Property Vertical Director

Job Description

Job Description

Description

The Property Vertical Director is responsible for leading, developing, and scaling the firm's Property practice. This role combines strategic leadership, market expertise, broker enablement, and revenue growth within wholesale brokerage operations. Working closely with the executive team, the Property Vertical Director will define the vertical's vision, drive carrier and retail broker engagement, develop differentiated solutions, and position the firm as a market leader in commercial property insurance and catastrophe-exposed risks.

Vertical Strategy & Leadership

• Own and execute the strategic direction for the Property vertical.
• Define the vertical's value proposition, market positioning, and growth roadmap.
• Establish underwriting focus, target industries, and property product offerings.
• Serve as the internal subject matter expert on commercial property risks, CAT exposures, valuation challenges, and market trends.
• Develop strategies for large property schedules, shared and layered placements, and specialty property programs.

Revenue Growth & Business Development

• Drive new business growth through strategic relationships with retail brokers, carriers, and MGAs.
• Partner with brokers to identify, pursue, and close complex property placements.
• Support key accounts and large-loss exposed opportunities.
• Manage renewal production to achieve retention and profitability objectives.
• Track pipeline performance and vertical growth metrics.

Carrier & Market Management

• Develop and maintain executive-level relationships with property carriers and reinsurers.
• Negotiate capacity, pricing, coverage enhancements, and program structures.
• Expand market access for catastrophe-exposed and difficult-to-place risks.
• Stay current on CAT modeling, capacity shifts, valuation trends, and underwriting appetites.

Producer Enablement & Training

• Train producers on property coverage structures, market conditions, and placement strategies.
• Develop property-focused marketing tools and educational resources.
• Serve as an escalation point for large and complex submissions.
• Support onboarding and development of producers within the Property practice.

Operational & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Operations, Marketing, and Leadership to grow the Property vertical.
• Develop thought leadership, market updates, and client-facing resources.
• Improve submission quality, workflows, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with carrier and regulatory guidelines.

Market Intelligence & Thought Leadership

• Monitor property market conditions, CAT exposure trends, and emerging risks.
• Represent the firm at industry conferences, carrier meetings, and client events.
• Publish insights related to property insurance market developments.

Success Metrics

• Property vertical revenue growth and profitability.
• Expansion of property carrier relationships and capacity.
• Growth in complex property placements.
• Producer engagement and adoption.
• Retail broker retention and submission growth.

Required

• 10+ years of experience in commercial property insurance, brokerage, underwriting, or wholesale distribution.
• Deep expertise in large commercial property placements and market dynamics.
• Proven success in developing carrier and broker relationships.
• Strong understanding of property underwriting, catastrophe modeling, and coverage structures.
• Demonstrated leadership and business development capabilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading a property practice or business unit.
• Wholesale brokerage background.
• Established property carrier relationships.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.

At Heffernan, our culture is guided by the Heffernan Habits, prioritizing communication, respect, fun, community impact, and celebrating what makes each of us unique. We’re proud of our strong commitment to philanthropy and giving back, and we support our employees with a comprehensive benefits package designed to promote well-being, growth, and long-term success.

 
Heffernan Habits: 

These are core values that represent our unique culture. 

• Answer The Phone (And Email): Communication is the foundation of success in life, work, and relationships. It begins with being present and responsive to both clients and colleagues. Listen to what is said and notice what goes unsaid.
• Have Fun: Fun is something we don’t shy away from, and participation brings us together on many different levels. Take the time to know your colleagues and let barriers fall away. If we are happy and enjoy time together, we will do a better job for our clients and for one another!
• Be Respectful : Lend a hand, be kind, and smooth the path. Respect is the cornerstone of developing and maintaining strong relationships. Lead with humility, take ownership of your actions, and ease the way for others. We are in this together as a team, as a family, and as trusted advisors to many.  
• Do Good : This is our core. We strive to do good for our clients, our community, and our planet.
• Celebrate & Value Our Differences : “Because You’re Different”. It is our differences, when valued and amplified, that allow us to innovate, to learn, to connect, and to stand apart from the rest.

*The compensation for this role will depend on the geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, among other factors. This role will be eligible to participate in an annual bonus program.