Senior Manager, Underwriting

About the role

The is a pivotal role designed to drive the operational excellence of the New Business Underwriting function. This position is responsible for owning the complete workflow lifecycle, from the initial intake of risk through to the seamless handoff to partner teams for execution. You will act as the primary translator of strategic underwriting direction from leadership into tangible, daily actions for the team. Success in this role requires a balance of disciplined process management and empathetic people leadership to build a high-performing unit. The hire will ensure that all activities are conducted with a consistent standard of quality, efficiency, and reliability that reflects the company's core values. You will be the central figure coordinating complex evaluations and judgments across diverse stakeholders to resolve escalations without delay. Ultimately, this role is about translating the vision of affordable and straightforward insurance into a repeatable and scalable operational reality for small businesses.

Key facts

What you'll do

Define and enforce intake standards that govern how risk is assessed, ensuring decisions align with clear appetite boundaries and consistent quality metrics.

Champion the evaluation of complex submissions by orchestrating stakeholder input and applying judgment, serving as the definitive escalation point to prevent delays.

Balance dynamic team capacity against fluctuating volume to safeguard service level agreement performance during periods of high demand.

Guide the evolution of SOPs and training materials to keep underwriters informed of product changes, pricing models, and emerging industry trends.

Direct a mixed team of underwriters, seniors, and team leads with the objective of cultivating independent decision-making confidence and technical autonomy.

Shape future hiring plans and lead recruitment initiatives to build underwriting depth that precisely matches capability and business needs.

Analyze workflow gaps by gathering direct feedback from underwriters and internal partners, framing data-driven recommendations for leadership review.

Serve as a key operational point of contact for partner agents, supporting them on daily underwriting questions and escalating nuanced issues to the Director promptly.

Leverage data and feedback to identify inefficiencies in the workflow and implement practical improvements that enhance throughput and accuracy.

Collaborate closely with the Business Development team on retention and engagement initiatives to ensure underwriting policies support long-term partner relationships.

Maintain a deep expertise in workers' compensation, utilizing this disciplinary knowledge to evaluate complex risks and earn the trust of the team.

Ensure that all underwriting decisions reflect the company's core values and operating principles, embedding them into the team's daily practice.

Support the digital user experience by ensuring that underwriting rules and outcomes are consistent with the straightforward digital flow described for quotes, binding, and servicing.

Act as a mentor to underwriters, seniors, and team leads, focusing on building their skills to make high-quality decisions independently.

Requirements

A high school diploma or GED is required, and a Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience is preferred for this position.

You must possess a minimum of 8 years of commercial insurance practice, with a demonstrated strong background in workers' compensation specifically.

It is mandatory to have at least 4 years of progressive leadership experience within commercial insurance underwriting environments.

You must have managed other managers or senior individual contributors as part of your leadership history.

Holding disciplinary expertise that is actively sought out by peers is a strict requirement, showcasing strong technical underwriting judgment.

You must have the ability to evaluate complex risks independently and subsequently earn the trust of your team through sound decisions.

Managing operational execution across a team is a core expectation, requiring a demonstrated balance between throughput, quality, and schedule predictability.

Nice to have

Experience guiding partner agents and influencing business development on retention initiatives is listed as a valuable asset for this role.

Practical notes

This is a full-time position located in the United States.

The compensation range for this role is $130,000 to $170,000 USD annually.

Specific tools and knowledge required include workers' compensation, Pie Insurance products, and underwriting tools.

Direct experience with the Pie Insurance platform is not mandatory but is considered a valuable asset for success in this position.