Senior Commercial Lines Underwriter

Job Description

MMG Insurance is seeking an experienced Senior Commercial Underwriter to play a key role in the profitable growth and management of our Commercial Lines book of business. This position combines strong technical underwriting expertise, leadership, agency relationship management, and portfolio oversight. The Senior Commercial Underwriter evaluates and manages complex commercial risks while serving as a trusted partner to agents, internal teams, and fellow underwriters.

This role is based in our Portsmouth, New Hampshire office (hybrid schedule) and reports to the Commercial Lines Manager.

What You'll Do:

• Underwrite and manage complex new and renewal commercial accounts within underwriting authority.
• Analyze financial statements, loss history, operations, industry exposures, and risk characteristics to make sound underwriting decisions.
• Determine appropriate pricing, coverages, deductibles, limits, and policy terms.
• Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and support to underwriting staff on complex underwriting issues.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with agency partners to drive profitable growth and deliver exceptional service.
• Negotiate underwriting terms and coverage solutions with agents and brokers.
• Monitor territory and portfolio performance, including growth, retention, loss ratio, rate achievement, and underwriting quality.
• Review underwriting audits, claims activity, and coverage issues to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate with Claims, Marketing, Risk Control, Product, and other internal teams to support underwriting excellence and business objectives.
• Participate in agency reviews, book-of-business reviews, underwriting initiatives, training programs, and operational projects.
• Research market conditions, industry trends, and emerging risks to support profitable growth strategies.
• Travel periodically for agency visits, meetings, industry events, and training opportunities.
  

What You Bring:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• 6 years of Commercial Lines underwriting experience, including complex commercial risks.
• Strong knowledge of commercial insurance coverages including:
  • Commercial Property
  • General Liability
  • Commercial Auto
  • Businessowners Policy (BOP)
  • Commercial Package Policy (CPP)
  • Inland Marine
  • Umbrella/Excess Liability
• Proven ability to evaluate complex accounts and balance growth and profitability objectives.
• Experience coaching, mentoring, or providing technical guidance to underwriting staff.
• Strong understanding of agency operations and agency relationship management.
• Experience analyzing underwriting results, portfolio performance, and business metrics.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Professional designations such as CPCU, AU, ARM, or similar are preferred.
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 20-25%.
  

Core Competencies

• Risk Assessment
• Pricing & Profitability Analysis
• Portfolio Management
• Agency Relationship Management
• Financial Analysis
• Decision Making
• Negotiation
• Customer Service
• Collaboration
• Leadership & Mentoring
  

Success Measures
Success in this role may be measured through:

• Profitable new business growth
• Renewal retention
• Loss ratio performance
• Rate achievement
• Quote-to-bind ratio
• Turnaround time
• Agency satisfaction
• Portfolio quality and mix
• Underwriting audit results

 
Essential Functions:
The essential functions of this position include evaluating commercial insurance risks, making underwriting decisions and communicating effectively with internal and external partners. These responsibilities require prolonged computer use, strong attention to detail, and effective verbal and written communication. Consistent with applicable law, reasonable accommodations will be made to support individuals with disabilities in performing the essential functions of their job provided that such accommodations do not impose an undue hardship on the business. The organization will engage in an interactive accommodation process as needed.