SVP, Chief Actuary

Berkley•Naperville, IL

About The Position

At Berkley Program Specialists, we are dedicated exclusively to program business and excel at partnering with program administrators who possess significant underwriting expertise for homogeneous, niche classes of business. We enjoy the strength and stability that comes with being a Berkley Company and underwrite our programs through our member insurance companies, which are A+ (Superior), Financial Size Category XV, by A.M. Best. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme cold; extreme heat; risk of electrical shock; risk of radiation; and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The above job description is not intended to be an “all-inclusive” list of the duties and responsibilities of the job described, nor is it intended to be such a listing of the skills and a

Requirements

Minimum 12–15+ years of actuarial experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
Deep experience in commercial insurance required; Programs/MGA experience strongly preferred.
Experience in the pricing and reserving of reinsurance structures a plus.
Demonstrated expertise in reserving, reinsurance, and program analytics.
Proven ability to lead teams, influence executive decision ‑ making, and communicate complex actuarial concepts to non ‑ technical audiences.
Strong strategic thinking, business acumen, and collaborative leadership style.

Responsibilities

Lead the actuarial function with enterprise responsibility for reserving, pricing oversight, reinsurance analytics, and portfolio performance across all business segments.
Provide strategic actuarial guidance to executive leadership, influencing underwriting strategy, capital decisions, and long‑term business planning.
Oversee quarterly and annual loss and expense reserving, ensuring accuracy, adequacy, and compliance with regulatory and corporate standards.
Prepare the annual Actuarial Report for the business; present reserve results and insights to senior leadership and corporate actuarial.
Develop and maintain analytical frameworks tailored to a Programs/MGA business model, including program‑level monitoring, profitability assessments, and delegated authority oversight.
Partner with underwriting, claims, finance, and program managers to evaluate performance, identify emerging trends, and support profitable growth.
Lead actuarial due diligence for new program opportunities and support onboarding of new program partners.
Provide actuarial leadership in the design, evaluation, and optimization of treaty and facultative reinsurance structures.
Collaborate with brokers, corporate reinsurance teams, and underwriting leadership to assess risk transfer needs and support reinsurance purchasing decisions.
Oversee development of pricing benchmarks, loss cost models, and claims monitoring tools; ensure pricing adequacy and strong governance across all programs.
Serve as the primary actuarial contact for the Corporation’s corporate actuarial team.
Ensure adherence to actuarial standards of practice, regulatory requirements, and corporate policies.
Work closely with Finance on Schedule P, financial reporting, forecasting, and other actuarial‑related financial processes.
Lead, mentor, and develop the actuarial team, fostering a culture of analytical excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Conduct special studies including risk assessments, profitability analyses, and contingent commission evaluations.