Position SummaryThe Vice President, Self Storage Program will lead the underwriting, growth, and profitability strategy for a nationally recognized self-storage insurance program. This individual will be responsible for portfolio performance, carrier relationships, underwriting execution, product innovation, and distribution strategy. Working closely with executive leadership, capacity providers, brokers, and program partners, the VP will drive sustainable growth while maintaining underwriting discipline and delivering best-in-class service to clients and stakeholders.
This leader will play a critical role in shaping the future of the program through market expansion, talent development, and strategic partnerships while ensuring alignment with organizational goals and carrier expectations.
What will your job entail?Underwriting & Portfolio Leadership
- Lead underwriting strategy and portfolio management for a national self-storage insurance program.
- Establish and execute underwriting guidelines, pricing strategies, risk selection criteria, and authority levels consistent with carrier appetite and profitability objectives.
- Monitor portfolio performance, including premium growth, retention, new business production, loss ratio, catastrophe exposure, geographic concentration, and risk mix.
- Identify emerging trends, loss drivers, and market opportunities, implementing corrective actions and growth initiatives as needed.
- Oversee referral authority, underwriting compliance, and adherence to program underwriting standards.
- Partner with actuarial, analytics, and carrier partners to refine pricing models and portfolio management strategies.
Program & Carrier Management
- Serve as the primary underwriting liaison to carrier and reinsurance partners.
- Support carrier negotiations, capacity discussions, stewardship meetings, and business planning efforts.
- Ensure transparent reporting and communication regarding program performance, profitability, and strategic initiatives.
- Evaluate opportunities for product enhancements, geographic expansion, and new coverage offerings.
Distribution & Market Development
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with retail and wholesale distribution partners, industry associations, and key self-storage stakeholders.
- Partner with business development teams to drive submission flow and profitable growth.
- Represent the program at industry conferences, client meetings, and self-storage association events.
- Collaborate on marketing initiatives that strengthen brand awareness and market positioning within the self-storage industry.
Leadership & Talent Development
- Attract, develop, and mentor underwriting talent while fostering a high-performance culture.
- Establish performance expectations and accountability measures across the underwriting team.
- Support succession planning, staffing strategies, and organizational growth initiatives.
- Promote a collaborative culture aligned with Ryan Specialty's values and commitment to excellence.
Financial & Operational Management
- Contribute to annual operating plans, forecasts, and strategic growth initiatives.
- Analyze production, profitability, and operational KPIs to ensure achievement of business objectives.
- Partner with finance, compliance, legal, actuarial, and operational teams to support program execution.
- Ensure quality, accuracy, and integrity of underwriting, financial, and management reporting.
Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Risk Management, Business, Finance, Insurance, or related field.
- 10+ years of commercial property & casualty underwriting experience, with meaningful experience in program business, specialty insurance, or self-storage-related risks.
- Demonstrated success managing underwriting portfolios and delivering profitable growth.
- Experience working directly with carrier partners, MGAs, MGUs, or program administrators.
- Strong understanding of property, liability, and ancillary coverages commonly written for self-storage operators.
- Proven ability to lead underwriting teams and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications- Prior experience underwriting or managing self-storage, real estate, habitational, commercial property, or specialty program business.
- Established relationships within the self-storage industry.
- CPCU, ARM, AU, or other insurance designations.
- Experience with delegated authority programs and carrier capacity management.
Ryan Specialty is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building and sustaining a dive