New Job Opening: Chief Underwriting Officer Construction Program in Walnut Creek, CA

Job Description

Chief Underwriting Officer – Construction Program

Job Summary

Seeking an experienced and highly skilled Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) to lead the underwriting strategy, portfolio performance, and carrier/reinsurance relationships for a growing construction-focused MGA/MGU. This is a unique opportunity to join an organization at an early stage and play a pivotal role in building a best-in-class construction underwriting platform. The ideal candidate will bring extensive expertise in commercial construction underwriting, particularly in California construction risks, and possess a strong reputation within the reinsurance and underwriting community.

Compensation Package

• Base Salary: $200,000–$300,000 (commensurate with experience and market profile)

Responsibilities

As the Chief Underwriting Officer, you will:

• Serve as the senior underwriting authority for the construction program.


• Develop and maintain underwriting guidelines, appetite, pricing philosophy, and risk selection standards.


• Underwrite and oversee California construction risks, including homebuilders, general contractors, primary general liability, excess liability, and construction-related casualty exposures.


• Build a disciplined and profitable portfolio while supporting strategic growth initiatives.


• Establish underwriting authority levels and referral protocols.


• Collaborate with the brokerage sister company to leverage market intelligence, distribution, and producer relationships.


• Build and maintain strong relationships with carriers, reinsurers, actuaries, and other key market partners.


• Represent the organization as a credible underwriting authority with reinsurers and capacity providers.


• Participate in the development and negotiation of reinsurance and capacity arrangements.


• Monitor portfolio performance, including loss ratios, severity trends, and overall profitability.


• Develop underwriting standards and processes to support organizational scaling.


• Mentor and build an underwriting team as the program grows.


• Partner with senior leadership on strategic growth initiatives and new product opportunities.


• Maintain a strong market presence and reputation within the construction insurance community.

Qualifications/Requirements

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• A minimum of 7+ years of commercial insurance underwriting experience, with preference for senior-level expertise.


• Deep knowledge of commercial construction insurance, particularly in California construction risks.


• Strong technical underwriting skills across primary general liability and excess liability.


• Experience underwriting risks related to homebuilders, general contractors, and construction-related exposures.


• A proven track record of profitable underwriting and disciplined risk selection.


• Established relationships and credibility with reinsurers, carriers, brokers, and wholesale distribution.


• A reputation as a technically sound and respected underwriter within the market.


• Experience developing or managing underwriting guidelines, appetite, authority, and portfolio strategy.


• Strong communication and leadership skills.


• An entrepreneurial mindset with the desire to build and grow a new underwriting platform.

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