Director, Underwriting

PMA Companies•Pasadena, CA

10d

About The Position

The Director, Underwriting leads and oversees Commercial Markets Underwriting in the West region. The role is accountable for the book of business P&L, including loss and ALAE ratio, controllable expenses, and Pre-Tax Operating Ratio, and for achieving annual profit and revenue objectives. The director collaborates with regional and segment management to develop and execute business plans that reflect territory potential, target industries, available premium, account opportunities, and the workers’ compensation climate. The director leads and develops underwriting staff across multiple locations, including hiring, training, performance management, coaching, delegation of underwriting authority, and staffing planning. The role ensures effective implementation and monitoring of underwriting policies and procedures, with particular attention to risk selection and loss analysis. The position advances the CMU Focused Industry strategy, serves as an industry subject matter expert, and works with segment management to develop account and book monitoring tools. It also oversees agency management, broker relationships, account management practices, and the profitability of assigned agents and brokers. The director communicates recommendations to management and applies the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and applicable compliance requirements. The position requires travel and experience with remote management. The anticipated salary range is $150,000 to $230,000; final compensation depends on experience, education, skill set, and other factors.

Requirements

10+ years of commercial casualty underwriting experience preferred.
7+ years of management or supervisory experience preferred.
Strong technical underwriting skills across casualty lines, particularly workers’ compensation.
Excellent presentation skills and strong oral and written communication skills.
Strong management, planning, organizational, and analytical skills.
Track record of building relationships with agents and brokers.
Proven negotiating skills and a demonstrated record of book-of-business growth and achieving agency production objectives.
Ability to develop talent, with a successful record of mentoring and coaching for high performance.
Ability to travel.
Experience with remote management.
Initiative, persistence, and perspective to work within an evolving strategic framework.

Nice To Haves

CPCU, ARM, and/or MBA desired.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee Commercial Markets Underwriting in the West region and achieve annual profit and revenue objectives.
Manage the book of business P&L, including loss and ALAE ratio, controllable expenses, and Pre-Tax Operating Ratio.
Collaborate with regional and segment management to develop and execute annual and long-range premium and business plans.
Select, hire, and train qualified candidates for open positions; manage staff performance and develop employee knowledge, sales skills, and technical competencies.
Lead underwriters located in multiple locations, delegate underwriting authority as necessary, and maintain staffing plans that support objectives.
Implement, execute, and monitor underwriting policies and procedures, particularly for risk selection and loss analysis.
Advance and reinforce the CMU Focused Industry strategy with staff, colleagues, and external audiences.
Develop account and book monitoring tools with segment management that are tailored to the assigned industry.
Promote communication among work groups on industry-specific account management activities and disseminate relevant industry developments to the PMA industry practice and segment management.
Execute the Corporate Agency Management Program, align agency assignments with underwriter skills, and develop and monitor agency management plans.
Monitor the profitability of assigned agents and brokers with branch management and BDM/TMM staff, and maintain appropriate visibility with agents and brokers.
Ensure underwriters effectively lead active account management and hold participants accountable for their responsibilities.
Use analytics and sound judgment in decision-making and monitoring; communicate pertinent information and meaningful recommendations to management.
Demonstrate planning, communication, organizational, teamwork, leadership, initiative, and persistence in carrying out responsibilities.
Comply with the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and applicable compliance policies, procedures, standards, and laws.
Travel as required.