Director/Sr. Director, Operations & Underwriting

What part will you play? If you’re looking for a place where you can make a meaningful difference, you’ve found it.

The work we do at Markel gives people the confidence to move forward and seize opportunities, and you’ll find your fit amongst our global community of optimists and problem-solvers. We’re always pushing each other to go further because we believe that when we realize our potential, we can help others reach theirs. Join us and play your part in something special! The Director/ Senior Director, Underwriting Operations & Strategy is responsible for leading underwriting operational excellence, advancing technology and automation initiatives, and partnering with Product Line Leaders (PLLs) and regional leadership to support profitable portfolio management and underwriting execution. This role serves as a strategic bridge between underwriting, operations, and enterprise support functions, ensuring alignment of underwriting strategy, business processes, data analytics, and technology solutions.

The position drives continuous improvement in underwriting effectiveness, workflow optimization, portfolio insights, and business performance while fostering strong partnerships with Claims, Actuarial, Finance, Information Technology, and other key stakeholders. The Director/ Senior Director plays a critical role in enabling scalable growth, enhancing underwriting capabilities, and delivering data-driven decision-making across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead underwriting operations and support functions to improve efficiency, consistency, service delivery, and operational performance.
• Establish and monitor key operational metrics, service standards, and workflow performance indicators.
• Drive process improvement initiatives that enhance the underwriting experience and reduce operational friction.
• Identify opportunities for automation, simplification, and scalability across underwriting workflows.
• Act as the primary liaison between underwriting teams and technology organizations.
• Partner with IT and digital teams to develop and implement underwriting tools, workflow solutions, analytics, automation, and AI-enabled capabilities.
• Prioritize technology investments that improve underwriting effectiveness, decision quality, and customer responsiveness.
• Support system enhancements, platform modernization, and data governance initiatives.
• Partner with Product Line Leaders and regional underwriting leaders to execute underwriting strategies and portfolio objectives.
• Facilitate portfolio reviews, performance monitoring, and business planning activities.
• Deliver actionable insights regarding growth opportunities, risk selection, pricing trends, capacity deployment, and profitability.
• Support governance frameworks that align underwriting decisions with risk appetite and business objectives.
• Serve as the primary operational liaison among Underwriting, Claims, Actuarial, Finance, Compliance, Distribution, and IT.
• Coordinate enterprise initiatives requiring cross-functional alignment and execution.
• Ensure underwriting priorities are reflected in strategic planning, operational initiatives, and resource allocation.
• Drive transparency and communication across stakeholder groups.
• Leverage operational and portfolio analytics to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement.
• Develop executive reporting and dashboards to support leadership decision-making.
• Monitor portfolio performance metrics, operational KPIs, and strategic initiative outcomes.
• Promote data-driven decision-making throughout the underwriting organization.
• Support organizational change management and adoption of new processes and technologies.
• Mentor leaders and team members to strengthen operational and strategic capabilities.

Qualifications

• 10-15+ years of insurance industry experience within a broad array of professional liability products with significant exposure to underwriting operations, portfolio management, product leadership, or business strategy.
• Deep understanding of underwriting processes, risk management principles, and portfolio performance metrics.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional initiatives involving underwriting, technology, actuarial, claims, finance, and operations.
• Strong analytical, strategic planning, and organizational leadership skills.
• Demonstrated success driving operational transformation, process improvement, and technology adoption.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management abilities, including executive-level presentation skills.
• Improved underwriting efficiency and service delivery.
• Increased use of technology, automation, and analytical tools.