Vice President, Life Sciences

Role Overview

• Develop and execute the national Life Sciences underwriting strategy, aligned with Hamilton Select’s performance goals and underwriting philosophy.
• Lead the build‑out of underwriting guidelines, appetite, rating frameworks, policy forms, endorsements, and underwriting standards for the Life Sciences portfolio.
• Establish and oversee portfolio performance metrics to ensure underwriting discipline, sustainable underwriting profitability and strategic growth.
• Partner with senior leadership to identify opportunities to expand risk appetite, develop new product capabilities, and strengthen Hamilton Select’s Life Sciences value proposition.
• Contribute to the development and placement of reinsurance solutions supporting the Life Sciences portfolio.
• Oversee underwriting execution across Product Liability, Professional Liability, General Liability and Excess/Umbrella lines relevant to Life Sciences risks.
• Provide hands‑on technical leadership for complex risks, key accounts, and specialty opportunities.
• Ensure underwriting standards, authorities, documentation, and regulatory compliance are maintained across the division.
• Apply critical thinking, sound judgment, and pricing discipline to drive underwriting profitability and consistency.
• Build, lead, coach, and develop a high‑performing underwriting team, ensuring deep technical competency and strong execution.
• Mentor underwriters in risk selection, pricing, broker engagement, negotiation, and Life Sciences‑specific exposures.
• Strengthen and expand relationships with wholesale brokers and trading partners nationally.
• Actively market Hamilton Select’s Life Sciences capabilities while ensuring messaging alignment with underwriting appetite.

Requirements

• Ten or more years of underwriting experience with a strong track record in Life Sciences product lines.
• Deep technical knowledge of Life Sciences exposures and coverage, with the ability to mentor and develop team members as the portfolio grows.
• Proven ability to build and execute a business strategy focused on smaller, niche segments.
• Demonstrated success in generating new business, exercising sound judgment, and growing a portfolio from a small base.
• Strong existing broker relationships and the ability to attract, develop, and sustain new partnerships.
• Balanced understanding of both subjective and objective elements of underwriting risk, with the confidence to justify decisions at senior levels.
• Broad understanding of market trends and dynamics within the Life Sciences sector.
• Proven ability to deliver underwriting profitability.
• Strong business acumen with a shared focus on expense discipline and managing operations to maximize shareholder value.
• High integrity in all internal and external interactions.
• CPCU or RPLU designation (completed or in progress) preferred.

Benefits

• Hybrid working
• Matching 401K plan
• Medical, dental, vision, life, disability
• Generous time off (including parental leave)
• Continued support for professional development
• Gym subsidy
• My day (additional days leave for personal interests/wellness/charity work)