AVP Middle Market Property Underwriter

Assistant Vice President, Middle Market Property Underwriter

Location: San Francisco, CA

Overview

Our client, a leading global commercial property and casualty insurer, is seeking an experienced Assistant Vice President (AVP), Middle Market Property Underwriter to join their San Francisco office. This is a high-impact individual contributor role focused on driving profitable growth within the middle market property portfolio. The position offers a blend of technical underwriting, broker relationship management, and strategic portfolio development within a collaborative and performance-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Underwriting & Risk Selection

  • Evaluate, structure, and price middle market commercial property risks with a focus on profitability and disciplined risk selection.
  • Underwrite new and renewal business across a diverse range of industries and occupancy classes.
  • Analyze exposures using internal tools, catastrophe models, engineering reports, and third-party data.

• Portfolio Management

  • Manage an assigned book of business, ensuring alignment with underwriting guidelines, appetite, and portfolio strategies.
  • Monitor performance metrics such as loss ratio, rate adequacy, retention, and growth targets.
  • Identify trends and recommend adjustments to underwriting strategy as needed.

• Broker & Client Engagement

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with retail and wholesale brokers in the San Francisco region and broader West Coast market.
  • Serve as a trusted underwriting partner, providing responsive service and creative solutions.
  • Participate in broker meetings, marketing events, and industry functions to enhance visibility and generate new opportunities.

• Technical Expertise

  • Apply deep knowledge of property underwriting, including CAT exposures (earthquake, wildfire, flood), to structure competitive and sustainable coverage.
  • Review policy terms, conditions, and endorsements to ensure clarity and alignment with risk appetite.

• Collaboration

  • Work closely with internal partners including risk engineering, claims, actuarial, and portfolio management teams.
  • Contribute to underwriting best practices and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Experience

  • 7-12+ years of commercial property underwriting experience, with a focus on middle market accounts.
  • Demonstrated success in underwriting complex property risks within the Western U.S., preferably including California exposures.

• Technical Skills

  • Strong understanding of property forms, coverage structures, and CAT modeling.
  • Proven ability to assess large schedules, layered programs, and shared/stacked placements.

• Broker Management

  • Established broker relationships in the San Francisco / Northern California market preferred.
  • Track record of driving new business production while maintaining underwriting discipline.

• Education & Credentials

  • Bachelor's degree required; CPCU or other industry designation is a plus.

• Personal Attributes

  • Self-motivated, accountable, and comfortable operating as an individual contributor.
  • Strong analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.
  • Ability to balance production goals with technical rigor.

What Sets This Role Apart

• Market-Leading Platform: Backing of a well-capitalized insurer with a strong property underwriting appetite.
• Complex Risk Exposure: Access to sophisticated risks and the ability to use advanced modeling tools.
• Growth Opportunity: Visibility into senior underwriting and regional leadership, with clear pathways for advancement.