Manager Of Underwriting

Utica First Insurance Company•Oriskany, NY

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Underwriting Manager is responsible for leading underwriting operations across Commercial and Personal Lines to achieve profitable growth, underwriting discipline, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence. This role sets underwriting strategy, manages underwriting leaders and senior staff, and partners with key stakeholders to optimize portfolio performance, enhance customer and agent experience, and support organizational objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Risk Management, or related field (or equivalent experience)
8–12+ years of underwriting experience across Commercial and Personal Lines
Strong knowledge of Commercial Lines: BOP, Package, Property, General Liability, Umbrella
Knowledge of Personal Lines: Homeowners, Umbrella, Specialty Personal Lines (as applicable)
Expert underwriting judgment and risk evaluation skills
Strong financial analysis and portfolio management capabilities
Experience with underwriting systems, rating platforms, and policy administration systems
Proficiency in Microsoft Office; advanced Excel and reporting skills preferred
Clear, effective communication
Relationship management with agents and internal partners

Nice To Haves

CPCU strongly preferred
ARM, AU, CLU, or other advanced insurance designations a plus
Strategic and analytical thinking
Leadership and talent development
Financial and portfolio management
Risk assessment and underwriting discipline
Change leadership and adaptability

Responsibilities

Lead, develop, and coach underwriting supervisors, senior underwriters, and underwriting teams across Commercial and Personal Lines
Establish performance expectations, conduct evaluations, and support career development and succession planning
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, risk awareness, and continuous improvement
Participate in hiring, workforce planning, and organizational design
Define and execute underwriting strategies for Commercial and Personal Lines aligned with company goals, market conditions, and risk appetite
Provide guidance and authority on complex, high-exposure, or non-standard risk
Ensure consistent underwriting practices, appropriate pricing, and disciplined risk selection
Oversee adherence to underwriting guidelines, authority levels, and regulatory requirements
Monitor portfolio performance, including loss ratios, premium growth, retention, and exposure management across both lines of business
Analyze trends, profitability, and loss drivers to identify risks, opportunities, and corrective actions
Partner with Actuarial and Claims to evaluate product performance and support rate, guideline, and appetite changes
Support balanced growth while maintaining underwriting quality and profitability
Oversee underwriting workflows, service standards, and productivity across all underwriting teams
Drive process improvements, automation initiatives, and system enhancements
Ensure timely, accurate underwriting decisions and documentation
Lead underwriting audit preparation and corrective action plans
Partner with Sales, Marketing, and Distribution to support agency strategies and customer needs
Serve as underwriting subject matter expert for Commercial and Personal Lines
Collaborate with Product, Claims, Finance, Compliance, and Operations to support enterprise initiatives
Represent underwriting leadership on internal committees and cross-functional projects
Contribute to short- and long-term underwriting and company strategic planning
Lead implementation of new products, programs, or market expansions across lines of business
Effectively manage change related to system implementations, regulatory updates, or market shifts
Perform other duties as requested.