Senior Underwriter, Environmental

Title: Senior Underwriter, Environmental

Location: Chicago United States

Job Description:

This is an opportunity to join Ascot Group - one of the world's preeminent specialty risk underwriting organizations.

Designed as a modern-era company operating through an ecosystem of interconnected global operating platforms, we're bound by a common mission and purpose: One Ascot. Our greatest strength is a talented team who flourish in a collaborative, inclusive, and entrepreneurial culture, steeped in underwriting excellence, integrity, and a passion to find a better way, The Ascot Way.

The Ascot Way guides our people and our organization. Our underwriting platforms collaborate to find creative ways to deploy our capital in a true cross-product and cross-platform approach. These platforms work as one, deploying our capital creatively through our unique Fusion Model: Client Centric, Risk Centric, Technology Centric.

Built to be resilient, Ascot maximizes client financial security while delivering bespoke products and world class service - both pre- and post-claims. Ascot exists to solve for our clients' brightest tomorrow, through agility, collaboration, resilience, and discipline.

Ascot is embedding artificial intelligence (AI) and automation across the organization to enhance decision‑making, efficiency, and quality of outcomes. In this role, you will be expected to work confidently alongside AI‑enabled tools, apply sound judgment when interpreting insights, and adapt as technology continues to evolve. We value curiosity, critical thinking, and a willingness to embrace change as part of how we work.

Position Overview:

The Senior Underwriter, Environmental will be part of a vibrant, collaborative team of technical production underwriters. As a member of the Ascot Environmental Prime underwriting team, you will be responsible for generating new business and overseeing an existing portfolio of renewable business while operating within your assigned authority. The role will include an emphasis on growing and maintaining assigned key broker and client relationships. This is a hybrid in-office position.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the profitability, growth, and retention of an assigned book of business through execution of individual risk underwriting and adherence to the strategic plan of the business unit.

• Underwrite and negotiate complex Site Pollution, Contractors Pollution, and Contractors Professional accounts to minimize risk and maximize profitability.

• Monitor premiums, costs and claims ratios per contract and take corrective measures if necessary to ensure long-term profitability at account level.

• Work independently within delegated underwriting authority and make referrals as required.

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with Environmental peers, leaders, and internal partners across functional areas to identify cross-selling opportunities, assist in product development and operational excellence.

• Foster and maintain external relationships with brokers in an effort to market and sell Ascot's products.

• Operate with underwriting integrity by adhering to the Environmental guidelines, with the goal of achieving profitability over top-line growth.

• Provide meaningful and constructive feedback to regional and home-office management to improve processes, identify efficiencies and be more relevant to the customer.

• Analyze internally generated and third-party data to improve the underwriter productivity of the group and the broker experience.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Commit to The Ascot Way: Embody The Ascot Way in their daily interaction with colleagues, fostering colleague engagement and development, collaboration, inclusivity, and individual accountability.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree (Engineering, Environmental or Earth Science is a plus) or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of underwriting experience in the P&C insurance industry.
• Experience with monoline Environmental products including Site Pollution, Contractors Pollution, and/or Contractors Professional.
• Deep knowledge of Environmental insurance products, insurance regulations and the insurance industry.
• Strong collaborative skills and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Strong critical thinking skills.
• Excellent organizational, desk management and prioritization skills with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Must be positive, self-motivated, and possess strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
• Possess strong technical, analytical, and quantitative skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, ability to successfully negotiate in difficult situations with agents and brokers.
• Solution oriented team player with a strong relationship management skill set working with both internal and external stakeholders and customers.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office.
• ASLI, CPCU, ARM or other relevant professional designation preferred, but not required.
• Ability to travel 10-15%.

Compensation

Actual base pay could vary and may be above or below the listed range based on factors including but not limited to experience, subject matter expertise, and skills. The base pay is just one component of Ascot's total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual cash bonus, and other forms of discretionary compensation awarded by the Company.

The annualized base pay range for this role is: $120,000 - $140,000.

Company Benefits

The Company provides a competitive benefits package that includes the following (eligibility requirements apply):

Health and Welfare Benefits: Medical (including prescription coverage), Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account, Commuter Account, Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Life Insurance, AD&D, Work/Life Resources (including Employee Assistance Program), and more.

Leave Benefits: Paid holidays, annual Paid Time Off (includes paid state /local paid leave where required), Short-term Disability, Long-term Disability, Other leaves (e.g., Bereavement, FMLA, Adoption, Maternity, Military, Primary & Non-Primary Caregiver) Retirement Benefits: Contributory Savings Plan (401k).

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