AVP, Underwriting – Large Accounts

Role Overview

• Serves as a senior underwriting leader and visible ambassador for Zenith’s Large Accounts Workers’ Compensation capabilities, positioning the organization as a credible and competitive partner for complex, loss sensitive business.
• Applies disciplined underwriting judgment and sound risk selection within a growth mindset, balancing profitability with strategic expansion objectives.
• Engages directly with brokers, agents, and customers to articulate Zenith’s underwriting philosophy, value proposition, and differentiators, supporting relationship development and new business growth.
• Partners with Branch and Regional leadership to help set and execute strategic underwriting direction aligned with Large Accounts growth priorities.
• Provides leadership through regular discussions focused on vision, goals, and progress, ensuring alignment across underwriting and business partners.
• Drives results through thoughtful, well reasoned decisions grounded in technical expertise, business principles, and practical underwriting experience.
• Fosters a collaborative, growth oriented environment that encourages teamwork, innovation, and shared accountability across underwriting teams and offices.
• Leverages operational reviews and compliance audits to assess underwriting performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and reinforce underwriting discipline.
• Evaluates, recommends, and, where appropriate, approves existing or new underwriting programs with significant operational or financial impact, recognizing the importance of sound judgment in a build phase environment.
• Works cross functionally with leaders in Claims, Risk Control, Finance, and other disciplines to solve problems, remove obstacles, and support successful outcomes for Large Accounts business.
• Provides timely coaching and feedback to underwriting and branch leadership, supporting professional development and strengthening technical capabilities.
• Supports local and regional underwriting training efforts and helps establish consistent training practices aligned with Large Accounts needs.
• Partners with the Underwriting Technical Director, as needed, to support the development and delivery of technical training related to loss sensitive and complex account structures.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent combination of training/experience required
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent combination of training/experience required
• 7-10+ years of progressively complex commercial lines underwriting experience, including hands-on experience focusing on national or large accounts.
• Deep knowledge of coverage, rating, and technical risk selection.
• Strong negotiation skills with a successful track record of building relationships with agents/brokers in the commercial insurance sector.
• Expert level understanding of Zenith’s underwriting philosophy and standard industry procedure.
• Expert knowledge of workers’ compensation policy rules.
• Work experience demonstrating ability to champion change.
• Ability to create and present a clear focused message to all constituents.
• Comfortable in front of groups and able to handle questions/controversy.
• Expert listener and problem-solver.
• Highly skilled in building business information, disseminating it, and sharing with senior management.
• Expert in workers' compensation underwriting.
• Strong oral and written communications skills used to explain, teach, and document.
• Strong reading and math skills.
• PC literacy required.
• Data analysis skill to determine appropriate workloads and strategies for peak periods.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Paid Parental Leave
• Life, AD&D and Disability Insurance
• 401(k), Employee Share Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Education and Training Reimbursement
• 10 paid Company Holidays, 2 Personal Days, 2 Floating Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)