Vice President, Life Sciences Underwriting Manager

Company Details W.R. Berkley Corporation is a Fortune 500 Company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The Company is made up of dedicated and passionate people committed to delivering the highest quality insurance products and services to specialized markets worldwide. Our culture is one of innovation, creativity and teamwork. Our team is highly motivated, passionate about our business, and deeply experienced in developing and delivering product and service solutions in the life science marketplace. You will join a highly respected team of experienced, successful professionals with deep expertise in this market as they build the company of the future. At Berkley Life Sciences, we insure the future of life science innovators today. We do so by serving as a preferred market for the life science industry around the globe, offering a broad range of sophisticated property & casualty products and services designed to meet our customers’ individualized needs. The company is an equal employment opportunity employer. Berkley Life Sciences professionals cohesively respond to the unique challenges faced by our life science customers. We are looking for talented and dedicated professionals to join our team. Company URL: Responsibilities This role, a key contributor within the Berkley Life Sciences organization, is responsible for developing and executing a strategic vision that enables the long-term profitable growth of all products within the organization. This role serves as a strategic connector between field underwriting teams, senior management, and external broker partners, ensuring alignment, consistency, and momentum across territories. This includes developing the annual operating plan objectives (top and bottom line) and long-term strategic plan along with a focus on tactical broker / producer development planning. Additionally, this position has direct management of other underwriting leaders as well as responsibility for the team and its results. Specific Duties Provide leadership and direction to the team in order to meet the goals for new business, retention, rate and customer service. Act as a catalyst for field activity, encouraging travel and proactive business development. Coach, mentor and develop team by establishing clear goals and providing regular feedback as well as training and career development opportunities; empower UW leaders to assume responsibility for their functions within the team. Distribution management – develop and grow a knowledgeable producer population with an appropriate split between retail and wholesale channels. Responsible for results of the team; review results with the CUO; proactively offer suggestions to improve performance and/or remove obstacles as necessary. Cycle management- devise strategies and protocols to grow profitably during all market cycles. Maintain business assignments, adjust as necessary, and implement contingency plans to address vacations and other time off. Build strong relationships with brokers to ensure you meet or exceed financial goals including growth, profit, retention, and new business. Manage senior-level relationships with key brokers. Represent BLS externally to expand market presence and broker engagement. Responsible for account solicitation, risk selection and analysis including the corresponding documentation, pricing and marketing of Berkley Life Sciences products and services for new and existing customers. Portfolio management to reflect an appropriate balance between segments and diversification of line of business. Stay current with all compliance, procedural and workflow changes. Work collaboratively and effectively with underwriting associate, operations, legal, home office underwriting and claims. Maintain and evolve the structural framework implemented across the underwriting teams. Engage in innovation initiatives, product launches, marketing campaigns and short-term projects as appropriate to contribute positively towards success of the overall team and company. Build team confidence through training, coaching, and field presence. Qualifications Education & Experience Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience Minimum of 10 years of underwriting experience including products, property, workers compensation and automobile. Previous management experience Claims made experience a plus. Life Science experience a plus Technical Skills and Competencies Customer Focus & Teamwork Delivers Results Technical & Job Excellence Innovation and Initiative Additional Qualifications Strong sales acumen. You bring a confident, client-focused presence and a passion for winning business. You understand customer needs, build trust quickly, and consistently deliver results. Exceptional oral and written communication skills. Your communication style is flexible to the situation. You communicate clearly and with a purpose. Underwriting or field leadership experience. You have a proven track record of leading teams, making sound decisions, and driving results in underwriting or field management roles. Calm under pressure. You have excellent organizational skills, integrity, and great follow-through on tasks. You are comfortable challenging norms while collaborating with colleagues at all levels of the organization. You have a keen sense of accountability, fun and adventure. You have a proven history of building and maintaining strong business relationships with insureds, agents & brokers. A strong customer service bias. You want to get to yes. You are known for your super responsiveness. You can say no and preserve your relationships. Natural curiosity. You love learning how things work and you are always looking for innovative improvements. An analytical mind. You love to dive into the details of an account in order to craft pricing and coverage that meet underwriting guidelines, profitability models and customer needs. Ability to travel extensively (up to 50% of the time including overnight travel) and lead by example in the field. Advanced proficiency with the Microsoft suite of products The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer. Additional Company Details We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third party recruiting agencies or firms. The company offers a competitive compensation plan and robust benefits package for full time regular employees including: Base Salary Range: 190-250k Depending on Experience Eligible to participate in annual discretionary bonus Benefits include: Health, dental, vision, dental, life, disability, wellness, paid time off, 401(k) and profit-sharing plans The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment. #J-18808-Ljbffr W. R. Berkley Corporation