Staff Vice President Construction Underwriter - FM Intellium

Job Description:

Established nearly two centuries ago, FM is a leading mutual insurance company whose capital, scientific research capability and engineering expertise are solely dedicated to property risk management and the resilience of its policyholder-owners. These owners, who share the belief that the majority of property loss is preventable, represent many of the world's largest organizations, including one of every four Fortune 500 companies. They work with FM to better understand the hazards that can impact their business continuity to make cost-effective risk management decisions, combining property loss prevention with insurance protection.

FM is seeking an experienced construction risk underwriting professional to bring deep builders risk expertise to inform and shape our approach to construction risk. This role will serve as a technical and strategic expert, helping define underwriting standards, evaluate complex construction exposures, and guide how we assess and manage builders risk in a global capacity. This is a high-impact individual contributor role designed for someone who has subject matter expertise in builders risk underwriting and can bring an informed, market-tested perspective to how we approach construction risk.

This position offers location flexibility, with candidates able to be based near any FM office.

Depending on the candidate's experience and background, this role may also be considered at a senior level.

This role operates at the front line of underwriting, leading broker and client engagement, making pricing and underwriting decisions, and managing deals end-to-end within established authority. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, demonstrates strong judgment and commercial acumen, and effectively balances opportunity with risk.

Underwriting & Deal Leadership

• Lead underwriting of complex construction projects, including direct engagement with brokers and clients
• Evaluate risks, develop pricing strategies, and structure terms and conditions for large-scale builder's risk placements
• Make clear, well-supported underwriting recommendations, including appropriate capacity deployment and risk selection
• Manage deals independently from initial engagement through execution, escalating selectively based on authority thresholds
• Balance commercial objectives with underwriting discipline, adjusting approach based on project-specific risk factors

Risk Assessment & Portfolio Management

• Analyze construction exposures, including contractor risk, project phasing, and key loss drivers
• Align individual underwriting decisions with broader portfolio strategy, including aggregation, capacity deployment, and risk concentration
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of underwriting decisions within internal systems
• Monitor market conditions, competitor activity, and portfolio performance to inform decision-making

Client & Broker Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with brokers, clients, and internal stakeholders
• Lead negotiations related to pricing, coverage structure, and terms and conditions
• Communicate recommendations clearly and effectively, maintaining credibility and trust with external partners
• Exercise appropriate challenge and negotiation discipline to achieve balanced outcomes

Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Partner with engineering, client service, and underwriting leadership to deliver integrated risk solutions
• Contribute to the development of underwriting frameworks, best practices, and scalable processes
• Provide guidance and mentorship to team members, as appropriate
• Leverage internal systems, tools, and technology to enhance underwriting effectiveness and efficiency

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of property underwriting experience
• Demonstrated experience underwriting construction risks, including large or complex projects
• Proven ability to manage deals end-to-end and operate within defined authority levels
• Experience leading broker and client discussions, including negotiation of pricing and terms
• Strong understanding of construction risk exposures, project structures, and loss drivers
• Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Ability to assess and prioritize risks in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required
• CPCU, ARM, or advanced degree preferred

The final salary offer will vary based on geographic location, individual education, skills, and experience. The position is eligible to participate in FM's comprehensive Total Rewards program that includes an incentive plan, medical, dental and vision insurance, life and disability insurance, well-being programs, a 401(k) and pension plan, career development opportunities, tuition reimbursement, flexible work, and time off, including vacation and sick time.

FM is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to attracting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce.

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