of underwriting operations, quality assurance, agency performance management, loss control, premium audits, and vendor management.
Ability to use data and analytics to evaluate underwriting results and implement corrective actions.
Experience with underwriting technology, workflow optimization, automation, and system implementations.
Comprehensive understanding of Property & Casualty insurance regulations and underwriting compliance requirements.
Leadership experience coaching, mentoring, and developing underwriting professionals.
Strong analytical, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
Ability to collaborate across departments and influence senior-level stakeholders.
Experience presenting underwriting performance, business insights, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership.
Ability to travel as needed.

Nice To Haves

MBA and/or CPCU designation.
Experience across multiple Property & Casualty lines of business.
Personal Lines underwriting experience.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute underwriting strategies to support profitable growth across Commercial and Personal Lines.
Establish and maintain underwriting appetite, eligibility guidelines, referral authority, and risk selection standards.
Monitor portfolio performance, market conditions, catastrophe exposure, agency performance, and underwriting trends.
Collaborate with Product Management and Actuarial/Pricing teams to evaluate profitability, product performance, and competitive positioning.
Develop and implement corrective action plans for underperforming products, territories, agencies, or business segments.
Oversee underwriting operations to ensure high standards of service, quality, productivity, and operational efficiency.
Lead, mentor, and develop underwriting teams while supporting succession planning and professional growth.
Use data and analytics to evaluate portfolio results, underwriting consistency, premium leakage, and operational performance.
Establish underwriting KPIs and performance dashboards to communicate results, trends, risks, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
Lead underwriting technology initiatives, workflow automation, system enhancements, and process improvements.
Develop and maintain relationships with agency partners and other key stakeholders.
Oversee underwriting-related vendor relationships, including loss control, inspections, premium audits, and related services.
Ensure underwriting practices comply with regulatory requirements, underwriting authority guidelines, and internal controls.
Collaborate with Claims, Sales, Product, Actuarial, IT, Compliance, Accounting, and Customer Service teams to support organizational objectives.
Participate in broader strategic initiatives to enhance underwriting performance and business growth.
Travel as needed.