Underwriting AVP, Franchise Programs

Berkley•Overland Park, KS

About The Position

The Underwriting AVP, Franchise Programs will serve as the enterprise leader responsible for building, scaling, and refining Intrepid Direct’s national franchise programs. This role requires a natural leader who works with a fast pace and offers strategic, consultative, and innovative mindset to grow our non-restaurant franchises and add new franchise verticals. Collaborating with other departments to ensure the portfolio balances long-term profitability, growth, and a modern customer experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree
+15 years of commercial P&C insurance experience
+15 years of underwriting experience
Thrives in a fast-paced environment and multi-tasking
+5 years of management experience
Track record of success
Entrepreneurial by nature, and has passion to build a meaningful underwriting company
Embrace innovation and continuous improvement
Excellent communication skills, ability to effectively present to small or large groups.
Team player, positive by nature!

Nice To Haves

Insurance designations preferred
Program experience, multi-line, and variety of industries expertise a plus

Responsibilities

Lead the strategic development and long‑term vision for all franchise verticals excluding restaurants, ensuring alignment with Intrepid Direct’s growth, profitability, and modern customer experience objectives.
Partner with the President and other leaders on identifying, exploring, experimenting and launching new franchise and brands.
Lead a team of underwriters; assigning workloads, measuring KPIs, training, recruiting, and offering professional development to the team.
Selection of the needed product and rates while balancing the needs of customers, identified claims trends and industry losses.
Serve as the primary underwriting subject‑matter expert, continuously developing expertise in franchise operations, risk management, and market trends.
Partner with the other Underwriting leaders to finalize underwriting guidelines, product structures, and required filings for your franchise programs.
Establish best practices, training frameworks, and quality standards for the program, responsible for training and mentoring underwriting and Service and Sales teams on standards.
Create and approve letter of authority levels of direct reports and set KPIs for best practices.
Leverage data and analytical insights to guide underwriting strategy, pricing decisions, and portfolio management.
Identify third‑party data sources and technology tools that enhance risk assessment, operational efficiency, and vertical competitiveness.
Lead projects from concept through execution, ensuring timely delivery and measurable outcomes.
Drive continuous improvement in all processes, including submission intake, underwriting workflow, communications, and claims engagement.
Maintain strong working knowledge of Salesforce CRM, ensuring documentation accuracy and adherence to enterprise processes.
Meet deadlines, manage multiple concurrent initiatives, and operate effectively in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.
Develop and implement appropriate strategy in conjunction with the President and CUO to profitability grow the assigned franchise programs.
Lead your team to excel in positive outcomes and grow professionally.
Provide vision and leadership to the entire organizations in accordance with the established strategy.
Cultivate a culture that excels in collaboration and accountability.
Lead the development, implementation and continuous learning of the assigned industries.
Collaborate with Underwriting, Service, Sales, Marketing and other stakeholders to ensure knowledge sharing on market trends, brand changes and risk management developments.
Leverage resources, technology, and processes to drive sales effectiveness.
Assist the President and CUO in creating the annual operational goals, objectives and budget as it relates to the assigned franchise programs.
Ability to have analytical communications internally and externally. Discussing loss trends and premium implications for a book of business or for individual large insureds.
Perform other duties and/or projects as assigned by the President and CUO.