SVP, Chief Underwriting Officer

Company Details

Vela Insurance Services provides specialized Excess and Surplus Lines Casualty and Professional Liability insurance solutions in the following four market segments: Construction, Specialty Casualty, and Professional Liability. We offer national service and local knowledge to our exclusive wholesale broker network and the businesses they serve.

The company is an equal opportunity employer.

Responsibilities

The Senior Vice President & Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) is an executive leader responsible for driving underwriting excellence, portfolio performance, and strategic growth at Vela Insurance Services. Reporting to the President, s/he will lead a unified underwriting strategy across all segments, ensuring profitable growth through a “One Underwriting” mindset. This role will oversee the redesign of the CUO role to foster stronger collaboration with MSEs, foster a sales-driven culture, and align underwriting operations with emerging opportunities in technology, data analytics, and market diversification. The CUO will champion a future-focused vision, enhancing leadership capabilities, talent retention, and broker relationships to build a defensible sales flywheel and promote sustainable profitability.

Qualifications

• Four (4) year College Degree, or commensurate experience and training
• Industry designations preferred: CPCU, ASLI, ARM
• Minimum of 15+ years’ commercial lines underwriting experience, with strong foundation in portfolio analytics
• Strong sales acumen and drive – Demonstrated success in building and sustaining a sales-driven culture
• Demonstrated success in product development, innovation, and launching new products
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills
• Demonstrated technical expertise in underwriting
• Experience in and understanding the competitive E&S marketplace is a significant advantage

Additional Company Details

We do not accept any unsolicited resumes from external recruiting firms. The company offers a competitive compensation plan and robust benefits package for full time regular employees which for this role include: • Eligible to participate in annual discretionary bonus. • Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability, Wellness, Paid Time Off, 401(k) and Profit-Sharing plans. The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment.

Sponsorship Details

Sponsorship not Offered for this Role