Head of Underwriting

Head of Underwriting

The James Allen Companies Inc.

Head of Underwriting

The James Allen Companies Inc has been engaged to identify a Head of Underwriting to help launch and scale a new underwriting platform focused on the HOA, Condo, Habitational, and Community Association segments, with a strong emphasis on the West Coast.

Role and Responsibilities

  • Design and launch the initial product strategy, appetite, and underwriting framework, building the foundation for scalable growth

  • Build an early broker distribution playbook, developing the strategy and relationships needed for traction at launch

  • Partner with the executive team and reinsurance broker to establish capacity and reinsurance structure that supports targeted growth

  • Lead strategic underwriting hires and build a high-performing underwriting team over time

Ideal Background

  • 7–10+ years of Property Underwriting experience in HOA, Condo, Habitational, or Community Association business

  • Established relationships with West Coast retail and wholesale brokers, especially in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington

  • Entrepreneurial, “whiteboard” mindset and comfort operating in a start-up environment

  • Strong familiarity with or appreciation for insurtech platforms, real-time data, and tech-enabled underwriting

  • Proven leadership and communication skills with the ability to build and mentor a team

  • Comfortable with risk and reward, motivated by equity participation and long-term upside

  • Nice to have: experience building rate plans, product design, and underwriting guidelines

  • Nice to have: experience securing carrier capacity, reinsurance, or delegated authority agreements

Personality and DNA

  • A builder and connector who thrives on autonomy and ownership

  • Brings market credibility and relationships that can drive early momentum

  • Thinks creatively about how technology and underwriting can disrupt a niche

  • Mission-driven about expanding access to affordable insurance in catastrophe-prone states

  • Operates with a data-first approach to underwriting decisions

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