Technical Director, Underwriting

UFG is currently seeking a Technical Director Underwriting. As a Technical Director youll provide management of commercial line product(s) for several lines of business.
Well count on you to develop and recommend underwriting or product policies procedures and standards. Youll ensure coordination between home office and field operations and support the development and implementation of strategies that support multiple product related profitability objectives. This position involves collaboration with cross-functional teams ensure the alignment of underwriting practices with business goals and regulatory requirements. The Director will work closely with underwriting leadership and other departments to define and implement initiatives that support underwriting excellence and drive profitability.

About The Job

• This position is part of the Corporate Underwriting Line of Business team and
  collaborates with all UFG Business Units.
• Familiarity with both standard commercial lines and ISO product set is required
• Focus areas include:
  • Best-in-class underwriting
  • Technical expertise in all ISO property and casualty products
  • Pricing
  • Risk selection
  • Governance
• This position works with each business unit to drive profitable outcomes by:
  • Developing and maintaining clear appetite and underwriting guidelines
  • Implementing portfolio best practices
  • Keeping an eye on emerging risks
  • Providing data-driven insights for the assigned lines of business.
• Ideal candidates have a strong background in casualty and property underwriting
  with an emphasis on general liability excess/umbrella commercial auto and
  commercial property. Additional experience in other insurance disciplines (such
  as analytics claims product actuarial or risk management) is beneficial.
• The role involves working with ambiguity leading project teams and challenging
  norms.
• The Line of Business team collaborates across UFG offices and remote worker
  locations using frequent video conferencing.
• The position reports to the VP-Casualty Underwriting leader and currently does not
  have direct reports.

Job Description Summary

Developing the underwriting strategy and ensuring it meets our risk appetite is essential
to UFGs profitability and overall success. Our team utilizes our analysis and problem
solving skills to enable solutions that drive underwriting efficiency and streamlined
approaches. If you are a creative problem solver have technical knowledge of the ISO
product set and are an excellent communicator we want to know more about you!

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide line of business technical expertise to regions and business segment
  managers to support an underwriting framework that produces profitable
  business. Works with corporate underwriting claims leaders and regional
  underwriting leaders in developing and distributing new products and strategies.
• Leads key initiatives to address the product strategy and profitability objectives.
  Reinforces understanding communication and execution of product/underwriting
  strategy.
• Provides technical assistance and support to state/regional underwriting and
  services leadership. Maintains relationships with new entities access points and
  distribution channels that need the support and expertise of product/underwriting
  staff operations.
• Manages projects for assigned profitability initiatives. Ensures that each area
  within the function is following the formal project management process for those
  projects designated as high priority.
• Ability to research and resolve increasingly complex problems prioritize project
  tasks and collaborate with team members in situations that are frequently
  ambiguous.
• Provide expert underwriting consultation by collaborating with underwriters on the
  largest and most complex accounts within the middle market segment holding a
  high level of authority.
• Analyze and monitor key profitability and production trends within the middle
  market vertical proactively identifying risks opportunities and strategic initiatives
  to optimize performance.
• Identify and create plans to address underwriting training needs by developing and
  leading initiatives to enhance technical expertise specialization and underwriting
  capabilities.
• Collaborate with corporate underwriting team to refine underwriting guidance and
  best practices.
• Ensure underwriting decisions adhere to UFGs risk appetite guidelines and
  compliance standards.
• Contract Drafting and Interpretation: Design develop and implement consistent
  robust wordings.
• As a subject matter expert provide collaborative technical underwriting and
  product support to field staff on individual account transactions including
  appetite exposure and coverage consultation.
• In partnership with Business Enablement influence the direction and
  implementation of product strategy and roadmap for assigned portfolio(s).
• Serves on various committees project teams and industry boards as assigned.
• Identifies market trends publishing insights and understanding the market
  dynamics for the area of responsibility. Includes responsibility for defining
  performance indicators account segmentation and identification of key account
  characteristics that drive performance.
• Sets and administers levels of authority for company on assigned line of business.
• Actively participates in establishing the agenda for future projects or coverage
  offerings
• May Perform Other Responsibilities As Assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Reports to Vice President or Officer

Qualifications
Education:

• Bachelors degree (Required)
  • Typically in Business Administration Finance Risk Management
    Economics Insurance or related field. This provides foundational knowledge
    in business operations finance and risk analysis.
  • Professional certifications: (Preferred)
    • CPCU AIAF or similar underwriting and insurance-related certifications.
      Project Management Certifications (e.g. PMP) could be beneficial if
      managing cross-functional initiatives is a key part of the role.

Experience

• 10 - 15 years of Underwriting Experience:
  • At least 10 years of experience in underwriting with a solid understanding of
    the underwriting process risk assessment and related functions. This
    experience typically includes progressively more senior roles such as
    Underwriting Consultant or Underwriting Director.
• Strategic Planning and Execution
  • Ability to think strategically and execute plans that drive underwriting
    performance meet business goals and comply with regulatory
    requirements. Experience in shaping and implementing underwriting
    strategies that align with organizational objectives is crucial.
• Knowledge of Industry
  • Requires proven knowledge of ISO property/casualty products insurance
    company operations field and staff functions industry trends and project
    management. Demonstrated decision-making and strategic abilities.
    Demonstrated ability to drive for results deal with ambiguity communicate
    with upper management and conceptualize strategic objectives. Ability to
    lead committees and project participants in all aspects of
    product/underwriting activities.
• Cross-Departmental Collaboration
  • Experience working with other departments such as compliance risk
    management underwriting and claims to drive initiatives and improve
    overall business performance.
• Knowledge Skills & Abilities
  • • Strategic Thinking Leadership Problem-Solving Communication and Influence

Working Conditions

• • General office environment

Disclaimer

• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work
  being performed by individuals assigned to this job. It is not designed to contain or be
  interpreted as a comprehensive list of all duties responsibilities and skills required.
  Additional task and requirements may be assigned as necessitated by business need.
  UFG retains the right to modify the description of this job at any time.

Required Experience:

Director