Our Inland Marine team is seeking a Director of Underwriting to join the growing team in the Itasca, IL location. This is a full time, exempt role. This is a hybrid opportunity.POSITION OVERVIEW:This role resides within Inland Marine area of the Specialty division. Manages all sales and underwriting functions within assigned territories. Drives team performance regarding underwriting management, achievement of new business targets and ensuring consistent use and optimization of best practices and tools. Responsible for managing, coaching and mentoring underwriters in their agency relationships, resolving escalations, and product knowledge. Collaborates with Operations partners on underwriting technicians and underwriting assistants. May oversee and manage underwriter renewal process guidelines and workflows to include proper utilization of tools and reports for efficient renewal book management (e.g. renewal lists, timely premium bookings, proper closing of lost accounts, etc.). Responsible for assessing the present and future resource needs for employees and provide the leadership, mentoring and guidance necessary to build and sustain a high performing workforce.IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL:Develop and implement strategies based on near and long term priorities, current trends and underwriting results.Identify enhanced sell and cross-sell opportunities to create growth within other lines of business and customer segments.Collaborate with both Specialty distribution and local branch partnersPartner with leadership to help develop and drive the regional business strategy.Oversee the operational and technical work of the team and where applicable implement claim handling best practices to coordinate consistent handling of our company’s largest exposure claimsLeadership & Coaching:Creates a high performance culture through effective communication and quality goal setting, differentiation of compensation and performance, proactive management of low performers and retention of top performers.Drives proactive development and advancement of key talent. Recruit and retain top talent. Maintains an active talent pipeline within and outside the company.Manage the underwriting teams to achieve business objectives. Coaching and mentoring the team, providing business direction, driving underwriting actions towards our business objectives, training and development of employees.Collaborates with Operations to execute best practices, including optimizing productivity and managing service and quality with agents.Effectively manage expenses in line with near and long range business priorities.Technical Underwriting:Able to decipher complex accounts and apply sound underwriting principles to translate business rationale to team and or colleagues.Evaluate and identify technical training needs and opportunities to enhance capabilities of team. May conduct formal/informal training sessions. Ongoing coaching of team members on application of expertise to improve results. Manages UW account referrals to meet productivity targets / effectively allocate for greatest return. Assesses underwriting skills of underwriters, delegating underwriting authority based on demonstrated skills, and create plans to increase underwriting technical capabilities. Portfolio & Sales Management: Assist in developing strategic financial plans adjusting as needed in response to changing performance indicators. Understands the financial relationships, dependencies, trends, risks and potential returns. Ability to create and drive business plan that yields profitable results. Keeps current on state/territory issues, regulations and trends and appropriately shares information to drive state results. Drives profit improvement process and appropriate rate while balancing with retention. Ensures teams utilization of tools and resources to achieve profit goals.WHAT YOU NEED TO APPLY:Bachelor’s degree required, professional designations preferredP&C - minimum of 7 years of experience with Specialty (Inland Marine) accounts and driving agency relationships resulting in profitable new and renewal business.3 years demonstrated success directly managing or leading others.Manage day to day operations of underwriting teams to achieve business objectives. Coaching and mentoring the UW team, providing business direction, driving underwriting actions towards our business objectives, training and development of employees.Effective problem solver, who anticipates issues, seeks out and analyzes information collaboratively to propose solutions. Takes ownership for a successful resolutionActs as a change advocate, and is open to new and different ways of thinking.Excellent communication skills are essential; effective face-to-face interactions and presentations to groups, strong phone skills, sound written communications, including impeccable follow throughDemonstrated ability to effectively collaborate and influence across multiple levels of the organization within senior and field management and underwriters.High degree of business, insurance and marketplace knowledge