Vice President – Captive & Specialty ESL Underwriting

Crum & Forster Company Overview

Crum & Forster (C&F) provides market leading property & casualty, accident & health, specialty and standard commercial lines insurance solutions. A true underwriting company, we have a 200-year history of helping our customers manage risk with laser-focused expertise, integrity and discipline. Our people are empowered to make decisions and problem-solve with you smartly and swiftly. Our annual gross written premium is 6.2 billion. C&F enjoys a financial strength rating of "A+" (Superior) by AM Best.

Our most valuable asset is our people. We have 3000 employees, and locations throughout the United States and India. With our employee-first focus, the Company is consistently recognized as a great place to work, earning multiple workplace and wellness awards, including the Great Place to Work® Award, Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For, Fortune Best Workplaces for Parents, Fortune Best Workplaces for Millennials, and many others.

C&F is part of Fairfax Financial Holdings. For more information about C&F, please visit our website: www.cfins.com

Job Description

This is a remote role.

The Accident & Health Division (A&H), established in 2000, has offered a diverse portfolio of specialty insurance and reinsurance products nationwide. We place a strong focus on product development and creative distribution methods, along with excellent client service and support.

In addition to our robust domestic portfolio, which spans both special risk and medical solutions, A&H works on an international basis through various partnerships. Our global capabilities provide our partners with even broader flexibility in underwriting solutions. Gross premium written in 2025 surpassed $2.4B.

The qualities and capabilities of Crum & Forster Accident & Health demonstrate our philosophy of building meaningful, long-term partnerships and our dedication to providing alternative strategies in an ever-changing insurance market.

The A&H MBU takes a full-spectrum approach to designing and servicing a robust slate of products tailored to needs in Employer Stop Loss & Excess Medical; and Ancillary, Life & Supplemental benefits. Our diversified business model includes program partnerships as well as direct sales in Employer Stop Loss. At year-end 2025, the MBU recorded over $1B in gross premium written.

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Information about the Role, Line of Business and Team:

This position is responsible for leading captive and specialty ESL underwriting and achieving profitable growth for the Crum & Forster Stop Loss (CFSL) team.  Other responsibilities include portfolio management, advising on strategic development, and coordinating accounts and projects with C&F Stop Loss and other shared services colleagues.  The AVP, Captive & Specialty ESL Underwriting actively contributes as a technical expert in both underwriting activities and department specific industry knowledge.  This individual will lead and mentor a team of underwriters to build organizational value.  Collaboration with colleagues is critical to achieve divisional goals.

What you will do:

• Evaluate portfolio performance based on profitability, retention and growth metrics; advise on strategic changes and oversee execution of continuously improving portfolio in alignment with division or team objectives.
• Champion information sharing and drive initiatives, efficiencies and results.
• Lead and motivate underwriting team to drive consistent underwriting with profitable results and sustained growth.

What you will do (cont’d):

• Implement strategy to drive profitability, retention, and written premium goals of the department in conjunction with the Vice President.
• Assist in developing annual business goals for assigned agents/producers. Responsible for analyzing results and maintaining accountability of agency partners within the department.
• Participant in the development of strategic annual planning as well as driving training, initiatives and projects
• Demonstrate understanding and proper use of underwriting tools as well as coordinate with actuarial in development, testing and maintenance
• Maintain underwriting rules, risk management principles and regulations to ensure compliance with all currently applicable corporate requirements and state and federal legislation
• Provide feedback to Senior Management to develop Underwriting policies and procedures as necessary
• Maintain awareness of market trends, products, market participants and competitive practices, identify emerging threats to the department
• Can clearly articulate the department's value proposition
• Manage direct reports' block renewal strategies using pricing tools, producer analytics, and intel from CFSL sales personnel
• Advice on producer assignments and work with direct reports to ensure appropriate workload distribution
• Make independent decisions within underwriting letter of authority and maintains proper file documentation
• Ensure direct reports operate under guidelines
• Manage a strategic case load for new business and renewals
• Conduct underwriting team meetings, individual check-ins, and regular performance discussions with underwriting staff
• Build a high-performance culture by developing sales oriented, technically strong underwriters and providing leadership, support and guidance to the underwriting team with a focus on underwriters who are earlier in their career.
• Drive performance excellence through goal setting, quality feedback, and performance appraisals
• Create a working environment where productivity can be sustained and accomplished, and where innovation and personal growth is encouraged and realized
• Participant in the development of strategic annual planning as well as drive training, initiatives and projects
• Role model the A&H culture, values and C&F core competencies within their teams

What YOU will bring to C&F:

• Excellent knowledge of ESL and ESL Underwriting with a focus on captives and specialty arrangements.
• Advanced knowledge of underwriting philosophy, techniques, state and federal filing regulations and guidelines
• High level of communication and analytical skills to pursue new business and manage a significant renewal book to assigned profitability goals
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong leadership and management skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with ability to multi-task with an emphasis on quality and customer service.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree from an Accredited institution or equivalent experience
• Industry designations applicable to area of specialization a plus
• 10+ years of related work experience in underwriting
• Strong computer skills and Microsoft Office skills including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Knowledge of Connexure a plus
• Experience underwriting captives and/or specialty employer stop loss a plus
• Travel required

What C&F will bring to you

We value inclusivity and diversity. We are committed to equal employment opportunity and welcome everyone regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. If you require special accommodation, please let us know.

For California Residents Only:  Information collected and processed as part of your career profile and any job applications you choose to submit are subject to our privacy notices and policies, visit https://www.cfins.com/onlineprivacypolicy/ca/noticeatcollection/ for more information.

Crum & Forster is committed to ensuring a workplace free from discriminatory pay disparities and complying with applicable pay equity laws.  Salary ranges are available for all positions at this location, taking into account roles with a comparable level of responsibility and impact in the relevant labor market and these salary ranges are regularly reviewed and adjusted in accordance with prevailing market conditions. The annualized base pay for the advertised position, located in the specified area, ranges from a minimum of $110,600 to a maximum of $208,000. The actual compensation is determined by various factors, including but not limited to the market pay for the jobs at each level, the responsibilities and skills required for each job, and the employee’s contribution (performance) in that role. To be considered within market range, a salary is at or above the minimum of the range. You may also have the opportunity to participate in discretionary equity (stock) based compensation and/or performance-based variable pay programs.

• Flexible work arrangements.
• Competitive compensation package.  
• Generous 401K employer match.
• Employee Stock Purchase plan with employer matching.
• Generous Paid Time Off.
• Excellent benefits that go beyond health, dental & vision. Our Wellness programs focus on your family’s complete wellness, including your physical and mental wellbeing
• A core C&F principle is that you manage your career. To support your development, we have a wealth of ways for you to keep learning, including tuition reimbursement, industry related certifications and professional training available to you.
• A dynamic, ambitious, fun and exciting work environment.
• A spirit of social responsibility, matching donation program, volunteer opportunities, and an employee driven corporate giving.

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