Market Segment Leader - Contractors, Corporate Underwriting

About Us

At Selective, we don't just insure uniquely, we employ uniqueness.

Selective is a midsized U.S. domestic property and casualty insurance company with a history of strong, consistent financial performance for nearly 100 years. Selective's unique position as both a leading insurance group and an employer of choice is recognized in a wide variety of awards and honors, including listing in Forbes Best Midsize Employers in 2025 and certification as a Great Place to Work® in 2025 for the sixth consecutive year.

Employees are empowered and encouraged to Be Uniquely You by being their true, unique selves and contributing their diverse talents, experiences, and perspectives to our shared success. Together, we are a high-performing team working to serve our customers responsibly by helping to mitigate loss, keep them safe, and restore their lives and businesses after an insured loss occurs.

Overview

This position is responsible for our Contractors portfolio in standard commercial lines and its profitable growth. The corporate underwriting roles work closely with regional underwriting office leaders while leading a team of subject matter experts to assist regional personnel and agents in successfully marketing and underwriting new and existing accounts in this market segment. Working cross-departmentally in a collaborative fashion, these leaders identify actionable insights and trends to refine their segment’s underwriting strategies to improve performance.

All job duties and responsibilities must be carried out in compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Set and advance the underwriting strategy for each Contractors market segment, ensuring a broad, generalist underwriting appetite complemented by specialty niches and supported by underwriting guidelines
• Generate actionable insights at the portfolio, line, segment, class of business, market size and regional level to drive growth and profitability for the market segment that support diversification and breadth of appetite. Develop, refine, maintain and monitor adherence to underwriting guidelines and standards
• Monitor external factors that can impact the market segment’s customers including economic, technological, social, political and environmental. Develop strategies to capitalize on opportunities or mitigate risk in support of our customers while driving our desired outcomes. Conduct direct external engagement with segment customers to fully understand their operations, exposures, risk profiles, business plans and evolving needs
• Identify opportunities for expansion of our segment’s underwriting appetite and product development including new coverage opportunities for the segment. Partner with Product teams on technology solutions that improve the efficiency and accuracy of underwriting in the segment
• Lead and develop a team of highly skilled subject matter experts responsible for managing transactional engagement (referrals and consultations) with the company’s regional front-line underwriters. Ensure proper daily coaching, training, mentoring and knowledge transfer by the team as well as active visibility in the field. Delegate authority to the team and imprint on regional authority delegations
• This leader will provide direct underwriting expertise on the segment’s most complex, unique or high-exposure risks for the market segment’s referrals and consultations
• Maintain a strong in-person field presence to gather input first-hand from our regional teams, agents and insureds to successfully balance underwriting expectations with competitive intelligence, sales and marketing
• Partner with actuarial, advanced analytics, claims leadership, competitive intelligence, legal, line of business, marketing, premium audit, product leadership, region leadership and teams, regulatory compliance, risk management and the other market segment leaders

Qualifications

Knowledge and Requirements

• Managing small projects; Excellent customer service, networking and relationship building skills; Strong sales and negotiation skills; 
• Strong problem-solving ability, and excellent presentation skills; and Proven leadership capability. Must have valid state-issued driver’s license in good standing and be able to drive an automobile

Education and Experience

• College degree preferred.
• 10+ years generalist Commercial Lines underwriting experience including 5+ years in the Contractors market segment. 

Total Rewards

Selective Insurance offers a total rewards package that includes a competitive base salary, incentive plan eligibility at all levels, and a wide array of benefits designed to help you and your family stay healthy, achieve your financial goals, and balance the demands of your work and personal life. These benefits include comprehensive health care plans, retirement savings plan with company match, discounted Employee Stock Purchase Program, tuition assistance and reimbursement programs, and 20 days of paid time off. Additional details about our total rewards package can be found by visiting our benefits page.  

The actual base salary is based on geographic location, and the range is representative of salaries for this role throughout Selective's footprint. Additional considerations include relevant education, qualifications, experience, skills, performance, and business needs.

Pay Range

USD $184,000.00 - USD $238,000.00 /Yr.
Additional Information

Selective is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. That means we respect and value every individual’s unique opinions, beliefs, abilities, and perspectives. We are committed to promoting a welcoming culture that celebrates diverse talent, individual identity, different points of view and experiences – and empowers employees to contribute new ideas that support our continued and growing success. Building a highly engaged team is one of our core strategic imperatives, which we believe is enhanced by diversity, equity, and inclusion. We expect and encourage all employees and all of our business partners to embrace, practice, and monitor the attitudes, values, and goals of acceptance; address biases; and foster diversity of viewpoints and opinions.

For Massachusetts Applicants

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.