Vice President, Head of Aviation

About the role

The Vice President, Aviation leads Skyward Specialty's aviation book and owns its full profit and loss. The role sets the annual class plan, builds and develops the underwriting team, and personally underwrites key accounts.

This leader is Skyward's market expert in aviation. They build strong broker and client relationships, partner closely with the Apollo Aviation team, and keep the portfolio performing within agreed risk parameters.

Key responsibilities

Leadership and people development

• Lead the underwriting team and support supervisor to execute the annual plan and achieve key performance targets.
• Build underwriting capability through clear expectations, coaching, succession planning and targeted development.
• Run underwriting meetings, technical reviews and training sessions.
• Partner with underwriters to identify growth opportunities and strengthen the class proposition.
• Build a collaborative relationship with the Apollo Aviation team to generate opportunities, advance product development and share market intelligence.

Business planning and delivery

• Develop the annual class plan with senior management and own its execution against key performance targets.
• Prepare annual production forecasts and departmental expense budgets.
• Build, manage and execute the account pipeline for the class.
• Strengthen relationships with key brokers and clients, develop new relationships and maintain excellent service standards.
• Collaborate with internal partners across actuarial, claims, compliance, risk, human resources, capital and underwriting.
• Lead reinsurance purchasing for the class, working with Capital and other stakeholders.

Underwriting and pricing

• Underwrite, price and negotiate aviation business within the Business Plan and delegated underwriting authority, acting as senior underwriter on key accounts.
• Review risk selection, underwriting quality and pricing across the department, providing challenge, guidance and approval.
• Maintain effective pricing models that support consistent pricing guidelines across the class.
• Maintain and develop underwriting guidelines, policy forms, coverage provisions and rates, drafting changes as needed.
• Coordinate form and rate filings with the filing function and prepare new filings for state regulators.
• Review and approve changes to the underwriting database system.

Portfolio management, claims and governance

• Monitor class portfolio performance and implement controls and initiatives to stay within agreed risk parameters.
• Review aviation loss notices and analyze loss and claims data to inform underwriting strategy and portfolio actions.
• Participate in scheduled management calls and committees as required.
• Ensure underwriting activity meets governance, regulatory and internal control requirements.

Market leadership and representation

• Serve as Skyward's market expert for aviation, tracking economic, technical and market trends and sharing insight across the business.
• Meet with brokers and attend client presentations to build relationships with new and existing producers.
• Represent Skyward externally in a way that strengthens its reputation in the insurance market.

Required qualifications

• 10+ years of underwriting experience in general aviation insurance.
• 5+ years of people management experience leading underwriting teams.
• 5+ years of P&L ownership for an aviation class, portfolio or business unit.
• Proven record of profitable growth within agreed risk and loss ratio parameters.
• Senior underwriting authority on complex aviation accounts, with strong pricing and negotiation skills.
• Established relationships with aviation brokers and producers in the US market.
• Working knowledge of state form and rate filings and regulatory requirements.
• Experience building annual business plans, production forecasts and expense budgets.
• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience across multiple aviation segments (for example, general aviation, airports, aerospace products or commercial operators).
• Experience leading reinsurance purchasing for a class of business.
• Exposure to the Lloyd's market or collaboration with London-based underwriting partners.
• Professional designation such as CPCU, AU or ARe.
• Private pilot certificate or other hands-on aviation background.

Core competencies

• Strategic and commercial judgment: balances growth and profitability in setting class direction.
• Technical underwriting depth: sets the standard for risk selection, pricing and coverage.
• Talent builder: develops underwriters and builds bench strength for succession.
• Relationship leadership: earns trust with brokers, clients and the Apollo partnership.
• Analytical rigor: turns loss, claims and market data into portfolio action.
• Governance mindset: operates with discipline within authority, regulation and internal controls.

Compensation & Benefits

The applicable base salary for this opportunity is $180,000 - $230,000. The base pay offered will be determined by factors such as experience, skills, training, location, certifications, education, and any applicable minimum wage requirements. In addition to the base salary, this opportunity may be eligible for performance-based incentives.

We are excited to offer a competitive total rewards package which includes health and welfare benefits, tuition and professional certification assistance, 401k savings, elective participation in the Employee Stock Purchase Program, paid time off, paid holidays, and child bonding leave, as well as other employee assistance.

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