SVP, Construction Segment Executive

Berkley•Scottsdale, AZ

23h

About The Position

Vela Insurance Services provides specialized Excess and Surplus Lines Casualty and Professional Liability insurance solutions in the following market segments: Construction, Specialty Casualty, and Professional Liability. We offer national service and local knowledge to our exclusive wholesale broker network and the businesses they serve. The Senior Vice President, Construction Segment Leader is responsible for leading Vela’s national Construction underwriting segment and driving profitable growth through strategic leadership, innovation, and collaboration. Reporting to the Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO), this role oversees underwriting performance, talent development, and broker relationships within the Construction segment. The SVP will champion a sales-driven culture, leverage data and analytics for decision-making, and ensure alignment with Vela’s strategic vision. This position requires strong technical expertise in construction underwriting, proven leadership capabilities, and a commitment to fostering a high-performance team environment.

Requirements

Four (4) year college degree, or commensurate experience and training
Minimum of 15+ years’ commercial lines underwriting experience
Experience in managing a team
Experience in and understanding of the E&S competitive marketplace
Demonstrated technical expertise and product knowledge in Construction
A drive to be creative and innovative in advancing the success of the segment
Willingness to challenge the status quo and embrace change
A strong desire to compete – and to win
A team player approach
Strong communication skills
Advanced analytical and creative problem-solving skills

Nice To Haves

Industry designations preferred: CPCU, ASLI, ARM

Responsibilities

Lead Segment Strategy & Performance: Develop and execute underwriting strategies for the Construction segment to achieve premium, rate, and profitability goals.
Drive Sales-Oriented Culture: Foster a unified approach between underwriting and distribution, ensuring strong broker partnerships and market competitiveness.
Portfolio Management: Monitor and manage risk diversity, underwriting guidelines, and profitability metrics; apply analytics to optimize portfolio performance.
Product Development & Innovation: Oversee policy forms, product offerings, and leverage technology and data analytics to enhance underwriting capabilities.
Talent Leadership: Recruit, train, coach, and develop underwriters and regional leaders; manage letters of authority and career progression programs.
Budget & Expense Oversight: Prepare strategic business plans and manage expense budgets for the segment.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with CUO, Distribution Strategies Group, and other functional teams to align segment initiatives with enterprise goals.
Broker Relationship Management: Strengthen broker engagement through targeted strategies, incentive programs, and participation in industry events.
Compliance & Governance: Ensure adherence to underwriting standards, regulatory requirements, and company policies.
Other duties as assigned.