Position Summary
The Senior Underwriter is responsible for the profitable growth, underwriting, and brokerage/distribution management of a portfolio of complex commercial marine and specialty insurance accounts. This role evaluates new and renewal business, develops underwriting strategies, markets and negotiates placements with carriers on behalf of brokerage clients, manages broker and carrier relationships, and provides technical guidance to underwriting and brokerage staff. The Senior Underwriter exercises broad underwriting authority and sound judgment in risk selection, pricing, coverage design, and portfolio management — while also driving new business production through direct market relationships — to support the achievement of divisional growth and profitability objectives.
What will your job entail?
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Underwriting & Portfolio Management
Evaluate complex risks, including financial, operational, contractual, and loss exposure information to determine acceptability and pricing.
Analyze submissions, loss experience, exposure data, surveys, valuations, and other underwriting information to make informed underwriting decisions.
Develop coverage structures, pricing strategies, terms, conditions, and underwriting recommendations consistent with company guidelines and profitability objectives.
Issue quotations, indications, binders, endorsements, and policy documentation while ensuring accuracy and compliance with underwriting guidelines.
Support facility management, bordereaux reporting, carrier reporting requirements, and portfolio analytics as applicable.
Market and negotiate placements, pricing, coverage, and terms directly with brokers, agents, carriers, and insureds to secure the best available outcome for the account.
Build and maintain strong relationships with producers, brokers, agents, carrier partners, and key clients to support new business production and retention.
Represent the company at industry events, conferences, broker meetings, and client functions to strengthen market presence and relationships.
Leadership & Collaboration
Provide technical guidance, training, and mentorship to Underwriters, Underwriting Associates, and other team members across both underwriting and brokerage functions.
Collaborate with claims, compliance, operations, accounting, and distribution teams to ensure effective account management and service delivery.
Participate in strategic initiatives, product development, process improvements, and business planning activities.
Demonstrated experience underwriting and/or brokering complex marine, transportation, energy, specialty, or commercial casualty risks.
Strong understanding of policy forms, coverage analysis, risk assessment, and underwriting principles.
Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills, with comfort operating on both the underwriting and distribution sides of a transaction.
Proficiency in underwriting systems, policy administration systems, Microsoft Office, and data analysis tools.
Commercial marine underwriting or brokerage experience, including Hull & Machinery, Protection & Indemnity, Marine General Liability, MEL, Excess Liability, Inland Marine, or Transportation risks.
Existing broker and carrier relationships within marine, energy, transportation, or specialty insurance markets.
CPCU, ARM, AU, AMIM, or other industry designations.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Ability to independently evaluate, structure, negotiate, and place complex insurance transactions across both underwriting and brokerage channels.
This position serves as a senior technical and production-focused underwriting and brokerage role with opportunities to advance into Underwriting Manager, Regional Underwriting Manager, Vice President, or other leadership positions through demonstrated underwriting expertise, portfolio performance, business development success, and leadership contributions.
Position Summary (for Workday Posting)
The Senior Underwriter is responsible for underwriting, brokering, and managing a portfolio of complex commercial marine and specialty insurance risks while driving profitable growth and maintaining strong broker and carrier relationships. This role exercises broad underwriting authority, develops underwriting strategies for new and renewal business, negotiates terms and pricing directly with markets and brokers, and serves as a technical resource and mentor to underwriting and brokerage staff. The successful candidate will possess strong underwriting expertise, relationship management and market negotiation skills, and the ability to balance production goals with disciplined risk selection.
Ryan Specialty is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building and sustaining a diverse workforce throughout the organization. Our vision is an inclusive and equitable workplace where all employees are valued for and evaluated on their performance and contributions. Differences in race, creed, color, religious beliefs, physical or mental capabilities, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and many other characteristics bring together varied perspectives and add value to the service we provide our clients, trading partners, and communities. This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices, including but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, discipline, firing, promoting, transferring, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms, conditions, and benefits of employment.
How We Support Our Teammates
Ryan Specialty seeks to offer our employees a comprehensive and best-in-class benefits package that helps them — and their family members — achieve their physical, financial, and emotional well-being goals. In addition to paid time off for company holidays, vacation, sick and personal days, Ryan offers paid parental leave, mental health services and more.
The target salary range for this position is $104,000.00 - $130,000.00 annually.
The wage range for this role considers many factors, such as training, transferable skills, work experience, licensure and certification, business needs, and market demands. The pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. Full-time roles are eligible for bonuses and benefits. For additional information on Ryan Specialty Total Rewards, visit our website https://benefits.ryansg.com/.
We provide individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment in accordance with applicable law. Please contact us to request an accommodation at HR@Ryansg.com
The above is intended to describe this job's general requirements. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or physical requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
