Underwriting Operations Manager

Underwriting Operations Manager

Branch is on a mission to make insurance less expensive, so more people can be covered. We innovate using data, tech, and automation to simplify insurance from start to finish—we eliminated inaccurate quotes in favor of real prices, created a better way to bundle, and cut unnecessary costs in the traditional insurance process. Then we pass those savings along to our members. Basically, we’re doing insurance the way it was meant to be.

But we didn’t just create the insurance we’ve always wanted, we also created the company we’ve always wanted to work for. As we redefine insurance, we also want to redefine what it means to work in insurance. Find out for yourself.

Branch has a preference for candidates in Ohio, but is open to candidates located in AL, AZ, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS. MO, NE, NV, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, and WI.

Branch is remote first, with most Branchers choosing to work from home. Our headquarters are located in Columbus, Ohio, where we come together from time to time to build relationships and connect with each other in real life. Once a year, the entire company gathers for “BranchFest”, a highlight of the year for many Branchers.

About the Underwriting Operations Manager role

The Underwriting Operations Manager reports to the VP, Head of Insurance Product in Branch’s Product organization. This role is accountable for the execution of Underwriting practice at a policy level in the segments managed by the team, leading a team of Underwriting Operations Specialists in priority and process. The Underwriting Operations Manager is responsible for bringing Branch’s Underwriting Practice to life in execution; leading the most complex policy-level workstreams, such as property inspection decisioning, post-claim underwriting action and Correct Classification Projects. They should be tenacious in their quest for quality, efficiency and continuous improvement of the underwriting function execution at Branch.

Key Responsibilities

• Leads and develops a high-performing team of Underwriting Operations Specialists, setting clear expectations, fostering accountability, and building a culture of trust and continuous growth.

• Shapes and refines underwriting operational processes, ensuring they are well-documented, scalable, and aligned to Branch’s philosophy, appetite, and practices.

• Partners closely with the Underwriting Practices team to translate strategic direction into operational execution that supports business goals.

• Analyzes workload trends, policy action rates, and operational metrics to identify opportunities for increased efficiency, automation, and capability enhancement—presenting data-backed recommendations to leadership.

• Oversees quality, SLA, and communication standards, proactively addressing performance gaps and implementing corrective actions where needed.

• Drives a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring operational protocols evolve with business needs and industry best practices.

• Manages relationships with third-party service providers, ensuring service levels meet Branch’s underwriting support objectives and representing Branch’s needs in vendor strategy discussions.

• Serves as an escalation point for complex or ambiguous policy scenarios, exercising sound judgment within authority and modeling effective decision-making for the team.

• Balances day-to-day task delivery with intentional talent development, coaching individuals to take on greater scope and impact.

• Partners with Technology, QA, and Data teams to design and approve test strategies that validate functional and financial outcomes of underwriting initiatives.

Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise

• Extensive industry experience: 5+ years in P&C Personal Lines insurance underwriting, product, or agency, with proven success in delivering operational and business outcomes.

• Leadership track record: 2+ years in roles accountable for operational processing, corrective action, or project enablement, with demonstrated ability to lead teams, drive accountability, and achieve sustained results.

• People leadership capability: Preferred experience managing teams, including full-cycle hiring, onboarding, performance coaching, and career development.

• Cross-functional influence: Proven ability to collaborate across multiple teams and departments to align on priorities, solve complex problems, and deliver shared goals.

• Advanced communication skills: Strong oral, written,