Underwriting Director, Ocean Cargo

Underwriting Director

We're determined to make a difference and are proud to be an insurance company that goes well beyond coverages and policies. Working here means having every opportunity to achieve your goals and to help others accomplish theirs, too. Join our team as we help shape the future.

We're in the business of helping people achieve amazing things by protecting the things that matter most. As an Underwriting Director within our Ocean Cargo practice, you will play a critical leadership role in driving profitable growth, underwriting excellence, broker engagement, and talent development. You will be responsible for managing a portfolio of complex ocean cargo and marine risks while serving as a trusted advisor to brokers, clients, and internal business partners.

This role combines deep technical underwriting expertise with strategic business leadership. You will work collaboratively across underwriting, claims, risk engineering, actuarial, and distribution teams to develop innovative solutions that meet customer needs while achieving portfolio profitability objectives. The ideal candidate possesses a customer-first mindset, strong analytical and decision-making capabilities, and a passion for developing both people and business opportunities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Underwrite and manage a complex portfolio of Ocean Cargo and Marine business, balancing growth, retention, and profitability objectives.
• Evaluate exposures, financial performance, operational risks, loss trends, and catastrophe accumulations to make sound underwriting decisions.
• Ensure pricing adequacy and disciplined execution of underwriting strategies.
• Monitor portfolio performance and develop actions to improve profitability, growth, and market positioning.
• Exercise authority within granted underwriting limits and provide referral guidance on complex risks.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with brokers, agents, clients, and key distribution partners.
• Drive agency and broker engagement strategies that support profitable growth.
• Identify emerging market opportunities and strengthen the organization's position within the Ocean Marine marketplace.
• Represent the company in industry associations, customer meetings, broker events, and marketing initiatives.
• Influence outcomes through effective negotiation, communication, and relationship management.
• Mentor, coach, and develop underwriting talent.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team environment.
• Support career development by building both technical underwriting and leadership capabilities within the team.
• Serve as a technical resource and referral partner for underwriters and business partners.
• Lead through change while promoting accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to underwriting strategy, product development, and process improvement initiatives.
• Analyze market conditions, competitive trends, and emerging risks impacting the marine industry.
• Recommend and implement solutions that improve operational efficiency and portfolio performance.
• Challenge conventional thinking and identify innovative approaches to achieving business objectives.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to advance strategic priorities and drive organizational success.

Qualifications:

• 8+ years of Ocean Cargo and/or Ocean Marine underwriting experience, including complex middle-market and large account exposures.
• Demonstrated expertise in ocean cargo, logistics, warehousing, stock throughput, and global supply chain exposures.
• Superior technical underwriting knowledge, sound judgment, and proven ability to manage underwriting authority and complex risk selection decisions.
• Strong financial acumen and understanding of portfolio profitability drivers, including pricing adequacy, loss ratio management, and growth metrics.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and decision-making skills, with the ability to assess business problems, develop recommendations, and implement effective solutions.
• Proven success developing and maintaining strong relationships with brokers, agents, clients, and internal business partners.
• Established network within the Ocean Marine marketplace preferred.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence outcomes through effective communication and relationship management.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, and portfolio management capabilities.
• Experience leading underwriting teams, mentoring talent, and influencing organizational initiatives preferred.
• Experience contributing to underwriting strategy, product enhancement, or process transformation efforts preferred.
• Marine insurance designations such as CPCU, ARM, AMIM, or equivalent preferred.
• Active engagement in professional development and industry organizations preferred.
• High-energy, self-motivated professional with demonstrated resilience and an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel within assigned territory as needed.

Location: This role can have a Hybrid or Remote work schedule. Candidates who live near one of our office locations have the expectation of working in an office 3 days a week (Tuesday through Thursday). Candidates who do not live near an office will have a remote work arrangement, with the expectation of coming into an office as business needs arise.

Compensation: The listed annualized base pay range is primarily based on analysis of similar positions in the external market. Actual base pay could vary and may be above or below the listed range based on factors including but not limited to performance, proficiency and demonstration of competencies required for the role. The base pay is just one component of The Hartford's total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include short-term or annual bonuses, long-term incentives, and on-the-spot recognition. The annualized base pay range for this role is:

$140,000 - $210,000