SVP Underwriting @ Argo Group

Argo Group is a leader in specialty insurance with a vibrant culture built on respect, equality, wellness and opportunity. We’re an innovative organization that’s small enough to be agile and big enough to make a difference in our industry.

Our flexible workplace is continuously evolving to ensure all employees feel:

Comfortable bringing their whole selves to work.
Confident that they will be treated respectfully.
Recognized for their performance and provided with equal opportunities to succeed.

At Argo, skill meets opportunity. If you’re wired to raise your hand and ask, “Where can I help?”, you’ll thrive with us.

Job Purpose: The SVP, Head of Professional Liability Argo Pro is responsible for the creation, management, and oversight of Lawyers and Accountants, Architects and Engineers, and MPL products countrywide, including growth and pricing objectives, short and long-term profitability management, implementing and executing profitable growth initiatives, process innovation, staff management and development, and strategic product guidance of Argo Pro’s professional liability underwriting. The role will be located in New York or Chicago, with the preference being New York.

Responsibilities:

Identify and support profitable new business and product opportunities.
Develop and maintain consistent underwriting best practices in accordance with underwriting guidelines, to ensure rating, pricing, profitability, and structuring adequacy;
Develop and update forms and endorsements in conjunction with GC and product development.
Supervising regional management staff as it relates to execution of growth, profit and loss.
Participate in the acquisition process and assist with integration.
Identify strategic agencies and facilitate effective partnerships with underwriting and marketing.
Drive process implementation and underwriting strategies that identifies profitable market opportunities and new product development for the business units, including R & D and coordination of shared services.
Lead product and platform expansion.
Establish and communicate production and profit related goals including new business development, distribution platform management, target loss ratios, policy count, hit ratios, renewal retention.
Provide leadership, mentoring and advice to division staff.
Proactively develop strategies and actions to resolve adverse trends or deviations from established underwriting standards identified through producer and account review audits.
Develop and maintain effective relationships with distribution community at a senior level on a national basis. Adds tangible value to the composition of our current distribution platform.
Recruit and develop superior talent within the organization
Analyze profit and loss statements to make appropriate strategic business decisions.
Cultivate and maintain relationships within and outside Argo Group to develop and drive new business opportunities.
Take a lead role in promoting other Argo pro and AGII products.
Promote an environment that encourages self-motivation, teamwork and collaboration.
As necessary, work with reinsurers and reinsurance intermediaries.
Act as a role model demonstrating belief in, and commitment to, the aspiration values of the Argo Group continuing to build and lead a value-based organization committed to long-term success.
Management of relationships with all key stakeholders inclusive of but not limited to Executive team, brokers, clients, auditors and reinsurers;
Works with the executive team to develop strategic and tactical initiatives to reach the business unit’s growth and profitability targets;
Maintain awareness of prevailing products and appetites in the business marketplace.
Continually seeks opportunities for niche products and potential agent opportunities.

Qualifications: This individual is a highly motivated leader who has an exceptionally strong aptitude for marketing and business development. They possess the necessary underwriting expertise and industry presence to lead Argo Pro’s professional liability business in meeting its strategic objectives.

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university required. Advanced education is a plus.
Minimum of 15 years’ experience in underwriting and/or product management with extensive experience in the underwriting and marketing of commercial products.
Strategic skills – explores and understands trends, opportunities and risks that could affect the business. Designs alternative scenarios and business models. Comprehends the big picture.
Business planning – works with active underwriters to develop their business lines. Ensures business lines remain within authorized limits.
Leadership skills – ability to provide clear, credible vision and strategy; inspires others to follow
Judgment/decision making skills – ability to use logic rationally and objectively in decision making
Excellent market and product knowledge – maintain and develop market knowledge including competitor profiles and products
Relationship building – ability to establish and maintain excellent relationships both internally and externally
Communication – excellent oral and written communication, persuasion, diplomatic and interpersonal skills

The range provided is for US-based hires only and will be commensurate with candidate experience. In addition to base salary, all employees are eligible for an annual bonus based on company and individual performance as well as a generous benefits package.

Pay Range:

$191,200—$363,400 USD

PLEASE NOTE: At this time, Argo Group will not sponsor an applicant for employment authorization for this position.

If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or a similar law and you wish to discuss potential accommodations related to applying for employment at Argo Group, please contact our Benefits Department at 210-321-8400.

To all recruitment agencies: Unless you have been requested to work on this position, or other positions with Argo Group, please do not forward any resumes to Argo Group employees. Argo Group is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. is an underwriter of specialty insurance products in the property and casualty market. Argo offers a full line of products and services designed to meet the unique coverage and claims-handling needs of businesses. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd. Argo and its insurance subsidiaries are rated ‛A-’ by Standard and Poor’s. Argo’s insurance subsidiaries are rated ‛A-’ by A.M. Best. More information about Argo is available at www.argogroup.com.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin or citizenship (including language use restrictions), denial of family and medical care leave, disability (mental and physical) , including HIV and AIDS, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), race, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex (including pregnancy, child birth, breastfeeding, and medical conditions related to pregnancy, child birth or breastfeeding), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or other status protected by laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

The collection of your personal information is subject to our HR Privacy Notice

Our Benefits

Developing our employees professionally and personally strengthens our organization.
Argo Group offers an attractive Total Rewards package that includes:

A culture that recognizes performance and empowers employees to excel, offering competitive compensation and merit driven profit sharing.
Flexible workplace policies that support employee well-being include compressed hours, flex-time, job-sharing, remote work, sabbatical leave, holiday and summer hours.
Comprehensive health, wellness, and financial planning options that employees can tailor to meet their personal and family needs. In addition to traditional health and wellness plans, benefits include dental, disability, life insurance, medical, and vision insurance, matching 401(k) retirement savings, generous paid time off (21 days of PTO, 11 paid company holidays, 3 floating holidays and a paid voluntary day), paid caregiver and parental leave, paid bereavement, jury duty/court appearances, and military (up to 14 days) leave, employee assistance program (EAP), and an array of voluntary benefits.
Argo Academy, a digital and instructor-led platform that offers continuous learning and professional development – Training magazine lists Argo among the Training "Top 125" Companies. Argo encourages career mobility and continuing education to pursue and maintain professional and industry designations, in addition to traditional university and higher education programs.
An inclusive culture that develops and sponsors diverse teams, encourages cross-functional engagement and collaboration, builds community through employee resource groups (ERGs), and provides an environment that welcomes ongoing dialogue, creative innovation, professional and personal development.
Active community outreach and volunteer programs in addition to matching charitable gifts by 100%.
A generous Employee Referral program that results in approximately 25% of all new hires annually.

Compensation Overview