DCUO, Head of Product Liability at Ategrity Specialty Insurance Company in Henrico, Virginia

DCUO, Head Of Product Liability

Reporting to the Chief Underwriting Officer, the Deputy Chief Underwriting Officer (DCUO), Head of Product Liability will serve as a key partner to the CUO in executing underwriting strategy, strengthening underwriting governance and discipline, and driving profitable portfolio performance. This role will have end-to-end responsibility for building, launching, and leading the portfolio. This includes executing the strategy, defining the market approach, establishing appetite and underwriting frameworks, building and developing the team, and ultimately bringing the portfolio to market. Once launched, the DCUO will be accountable for actively managing portfolio performance, balancing growth opportunities with underwriting discipline and long-term profitability.

Key responsibilities include partnering with the CUO and senior leaders to develop and execute the company's overall underwriting strategy, standards, and operating priorities; serving as a senior underwriting authority and trusted advisor on complex risks, referrals, portfolio issues, and emerging exposures; establishing and maintaining underwriting governance; driving consistent execution of underwriting strategy; working with underwriting leadership to identify portfolio trends, areas of emerging risk, performance issues, and opportunities for profitable growth; promoting a culture of underwriting accountability; supporting the CUO in evaluating underwriting performance and communicating underwriting priorities to senior leadership; coaching and developing underwriting leaders and underwriters; and partnering closely with Actuarial, Claims, Risk, Product, Operations, Finance, and Distribution to ensure underwriting decisions reflect a comprehensive view of risk and expected profitability.

Leadership expectations include demonstrating exceptional underwriting judgment and intellectual curiosity; balancing commercial opportunity with disciplined risk selection and portfolio management; challenging assumptions constructively and making decisions based on data, experience, and forward-looking risk assessment; creating clarity around underwriting appetite and empowering underwriters to make sound decisions within that framework; building credibility with underwriting teams through technical expertise, accessibility, and practical decision-making; developing talent and fostering a culture of continuous learning and underwriting excellence; collaborating effectively across functions while maintaining clear accountability for underwriting outcomes; and anticipating changes in the risk environment and translating them into actionable underwriting strategies.

Qualifications include significant commercial casualty underwriting experience, including substantial expertise in Product Liability; demonstrated success managing a profitable casualty or Product Liability portfolio through multiple market cycles; deep understanding of casualty risk selection, pricing, coverage, attachment strategy, limits management, and portfolio construction; strong knowledge of Product Liability exposures, including severity drivers, litigation trends, emerging risks, contractual risk transfer, and complex coverage considerations; experience establishing or managing underwriting appetite, guidelines, authorities, and governance; strong analytical capabilities with demonstrated ability to use underwriting, actuarial, claims, and portfolio data to drive decisions; proven ability to evaluate complex risks and make sound decisions where historical data may be limited or emerging exposures create uncertainty; demonstrated leadership and talent-development capabilities, including the ability to influence teams beyond direct reporting relationships; strong communication and executive presence with the ability to interact effectively with senior management, underwriters, brokers, reinsurers, and other stakeholders; and a bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience; advanced insurance designations or relevant professional credentials are preferred.

Benefits include a competitive salary commensurate with experience; a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage; a 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match; paid time off and company holidays; professional development opportunities; and a collaborative and inclusive work environment with opportunities for career growth and advancement.