Assistant Vice President, Underwriting

Description

Tangram is a portfolio company of Balavant. Tangram Insurance Services is recruiting for: Assistant Vice President, Underwriting

About Tangram

We are a growth focused California based MGA managing a diverse portfolio of specialty insurance programs across multiple lines of business. As we continue scaling our platform, expanding carrier relationships, and refining underwriting performance, we are seeking a strategic underwriting leader who can drive execution, profitability, and team performance at a high level.

We are looking for a builder, operator, and leader - someone who can immediately step into a fast-moving environment, lead experienced underwriters, improve portfolio performance, and help shape the future direction of the organization.

The AVP, Underwriting will serve as a key member of the leadership team and play a meaningful role in underwriting strategy, operational execution, program profitability, and organizational growth.

The Opportunity

The Assistant Vice President, Underwriting is responsible for leading underwriting operations across a multi-program portfolio while balancing growth, profitability, underwriting discipline, and operational excellence.

This role requires a hands on underwriting leader with strong portfolio management capabilities, sound technical underwriting judgment, and the ability to coach and elevate teams in a dynamic MGA environment. The ideal candidate understands how to manage rate adequacy, monitor loss trends, execute underwriting strategy, and partner cross-functionally to support sustainable growth.

This individual must be comfortable operating both strategically and tactically, able to zoom out and evaluate portfolio performance while also diving into referrals, coaching conversations, and operational execution.

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio & Underwriting Leadership

· Lead underwriting oversight across a portfolio of programs spanning multiple commercial lines.

· Drive profitable growth through disciplined underwriting practices, rate adequacy, exposure management, and sound risk selection.

· Monitor and analyze portfolio performance including loss ratio trends, rate achievement, retention, hit ratios, and exposure trends.

· Evaluate underwriting appetite and recommend strategic adjustments based on market conditions and carrier goals.

· Ensure consistency in underwriting execution, authority utilization, documentation standards, and referral practices.

· Partner with carrier partners and executive leadership regarding profitability, strategy, capacity, and program performance.

Leadership & Team Development

· Lead, mentor, and develop a team of underwriters and underwriting support staff.

· Establish a culture of accountability, ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

· Provide real-time coaching on underwriting judgment, negotiation, risk analysis, and broker management.

· Support hiring, onboarding, training, and succession planning initiatives as the organization grows.

Strategic Execution & Operational Management

· Translate executive strategy into actionable underwriting and operational priorities.

· Improve underwriting workflows, operational processes, and scalability across programs.

· Identify operational inefficiencies and implement practical solutions that improve speed, consistency, and profitability.

· Support technology initiatives, automation efforts, reporting enhancements, and workflow modernization.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

· Partner closely with executive leadership, operations, distribution, claims, finance, and carrier partners.

· Participate in strategic planning discussions and contribute to organizational decision-making.

· Represent underwriting leadership internally and externally with credibility and professionalism.

Analytics & Performance Management

· Utilize data, dashboards, and portfolio analytics to drive decision-making.

· Deliver insights and recommendations to leadership regarding underwriting performance and emerging trends.

· Develop and monitor KPIs tied to growth, profitability, operational execution, and team performance.

Who You’ll Work With

At Tangram, you’ll join a team that values collaboration, accountability, and creativity in equal measures. We operate with the entrepreneurial spirit of a start-up and the foundation of a 25+ year success story.

You’ll be supported by leadership that invests in your growth, colleagues who push and inspire you, and a company culture that celebrates both success and the lessons learned along the way.

Here, you’ll have the chance to build something meaningful - for yourself, for our partners, and for the industries we serve.

Ready to build something exceptional with us? Apply today and help power the next phase of Tangram’s growth.

Reports To: Executive Vice President

Requirements

What You Bring

· 8+ years of commercial underwriting experience, preferably within an MGA, program administrator, or specialty carrier environment.

· Proven leadership experience managing underwriting teams and driving performance.

· Strong portfolio management experience with responsibility for profitability and underwriting results.

· Demonstrated success managing rate, loss ratio performance, and underwriting strategy execution.

· Strong underwriting judgment and commercial risk assessment capabilities.

· Excellent communication, coaching, and leadership skills.

· Ability to thrive in ambiguity and help build scalable processes in a growing organization.

Ideal Background

· Workers’ Compensation

· Commercial Auto

· General Liability

· Property

· Excess