At Utica National, specialization allows us to deeply understand the industries we serve and build insurance solutions around their unique risks. Our Dealers Division is dedicated to the specialized insurance needs of automobile dealerships and the complex exposures that come with their operations.
We’re seeking an experienced Director of Underwriting, Dealers Division to lead underwriting strategy, execution, and talent for this specialty business.
In this role, you’ll combine technical underwriting leadership, portfolio management, people development, and agency partnership to drive profitable growth and strong underwriting results. You’ll work closely with business leadership and agency partners to evolve our underwriting approach, respond to changing market conditions, and position the Dealers Division for continued success.
What You’ll DoLead Underwriting Strategy & Execution- Provide leadership and direction for underwriting within the Dealers Division.
- Oversee risk selection, pricing, coverage, underwriting authority, and execution across the portfolio.
- Establish and reinforce underwriting standards that support profitable growth and consistent decision-making.
- Monitor portfolio and loss performance and develop underwriting actions designed to improve results.
- Evaluate changes in rates, coverages, rules, regulations, market conditions, and dealership exposures and translate them into effective underwriting strategies.
- Maintain strong underwriting quality through ongoing portfolio review and quality assurance.
- Monitor underwriting results and identify opportunities to improve growth, retention, profitability, and overall portfolio performance.
- Use loss experience, production results, marketplace insights, and other performance data to guide underwriting decisions.
- Balance growth opportunities with appropriate risk selection and underwriting discipline.
- Partner with business and enterprise leaders on strategies that support the long-term success of the Dealers portfolio.
- Lead, coach, and develop underwriting professionals supporting the Dealers business.
- Build technical expertise and commercial acumen throughout the underwriting team.
- Establish clear expectations and reinforce accountability for underwriting quality, responsiveness, and results.
- Identify development opportunities and provide coaching, training, and technical guidance.
- Support talent selection, performance management, career development, and succession planning.
- Develop strong relationships with agency and distribution partners serving the dealership marketplace.
- Provide underwriting leadership during key agency discussions, account reviews, and business planning conversations.
- Partner with Sales and other business teams to identify and pursue profitable growth opportunities.
- Ensure underwriting strategy and execution support a responsive, solutions-oriented agency experience.
- Clearly communicate underwriting appetite, changes, and expectations to distribution partners.
- Stay current on trends affecting automobile dealerships and the broader insurance marketplace.
- Help the organization anticipate evolving exposures and translate them into underwriting strategies and practices.
- Partner across Underwriting, Claims, Product, Sales, Risk, and other areas on initiatives impacting the Dealers business.
- Serve as a senior underwriting resource on complex risks and strategic opportunities.
We’re looking for an experienced commercial underwriting leader who combines strong technical expertise with sound business judgment, people leadership, and relationship-building skills.
You may be a great fit if you have:
- Significant commercial property and casualty underwriting experience.
- Strong technical knowledge across commercial lines, particularly Commercial Auto, General Liability, Property, Workers Compensation, and related coverages.
- Experience leading and developing underwriting professionals.
- Demonstrated success managing underwriting profitability and portfolio performance.
- Strong understanding of pricing, risk selection, underwriting authority, and agency distribution.
- Ability to interpret loss and performance data and turn insights into underwriting actions.
- Strong communication, decision-making, and relationship-building capabilities.
- Experience working closely with independent agents or brokers.
- Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent professional experience.
- CPCU, AU, CIC, or other relevant insurance education/designations preferred.
This is an opportunity to lead underwriting within a specialized commercial insurance business where technical expertise, strong relationships, and industry knowledge make a meaningful difference.
You’ll have the opportunity to:
- Shape underwriting strategy for a specialized dealership portfolio.
- Influence growth, profitability, and portfolio direction.
- Develop and mentor underwriting talent.
- Work closely with specialized agency partners.
- Help evolve our underwriting approach as dealership risks and the marketplace change.
- Collaborate with business leaders and experts across the organization.
- Bring new ideas and perspectives to an established specialty insurance business.
Salary range:
$170,000 - $225,000
**The final salary to be paid and position within the internal salary range is reflective of the employee’s work experience, their geographic location, education, certification(s), scope and responsibilities in the role, and additional qualifications.**
- This position also comes with eligibility for Variable Compensation Bonus plan
Benefits:
We believe strongly that talented people are core to our success and are attracted to companies that provide competitive pay, comprehensive benefits packages, career advancement and challenging work opportunities. We offer a Comprehensive Benefits Plan for full time employees that include the following:
- Medical and Prescription Drug Benefit
- Dental Benefit
- Vision Benefit
- Life Insurance and Disability Benefits
- 401(k) Profit Sharing and Investment Plan (Includes annual Company financial contribution and discretionary Profit Sharing contribution based upon annual company financial results)
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Tuition Assistance, Training, and Professional Designations
- Company-Paid Family Leave
- Adoption/Surrogacy Assistance Benefit
- Voluntary Benefits - Group Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, Legal, ID Theft Protection, Pet Insurance
- Student Loan Refinancing Services
- Care.com Membership with Back-up Care, Senior Solutions
- Business Travel Accident Insurance
- Matching Gifts program
- Paid Volunteer Day
- Employee Referral Award Program
- Wellness programs
Additional Information:
This position is a full time salaried, exempt (non overtime eligible) position.
Utica National is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Apply now and find out what it’s like to be a part of an amazing team, thrive in an exciting environment and work for a company you can be proud of. Once you complete your application, you can monitor your status in the hiring process by logging into your profile. A representative from our Talent Acquisition team will be in touch regarding any change in your candidacy.
#LI-NC1
Equal Opportunity EmployerThis employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Utica National Insurance Group Des Plaines, Illinois, USA Office
Des Plaines, IL, United States, 60018
Similar Jobs
What you need to know about the Chicago Tech Scene
Key Facts About Chicago Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 245,800; 5.2% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: McDonald’s, John Deere, Boeing, Morningstar
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, software, logistics technology
- Funding Landscape: $2.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Arch Venture Partners, MATH Venture Partners, Jump Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners
- Research Centers and Universities: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
