SVP, Underwriting - E&S Property

About the role

We are Hiring!

About the role

Location: La Jolla, CA; Remote

The Details

We are seeking a Senior Vice President, E&S Property to optimize, build and lead our Excess & Surplus Lines property portfolio. This executive owns the P&L, underwriting strategy, and team for a book that spans primary and ground-up, excess, layered and shared property placements, including catastrophe-exposed and non-catastrophe risks, written exclusively through wholesale distribution. You will set underwriting appetite, drive profitable growth, and build a high-performing team in a market that rewards discipline, speed, and technical rigor.

What will you do: Portfolio and P&L Leadership

• Own the underwriting results, growth, and profitability of the E&S Property portfolio, including premium, loss ratio, and expense targets
• Develop and execute a multi-year strategy covering product, geography, class of business, and wholesale distribution
• Balance the portfolio mix across primary & ground-up, excess, layered and shared structures, deploying capacity where risk-adjusted returns are strongest
• Manage rate adequacy, terms and conditions, and attachment points in response to market cycles

Underwriting Excellence

• Establish underwriting guidelines, authority levels, and referral protocols for each placement structure
• Oversee pricing, risk selection, and exposure management, including CAT-exposed zones (wind, quake, convective storm, wildfire, flood)
• Set line size and participation strategy for layered and shared programs, including position within the tower, attachment and exhaustion points, and alignment with other markets on the program
• Evaluate excess and layered exposures with attention to underlying limits, loss-sensitive terms, and drop-down and follow-form provisions
• Partner with actuarial, catastrophe modeling, and reinsurance teams to manage aggregates, PMLs, and capital usage
• Review and approve large or complex accounts and maintain a hands-on technical presence

Distribution and Market Presence

• Build and maintain strong relationships with wholesale brokers and their retail partners
• Represent the company at industry events and with key trading partners
• Identify new wholesale distribution opportunities and strategic relationships

Reinsurance and Capital Management

• Collaborate with Ceded Reinsurance on treaty structure, renewals, and reinsurer relationships, and ensure the portfolio aligns with the reinsurance program

People and Operations

• Recruit, develop, and retain underwriters, underwriting assistants, and leaders
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Partner with Claims, Operations, Technology, Compliance, and Finance to improve workflow, data quality, and turnaround times
• Ensure compliance with surplus lines regulations, filing requirements, and internal controls
• Work closely with the Head of Marine and Property on divisional strategy, capital allocation, and cross-line portfolio management

What we are looking for

• 15+ years of commercial property underwriting experience, with 8+ years in E&S/wholesale is highly preferred
• Demonstrated experience underwriting primary & ground-up, excess, layered and shared property business
• 5+ years in a senior leadership role managing underwriting teams and a P&L
• Deep knowledge of property coverages, CAT exposures, modeling tools (e.g., RMS, AIR/Verisk), and valuation practices
• Strong understanding of reinsurance structures (quota share, per-risk, CAT XOL) and their impact on portfolio management
• Proven track record of profitable growth and strong wholesale broker relationships
• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, risk management, or a related field

Preferred

• CPCU, ARM, or other professional designations
• Experience launching new products or building underwriting platforms
• Familiarity with analytics-driven underwriting and portfolio management tools
• MBA or advanced degree

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking with strong financial acumen
• Sound judgment under uncertainty
• Executive presence and influence with brokers, board members, and reinsurers
• Talent development and team leadership
• Clear, decisive communication

We love people who want to

• Build strong relationships through transparency, trust, and respect for each other.
• Work in an agile environment, with a resilient mindset to find creative solutions to challenges.
• Collaborate and celebrate diverse perspectives, promoting inclusivity and equality.
• Do the right thing with strong conviction and integrity.
• Be bold and innovative to help make an impact.
• Demonstrable track record of working autonomously and driving progress
• Be intellectually curious, think creatively, and pragmatic

Additional information

If you thrive in a dynamic environment, and like working with happy, authentic, talented people, you'll enjoy a career with Palomar!

What will you get in return?

• Full Suite of Medical Benefits
• Long Term Financial Incentives - STOCK!
• 401k with 3.5% Automatic Fully Vested Employer Contributions
• Competitive PTO + Holiday Program
• Lifestyle Spending Allowance
• Professional Development Assistance
• Career Exploration Opportunities
• Regular company-wide social events (even virtually!)

Diversity at Palomar

At Palomar, we are committed to diversity, equality and inclusion in all facets of the organization. We have built an open culture that celebrates the diversity of our workforce, while actively championing equality and inclusion practices that make us a company people want to work with and work for.

We believe that diversity, equality and inclusion yields greater organizational creativity and productivity, which helps us serve our customers and partners more effectively. Delivering on our diversity commitment returns greater value to our shareholders and ultimately makes a positive impact to the communities in which we do business and to the people who live in them

#PalomarPride #Insurancejobs #hiring

Accommodations

Palomar will also consider necessary modifications to the physical work environment, or to the way a job is usually performed, so an individual with a disability can perform the essential functions of the position. Additional accommodations will be considered that enable an employee with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment like those that are enjoyed by other employees without disabilities.

No phone calls or agency solicitation please

Pay Range

$ 240,000 - 360,000 + Bonus Potential & Participation in our Competitive Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Program.

The above pay range is for all US-based roles based on function and level, benchmarked against companies of similar size and scope. To be compliant with local legislation as well as provide greater transparency to candidates, we disclose salary ranges on all job postings regardless of the desired job location.

We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and the opportunity for annual long-term incentive stock grants. In addition, we offer a highly competitive benefits package. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including candidate experience and qualifications, and may vary from the amounts listed above.