Who are we?
A strategic and trusted insurance partner, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI), provides a broad range of commercial property, casualty and specialty insurance coverages and outstanding service to customers and brokers around the world. Through Berkshire United, BHSI brings together its expertise, service excellence, and market capabilities with those of Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies to deliver a seamless multiline admitted property and casualty solution for middle-market businesses.
To learn more about Berkshire United’s admitted insurance solutions, visit www.berkshireunited.com .
We are a values-based organization where respect, integrity, excellence, collaboration, and passion define who we are and how we do business. We value diversity of backgrounds, experience, and perspectives and strive to foster an inclusive environment that enables all our team members to bring their best selves to work. We are one team committed to building a culture where every teammate has the opportunity to contribute and be recognized. Want to be part of the team building the finest property, casualty, and specialty lines insurance company in the world?
Learn more about BHSI’s unique culture and history .
Opportunity
This is an opportunity to build and lead a regional middle-market underwriting operation with responsibility for a multiline admitted property and casualty portfolio. The role combines people leadership, portfolio management, broker relationship development, technical underwriting leadership, and business-building responsibilities.
The (AVP or VP) Underwriter in this role will develop a high-performing underwriting team, establish and execute regional underwriting and broker strategies, and drive profitable portfolio growth. The position requires a leader who can balance strategic direction with hands-on execution while establishing the structure, practices, and market relationships needed to support sustainable growth. Title and level may be aligned to experience and qualifications.
Key Responsibilities
- Build and lead a regional underwriting organization, including recruiting, onboarding, developing, and retaining experienced multiline underwriters.
- Own the strategy, profitable growth, and overall performance of a multiline admitted property and casualty portfolio.
- Establish production, profitability, retention, and portfolio objectives; monitor results and pipeline activity; and take appropriate action to maintain disciplined execution.
- Provide technical underwriting leadership across risk selection, exposure evaluation, pricing, terms, account structure, referrals, and underwriting authority.
- Develop and execute a regional retail broker strategy that strengthens key relationships and generates profitable new and renewal opportunities.
- Coach and develop underwriters through ongoing feedback, account consultation, performance management, and individualized development planning.
- Maintain underwriting quality through portfolio reviews, file audits, referral oversight, and consistent application of underwriting guidelines, authorities, and standards.
- Partner across Distribution, Claims, Risk Engineering, and other functions to deliver coordinated solutions and improve the broker and customer experience.
- Translate regional insights into recommendations that strengthen underwriting strategy, operating practices, and business execution.
Key Skills
- People Leadership: Ability to build, develop, coach, and retain experienced underwriting teams while establishing clear expectations and accountability.
- Multiline Underwriting Expertise: Strong technical capability across Property, General Liability, Commercial Automobile, Workers’ Compensation, Umbrella/Excess, and Inland Marine.
- Portfolio Management: Ability to manage production, profitability, retention, risk selection, underwriting quality, and referral activity to achieve portfolio objectives.
- Broker Relationship Management: Demonstrated ability to develop productive retail broker relationships and expand market presence.
- Underwriting Judgment: Strong decision-making capabilities across risk selection, pricing, exposure evaluation, terms, structure, and underwriting authority.
- Strategic Execution: Ability to translate business objectives and market insights into practical strategies and measurable execution.
- Team Building: Ability to establish structure and build effective teams within an entrepreneurial and growing environment.
- Analytical Thinking: Ability to evaluate portfolio performance and balance growth opportunities with underwriting discipline.
- Communication and Influence: Strong communication, negotiation, presentation, and relationship-management skills with the ability to influence across functions and organizational levels.
Qualifications
- Minimum of 10 years of commercial property and casualty underwriting experience, including significant experience within the admitted middle-market segment.
- Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated people-leadership experience, including recruiting, coaching, performance management, and development of experienced underwriters.
- Broad underwriting experience across Property, General Liability, Commercial Automobile, Workers’ Compensation, Umbrella/Excess, and Inland Marine.
- Demonstrated track record of driving profitable portfolio performance through disciplined production management, risk selection, underwriting quality, and referral oversight.
- Experience building and maintaining productive relationships with retail brokers; established relationships within Chicago and the Western Region are preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to build teams and establish effective operating structures within a growing business environment.
- Bachelor’s degree preferred.
- CPCU or another relevant professional designation is a plus.
BHSI Offers
- A competitive package and exciting growth opportunities for career-oriented teammates.
- A dynamic, action oriented, and thoughtful environment centered on always doing the right thing for our customers, teammates and our other stakeholders.
- A purposely non-bureaucratic organization that embraces simplicity over complexity and emphasizes individual excellence in a team framework.
- Benefits that support your life and well-being, which include:
- Comprehensive Health, Dental and Vision benefits.
- Disability Insurance (both short-term and long-term).
- Life Insurance (for you and your family).
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (for you and your family).
- Flexible Spending Accounts.
- Health Reimbursement Account.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Retirement Savings 401(k) Plan with Company Match.
- Generous holiday and Paid Time Off.
- Tuition Reimbursement.
- Paid Parental Leave.
The base salary range for this position is $150,000 to $225,000 , along with annual bonus eligibility. Total compensation for a candidate is determined by their relevant skills, location, and experience. We value our teammates – both their capabilities and character – as demonstrated by our amazing culture.
NOTE: Compensation will be commensurate with experience. This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Team Member may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.
