AVP, E&S Underwriting (Hybrid)

At Selective, we don't just insure uniquely, we employ uniqueness. 

Our Business  

Mesa Underwriters Specialty Insurance Company (aka MUSIC) is wholly owned by Selective Insurance Company. Selective, our parent company, is a midsized U.S. domestic property and casualty insurance company with a history of strong, consistent financial performance for nearly 100 years. We have the unique position as both a leading insurance group and an employer of choice is recognized in a wide variety of awards and honors, including listing in Forbes Best Midsize Employers in 2024 and certification as a Great Place to Work® in 2024 for the fifth consecutive year. 

Working at MUSIC 

At MUSIC, we don't just insure uniquely – we employ uniqueness. Employees are empowered and encouraged to Be Uniquely You by being their true, unique selves and contributing their diverse talents, experiences, and perspectives to our shared success. Together, we are a high-performing team working to serve our customers responsibly by helping to mitigate loss, keep them safe, and restore their lives and businesses after an insured loss occurs.  

We offer a total rewards package that includes a competitive base salary, incentive plan eligibility at all levels, and a wide array of benefits designed to help you and your family stay healthy, achieve your financial goals, and balance the demands of your work and personal life. These benefits include comprehensive health care plans, retirement savings plan with company match, discounted Employee Stock Purchase Program, tuition assistance reimbursement and programs, and paid time off plans. Additional details about our total rewards package will be provided during the recruiting process. 

The AVP of New Business overseas the Eastern Territory of the US and manages a team of underwriting leaders and their staff. This person plays a key role in the growth, profitability, and wholesale agency management strategy of the E&S business underwriting functions. Leads, develops, coaches and provides feedback to the underwriting managers and their teams, coordinating their activities that align with company goals and initiatives.  Assists in the development of forms and rates for product development. Partners with E&S Senior Leadership, Underwriting Managers, peers at Selective, Legal and Claims teams. providing market intelligence and line expertise to grow profitable business across multiple segments and lines.  Assists in Product Change Management, Quality Assurance and Exception management. Proactively manage line of business results by identifying positive and negative trends and recommending strategies to improve performance.  Assists in the development of MUSIC’s annual budget as well as analysis, preparation, and delivery to VP of monthly/quarterly underwriting and performance reports.  All job duties and responsibilities must be carried out in compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. Travel required.

• Ensures department’s compliance with company underwriting philosophy and procedures as well as communicating, coordinating and enforcing short and long term strategic initiatives are on track and implemented within the underwriting department.
• Responsible for executing monthly and quarterly reports for management reflective of premium and profitability drivers, strategic performance developments and identifying key trends, market intelligence and emerging concerns. Participates with senior management in annual meetings, producer council meetings, internal and key external conferences providing insight and analysis of market trends and developments.
• Works with VP of Underwriting and AVP peers to prepare premium plan budget. Evaluates market conditions, line of business and segment profitability, retention, rate, diversification and market planning to ensure profitable growth. Provides analysis of all premium plan budget variances. Identifies and implements needed actions.
• Build and develop and effective management team. Define and execute consistent agency management practices through staff supporting company goals.
• Provides continuous updates and communicates expectations related to production/profitability goals achieving those goals through actionable items for short and long-term initiatives.
• Recommends and oversees training and development of staff ensuring continuous talent development and groom staff for larger responsibilities. Evaluates and gives guidance to staff on an on-going basis as to their abilities and duties and makes personnel recommendations to ensure proper and optimum use of personnel.
• Evaluates personnel for underwriting authority and insures they follow those authority levels
• Develop and maintain key agent relationships at an office leadership level. Identify and monitor key internal and external factors that could influence business performance while evaluating and recommending new or evolving business opportunities.
• Recommend insights from this information that may be incorporated into strategic and operational plans.
• Utilizes underwriting expertise to work with the Product Development, Claims and Legal Teams in determining the most appropriate solution or course of action of their analysis of existing manuscript endorsements, underwriting guidance or other business needs.
• Responsible for the coordination of claim reformation process for VP Underwriting consumption and approval to move forward to the reformation committee.
• Responsible for the management of the exception log as to individual relevancy over time making recommendations for continuation or dissolution that is in support of premium and profitability goals.
• Testifies in court and/or participates in the taking of depositions as needed on claims or coverage issues.

Requirements and Qualifications: 

• In office hybrid 3 days average per week within driving distance from Dresher, PA.
• An understanding of financial and accounting concepts and modeling techniques.
• Exposure to project management concepts or project management designations.
• Formal project management skills including experience managing large projects is preferred.
• Must demonstrate the ability to analyze problems, probe facts, identify and question assumptions and analyze issues from different perspective.
• Highly motivated self-starter with an ability to effectively manage a range of projects in an environment with changing priorities.
• Exhibit flexibility working in a fast-paced environment requiring quick response.
• Must have demonstrated effective analytical, communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Must be detail-oriented with a heavy customer service focus.
• College degree in Business Management, Risk Management, Accounting or Finance preferred.
• PMP or other project management certification or experience a plus.
• Managerial experience required.

Salary range:  $164,000- $225,000.  The actual base salary is based on geographic location, and the range is representative of salaries for this role throughout Selective's footprint. Additional considerations include the candidate's qualifications and experience.

Selective is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.  That means we respect and value every individual’s unique opinions, beliefs, abilities, and perspectives. We are committed to promoting a welcoming culture that celebrates diverse talent, individual identity, different points of view and experiences – and empowers employees to contribute new ideas that support our continued and growing success. Building a highly engaged team is one of our core strategic imperatives, which we believe is enhanced by diversity, equity, and inclusion. We expect and encourage all employees and all of our business partners to embrace, practice, and monitor the attitudes, values, and goals of acceptance; address biases; and foster diversity of viewpoints and opinions.

Selective maintains a drug-free workplace.

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