Shepherd Technical Lead for Inland Marine at Shepherd responsible for underwriting guidelines, coverage form development, and risk review. Supports underwriting team and capacity partners to ensure sound decisions and documentation.
Responsibilities
You are Shepherd's primary technical underwriting resource for Inland Marine. You own the guidelines and advisories underwriters work from, lead coverage form development, and review risks that exceed their authority. You also work with our capacity partners to resolve technical questions and support the underwriting team.
Reporting to the Head of Property, you help underwriters make sound decisions and document them clearly. Your work includes account review, training, and using portfolio results and Claims feedback to improve how we underwrite.
Referral authority & account review
Review Inland Marine referrals involving TIV thresholds, catastrophe exposures such as wildfire and flood, structural or occupancy complexity, and other guideline triggers.
Approve or decline referred risks within our delegated authority and document the rationale, terms, conditions, and pricing guidance. Escalate decisions that require approval from the Head of Property or a capacity partner.
Review bound accounts before issuance to confirm completed form fields, coverage forms, limits, sublimits, and endorsements match the approved quote, binder, and documented approvals.
Maintain a 24-hour turnaround standard on referrals and communicate any missing information or required carrier approvals promptly.
Underwriting guidelines & governance
Own the development, maintenance, and communication of Inland Marine underwriting guidelines and technical advisories. Gather input from the relevant teams, coordinate required approvals, and keep current versions accessible to underwriters.
Keep guidance on pricing, deductibles, waiting periods, referral triggers, and authority parameters consistent with approved appetite and carrier requirements.
Oversee Inland Marine file audits with Compliance and other technical leads where standards overlap. Check documentation, pricing, and compliance, track corrective actions, and use recurring findings to improve guidance and training.
Maintain individual underwriting authority statements and recommend changes to the Head of Property based on technical proficiency, audit results, and program requirements.
Qualification
10+ years of Builders RiskKnowledge of technology platformsStrong command of Builders Risk formsShepherd runs on four valuesThink bigWin togetherCross the aisleGo get it
Required
10+ years of Builders Risk, Inland Marine, or commercial construction underwriting experience, with meaningful authority on complex project-specific, Master Builders Risk, 100%, and quota share placements.
Knowledge of technology platforms, jobsite sensors, or other tools used to reduce losses from common Inland Marine perils is a plus.
Experience reviewing other underwriters' decisions as a referral point, technical authority, or underwriting manager.
Strong command of Builders Risk forms, testing and mechanical breakdown, delay in completion, LEG3 / Cost of Making Good, structural work, waiting periods, periods of indemnity, Named Insured and Additional Insured distinctions, and how endorsements amend coverage.
Experience developing or maintaining underwriting guidelines, advisories, authority statements, and audit programs. Experience drafting or revising coverage forms and endorsements and explaining technical requirements through training.
Experience with insurtech or MGA platforms is a plus, along with an interest in helping build underwriting tools.
This is an onsite position in our New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, or Dallas Fort Worth offices.
Shepherd runs on four values. Here's what each one means in this seat.
Think big, build big. We exist to protect progress and the industries that rely on it. The work here is aimed at a system that runs on its own, and the roadmap gets sequenced backward from that rather than forward from what's easy.
Win together. We rise as one. We support each other, raise the bar, and celebrate collective success. Come set a standard the rest of the team inherits.
Cross the aisle. Collaboration wins. We listen deeply, work across boundaries, and prioritize shared success over individual lanes. The best product calls here come from engineers who've sat with underwriters and underwriters who understand where the model breaks, and much of this job is listening closely enough on both sides to make that happen.
Go get it. We act with urgency, move with confidence, take smart risks, and push forward with intention. Nobody hands you the roadmap, the data, or the meeting invite. You pull the failing runs, book the time with the underwriters, and decide what matters.
