Senior Inland Marine Underwriter

Title: Executive Underwriter – Inland Marine

Location: Itasca, IL or Bloomfield, MN

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Experience: 3–7+ years of Inland Marine Underwriting experience

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Executive Underwriter – Inland Marine to join our team. This is a senior-level underwriting role responsible for underwriting complex new and renewal business, managing portfolio profitability, developing agency relationships, and supporting territory growth.

The ideal candidate will bring strong Inland Marine underwriting expertise , broad knowledge across multiple classes of business, excellent relationship-management skills, and the ability to coach and influence underwriting teams.

Key Responsibilities

Underwriting

• Underwrite new business, renewal business, and endorsement referrals.
• Manage complex and high-profile Inland Marine accounts within the assigned territory.
• Make strategic underwriting decisions while maintaining underwriting discipline and profitability.
• Achieve financial targets related to growth, profitability, retention, and portfolio performance.
• Identify underwriting issues and ensure compliance with corporate and regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical guidance and oversight to junior and field underwriters.

Business Development

• Develop new business opportunities with new and existing agency partners.
• Build strong relationships with agents and promote the company's Inland Marine capabilities.
• Develop and execute territory business plans to drive profitable growth.
• Identify opportunities across lines of business, customer segments, and emerging markets.
• Engage directly with customers on complex and prominent accounts.
• Partner with field leadership and Business Development Managers to develop opportunities.
• Support negotiations, improve retention and conversion, and strengthen agency partnerships.
• Gather market intelligence related to pricing, products, competitors, and services.
• Contribute to product development and identify opportunities for market expansion.

Portfolio Management

• Manage and monitor the assigned Inland Marine portfolio to achieve profitable growth.
• Analyze portfolio and industry financial performance and recommend corrective actions.
• Monitor key metrics including loss ratios, premium, retention, rate, and book mix.
• Identify market trends, emerging risks, competitive developments, and regulatory changes.
• Provide feedback to leadership regarding product, appetite, distribution, and portfolio strategies.
• Support profit-improvement initiatives with key agency partners.

Underwriting Development & Leadership

• Review underwriting metrics and identify trends and opportunities.
• Analyze adverse underwriting decisions, rate appeals, requirements, and declinations.
• Help field underwriters make informed decisions on complex accounts.
• Coach and mentor junior/field underwriters on underwriting and sales strategies.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to execute business strategies.
• Maintain current knowledge of state regulations, territory issues, industry trends, and market conditions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 3–7+ years of Inland Marine underwriting experience.
• Broad underwriting experience across multiple Inland Marine classes of business.
• Strong knowledge of underwriting, portfolio management, marketing, and product development.
• Professional insurance designations are preferred.
• Strong understanding of insurance markets, business strategy, and underwriting profitability.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, influence, and collaborate with underwriting teams.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-management capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel by car or plane as needed.