Sr. Underwriter

Job Description Summary

The Senior Underwriter plays a critical role in the launch and ongoing success of Markel’s AI-driven underwriting platform, serving as the face of broker relationships while ensuring high-quality, consistent underwriting decisions. This position is ideal for an experienced casualty underwriter who thrives in a dynamic, collaborative environment and is motivated by the opportunity to contribute to an innovative, technology-driven underwriting platform.

Job Responsibilities

Review and make final decisions on complex and/or flagged proposals, ensuring consistency and adherence to Markel's AI underwriting standards.

Manage and nurture key broker relationships, acting as the primary broker-facing account lead and supporting account management activities to drive business growth.

Support the ongoing refinement of underwriting approaches, collaborating with leadership to iterate on appetite, pricing, and coverage strategies based on portfolio performance and market feedback.

Mentor a team of Associate Underwriters (AUs), coaching junior staff and optimizing workflow to maximize quote throughput and efficiency.

Allocate approximately 70% of time to underwriting (some of which will include complex decision-making), 20% to broker engagement, and 10% to refining underwriting processes and miscellaneous management tasks.

Actively participate in the continued codification and improvement of the proposal engine, providing feedback and insights to enhance automation and quote quality.

Engage with brokers to explain, negotiate, and finalize quotes, ensuring transparent communication and building trust around coverage options and exclusions.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or relevant work experience

Work Experience/Skill Set

Proven experience in casualty underwriting within the E&S or specialty insurance market.

Demonstrated ability to manage complex risks and make informed underwriting decisions.

Strong track record of building and maintaining productive broker relationships.

Experience mentoring or leading junior underwriters preferred; ability to operate in a pod-based or team-oriented structure.

Comfort with technology-enabled underwriting tools and willingness to engage in process improvement initiatives.

Excellent communication and organizational skills.

Travel 20% (approximately once a quarter)