Casualty Underwriting Manager | Programs

A growing specialty insurance organization is seeking an experienced casualty underwriting professional to join its underwriting team as a Casualty Underwriting Manager – Programs. This is a subject-matter-expert position within the casualty organization with primary responsibility for providing technical underwriting oversight across a portfolio of commercial auto programs. The role will initially focus heavily on managing and overseeing existing MGA/MGU contracts and program relationships, ensuring adherence to established underwriting guidelines, authorities, performance expectations, and contractual requirements. Over time, the position will expand into broader portfolio oversight, program development, underwriting governance, and evaluation of new opportunities. The individual will serve as a key technical resource for commercial auto underwriting and will work closely with internal stakeholders and external program partners. This position is particularly well suited for an underwriting professional who has worked within a carrier, MGA/MGU, program administrator, or delegated authority environment and is comfortable balancing technical underwriting judgment with portfolio analysis, contract oversight, and partner management. Key Responsibilities Manage and oversee assigned MGA/MGU contracts and program relationships, ensuring adherence to contractual terms, underwriting guidelines, delegated authority, and established business objectives. Serve as a primary underwriting contact for assigned MGA/MGU partners and develop effective working relationships with external program stakeholders. Monitor program performance, including loss experience, rate adequacy, exposure trends, premium development, and other relevant portfolio indicators. Identify emerging performance concerns and work with MGA/MGU partners to develop and implement appropriate corrective actions. Exercise underwriting authority within established guidelines and review risks or referrals requiring additional underwriting judgment. Apply knowledge of transportation regulations and industry practices when evaluating trucking accounts. Underwrite standard commercial auto exposures, including business auto, fleet, hired/non-owned auto, and related coverages. Apply appropriate underwriting considerations across both admitted and E&S environments. Maintain and enhance underwriting guidelines, referral parameters, appetite considerations, and authority requirements for assigned business. Participate in due diligence and evaluation of prospective program opportunities and potential MGA/MGU partners. Assess program partners, underwriting practices, controls, business plans, data quality, and adherence to established guidelines. Support the development and implementation of underwriting guidelines and authority structures for new programs. Conduct periodic portfolio and program reviews, including underwriting file reviews and quality assurance activities. Track findings, recommendations, and remediation activities through completion. Support compliance with applicable reinsurance, reporting, documentation, and internal control requirements. Collaborate with actuarial, legal, compliance, claims, reinsurance, and other internal functions on program and underwriting matters. Support evaluation of coverage forms, endorsements, rating methodologies, and market requirements. Monitor developments affecting commercial auto underwriting, including transportation regulations, litigation trends, loss-cost pressures, and emerging risk factors. Translate relevant market and loss trends into underwriting recommendations and portfolio actions. Prepare underwriting analyses, business narratives, portfolio materials, and other information for internal and external discussions. Participate in underwriting reviews and contribute to portfolio planning, strategy, and performance discussions. Serve as a technical resource to less-experienced members of the underwriting organization through coaching, mentoring, and knowledge sharing. Qualifications Required Experience 7+ years of commercial auto underwriting experience , with meaningful exposure to trucking, auto dealerships, standard commercial auto, or a combination of these areas. Strong understanding of commercial auto underwriting principles and transportation-related exposures. Experience underwriting business across both admitted and E&S markets . Experience working with delegated underwriting authority, program business, MGA/MGU relationships, or similar distribution models. Knowledge of applicable transportation regulations and requirements relevant to commercial trucking. Experience developing or applying underwriting guidelines, referral parameters, and authority structures. Experience reviewing coverage forms, endorsements, and related underwriting documentation. Bachelor's degree in Business, Risk Management, Insurance, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience. Strong knowledge of commercial casualty coverage, underwriting practices, and market conditions. Understanding of commercial auto rating, pricing, exposure evaluation, and portfolio management. Familiarity with admitted-market requirements and E&S/surplus lines considerations. Working knowledge of reinsurance concepts, including quota share, excess of loss, and facultative arrangements. Comfortable analyzing bordereaux, loss data, exposure information, and other portfolio-level metrics. Proficiency with underwriting technology, Microsoft Office, collaboration platforms, and related business systems. Preferred Qualifications Professional insurance designation such as CPCU, AU, ARe, ARM, CIC, TRS, or similar. Experience using telematics, ELD information, camera technology, or other transportation data in underwriting decisions. Experience with commercial auto dealership or garage-related programs. Experience performing underwriting audits, quality assurance reviews, or remediation activities. Combination of carrier and MGA/MGU or program-management experience. Experience working in a specialty or program-focused insurance environment. Compensation & Benefits Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience. Fully remote opportunity within the United States. Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage. 401(k) retirement plan with company matching. Opportunity to work with an experienced specialty underwriting team in a growing organization.