Head of Binding Authority - S&S

Crum & Forster • Morristown, NJ

1d • $160,700 - $302,300 • Remote

About The Position

The Head of Binding Authority is the executive leader accountable for the strategic direction, growth, profitability, and overall performance of Crum & Forster’s Binding Authority business within its Surplus & Specialty Lines Division. Reporting to the Head of Small Commercial Lines, the role owns the segment’s P&L and leads business strategy, underwriting results, distribution, operations, talent, and execution. The Head establishes a long-term vision and converts it into measurable business plans, supporting disciplined profitable growth, strong portfolio performance, and effective delegated underwriting governance while operating within enterprise risk appetite, regulatory requirements, and underwriting authority.

The role oversees the business’s production and distribution strategy, underwriting portfolio, and network of more than 150 appointed distribution partners. It also provides executive leadership for operations and technology-enabled improvements, builds organizational capability and talent, and represents Binding Authority in senior leadership forums. The position works across functions including Actuarial, Digital/IT, Operations, and Data Science to advance business priorities.

Requirements

• 15+ years of progressive experience in Property & Casualty insurance, including substantial leadership experience in underwriting, business management, or specialty insurance.
• Extensive, demonstrable experience in binding authority and delegated underwriting, including leading MGA/MGU or similar delegated distribution relationships and managing underwriting portfolios and partner performance.
• Track record of executive-level accountability for P&L results, profitable growth, underwriting performance, and business strategy within a P&C insurance organization.
• Deep expertise in underwriting, portfolio management, pricing, risk selection, delegated authority governance, and profit delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to set strategy, lead complex business initiatives, make high-impact decisions, and deliver results across a multi-functional organization.
• Strong executive influence and collaboration skills across underwriting, actuarial, operations, technology, analytics, risk, and compliance.
• Experience leading a sizable business unit or complex insurance portfolio, with responsibility for strategic planning, organizational leadership, and executive stakeholder management.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and relationship-management skills, including the ability to engage with senior executives and external distribution partners.

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading a delegated authority or specialty insurance business.
• Strong understanding of operational design, systems, and process improvement within insurance environments.
• Experience managing partner contracts, performance structures, and profit-sharing arrangements.
• Familiarity with data- and analytics-driven underwriting and portfolio management approaches.

Responsibilities

• Own full P&L accountability, including premium, revenue, expenses, and underwriting profit; lead annual planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance management, and communicate results, risks, and corrective actions to senior leadership.
• Set the segment’s multi-year strategy and annual business plan, aligning growth, profitability, portfolio mix, distribution, and operational capabilities with enterprise objectives.
• Establish and cascade strategic priorities, financial targets, key performance indicators, and accountability frameworks.
• Assess market conditions, business performance, and emerging risks; make strategic and operational decisions and implement corrective actions.
• Set and lead premium production and distribution strategy, including market positioning, growth objectives, producer and delegated partner strategies, and execution priorities.
• Identify, evaluate, and pursue market opportunities, product and appetite expansion, and strategic partnerships that support profitable growth and competitive positioning.
• Balance production ambitions with underwriting discipline, portfolio quality, risk-adjusted returns, and long-term franchise value.
• Define and lead underwriting strategy, portfolio direction, and underwriting profit delivery across the Binding Authority platform.
• Establish and maintain underwriting guidelines, delegated authority structures, pricing discipline, risk selection standards, and portfolio management practices consistent with enterprise risk appetite.
• Oversee portfolio performance, accumulation and concentration exposure, business mix, and remediation strategies; monitor and escalate emerging risks.
• Partner with Actuarial, Risk, and Analytics to evaluate pricing adequacy, profitability, performance trends, and strategic portfolio actions.
• Provide executive oversight of a network of 150+ appointed distribution partners; set partner strategy and cultivate senior-level relationships to align capacity, business mix, and growth with segment objectives.
• Oversee delegated partner performance, contractual obligations, underwriting results, and profit-sharing arrangements; ensure partners operate within approved authority and applicable governance requirements.
• Establish partner selection criteria, performance expectations, scorecards, and accountability standards.
• Lead strategic business reviews and direct remediation, restructuring, or termination of partner relationships when warranted by performance or risk.
• Ensure delegated authority relationships meet underwriting, compliance, operational, and financial standards; strengthen governance and control frameworks as the platform scales.
• Provide executive leadership for the end-to-end operating model, including service delivery, workflow, controls, governance, reporting, and technology enablement.
• Sponsor cross-functional transformation initiatives with Digital/IT and Operations to modernize capabilities, improve customer and partner experience, and drive scalability, productivity, and efficiency.
• Set operational strategy and oversee implementation of process, data, and technology enhancements that support sustainable growth and effective controls.
• Shape the organization and talent strategy, including leadership capability, organizational design, and succession planning.
• Build a high-performing leadership team and culture grounded in accountability, sound judgment, collaboration, inclusion, and results.
• Attract, develop, and retain senior talent; coach leaders and establish clear expectations for performance and leadership effectiveness.
• Set objectives and performance standards, develop succession pipelines, and foster continuous development across the organization.
• Coordinate closely with Actuarial, Digital/IT, Operations, and Data Science.
• Lead cross-functional alignment on pricing, reporting, technology, operational excellence, data-driven decision-making, and strategic initiatives; resolve competing priorities at the appropriate executive level.
• Represent the Binding Authority business as its senior executive, influencing enterprise strategy and communicating performance, opportunities, and risks to senior leadership.

Benefits

• Flexible work arrangements.
• Competitive compensation package.
• Generous 401K employer match.
• Employee Stock Purchase plan with employer matching.
• Generous Paid Time Off.
• Benefits including health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Wellness programs focused on physical and mental wellbeing for employees and their families.
• Tuition reimbursement, industry-related certifications, and professional training.
• Matching donation program and volunteer opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed