Vice President, Head of Aviation

Skyward Specialty

3d•$180,000 - $230,000•Remote

About The Position

The Vice President, Aviation leads Skyward Specialty's aviation book and owns its full profit and loss. The role sets the annual class plan, builds and develops the underwriting team, and personally underwrites key accounts. This leader serves as Skyward's market expert in aviation, builds broker and client relationships, partners closely with the Apollo Aviation team, and keeps the portfolio performing within agreed risk parameters. The position leads underwriting and people development, develops and executes the class business plan, underwrites and prices aviation accounts, manages portfolio performance and governance, and represents Skyward in the aviation insurance market.

Requirements

10+ years of underwriting experience in general aviation insurance.
5+ years of people management experience leading underwriting teams.
5+ years of P&L ownership for an aviation class, portfolio, or business unit.
Proven record of profitable growth within agreed risk and loss ratio parameters.
Senior underwriting authority on complex aviation accounts, with strong pricing and negotiation skills.
Established relationships with aviation brokers and producers in the US market.
Working knowledge of state form and rate filings and regulatory requirements.
Experience building annual business plans, production forecasts, and expense budgets.
Bachelor's degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience across multiple aviation segments, such as general aviation, airports, aerospace products, or commercial operators.
Experience leading reinsurance purchasing for a class of business.
Exposure to the Lloyd's market or collaboration with London-based underwriting partners.
Professional designation such as CPCU, AU, or ARe.
Private pilot certificate or other hands-on aviation background.

Responsibilities

Lead the underwriting team and support supervisor in executing the annual plan and achieving performance targets.
Build underwriting capability through expectations, coaching, succession planning, and targeted development.
Run underwriting meetings, technical reviews, and training sessions.
Partner with underwriters to identify growth opportunities and strengthen the class proposition.
Collaborate with the Apollo Aviation team to generate opportunities, advance product development, and share market intelligence.
Develop and execute the annual class plan with senior management against key performance targets.
Prepare annual production forecasts and departmental expense budgets.
Build, manage, and execute the account pipeline for the class.
Strengthen relationships with key brokers and clients, develop new relationships, and maintain service standards.
Collaborate with internal actuarial, claims, compliance, risk, human resources, capital, and underwriting partners.
Lead reinsurance purchasing for the class with Capital and other stakeholders.
Underwrite, price, and negotiate aviation business within the Business Plan and delegated authority, serving as senior underwriter on key accounts.
Review department-wide risk selection, underwriting quality, and pricing, providing challenge, guidance, and approval.
Maintain pricing models that support consistent class pricing guidelines.
Maintain and develop underwriting guidelines, policy forms, coverage provisions, and rates, drafting changes as needed.
Coordinate form and rate filings with the filing function and prepare new filings for state regulators.
Review and approve changes to the underwriting database system.
Monitor class portfolio performance and implement controls and initiatives to stay within agreed risk parameters.
Review aviation loss notices and analyze loss and claims data to inform underwriting strategy and portfolio actions.
Participate in scheduled management calls and committees as required.
Ensure underwriting activity meets governance, regulatory, and internal control requirements.
Track economic, technical, and market trends and share aviation insights across the business.
Meet with brokers and attend client presentations to build relationships with new and existing producers.
Represent Skyward externally to strengthen its reputation in the insurance market.