Lead Underwriter
Department:
Underwriting
Typical Tenure for this Role:
5-7 years
Promotion to this role is subject to availability.
Role Overview
Role Description
The Lead Underwriter is a highly experienced subject matter expert responsible for driving quality and strategic improvement within the department. This role involves analyzing and interpreting advanced qualitative and quantitative data to inform complex underwriting decisions and executing processes to proactively identify and address Rate Evasion. You will demonstrate leadership through formal mentorship, training, and the completion of quality audits on junior staff, while also managing and leading high-level departmental project initiatives.
Key Skills & Competencies
Successful Lead Underwriters are masters of analysis, quality control, and knowledge transfer:
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Mastery in Analysis: Demonstrated mastery in analyzing and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data and results to solve complex, non-routine problems.
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Talent Development: Routinely assist with the training of new hires and junior staff, ensuring consistent adoption of best practices.
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Expertise in Project Management methodologies.
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Ability to complete AutoQA on junior staff to ensure quality assurance.
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Maintain and update documentation of departmental procedures (SOPs).
KPIs
Performance is measured by the individual's strategic impact and ability to influence others:
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Underwriting Acumen: Routinely suggestions new techniques and process improvements to enhance underwriting effectiveness.
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Communication & Influence: Can clearly interpret, communicate, and mentor complexity to various audiences (agents, underwriters, leadership).
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Self-Evaluation: Actively practices collaborative leadership by frequently asking others "what do you think?" to foster team engagement and critical thinking.
Role Development
Learning and Development
Training focuses on advanced QA and leadership development:
Specialized Training (e.g., Brainsharks):
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QA training – auto advanced for quality control protocols.
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Project management training.
LinkedIn Learning:
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Leadership courses such as Coaching skills for leaders and managers.
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Foundational and advanced project education, such as What is project management?
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Highly valued professional designations include CPCU, AAI, Six-Sigma, and specialized Leadership Training programs would be an advantage.
Guidelines for Promotion into this Role
Advancement requires sustained excellence and a demonstrated ability to operate at a strategic level across the organization:
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Meet Service level & Quality Goals consistently.
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Demonstrated mastery of All Competencies/Disciplines for the current role.
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Demonstrated ability to train/mentor team members.
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Established significant cross-department relationships that drive collaborative results.