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Executive Underwriter

Shepherd

San Francisco, CAFull-time$185–228K/yrPosted 11mo agoVerified open 5 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$185–228K/yr
Location
San Francisco, CA
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Bachelor's degree

Job overview

Shepherd is hiring an Executive Underwriter. Shepherd is a technology-driven Managing General Underwriter building a fast, smart commercial risk platform for high‑hazard industries. The role focuses on client‑centric underwriting, leveraging data and automation to make quick, accurate decisions while supporting construction and other critical sectors.

Key focus areas include Develop and negotiate price, coverage, terms and conditions for new business and renewals, Identify target accounts that fit Shepherd’s underwriting appetite, and Manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously.

Successful candidates bring 7+ Years Commercial Underwriting Experience and Bachelor's Degree Or Equivalent Experience. Important skills include Manage Multiple Tasks Simultaneously, Exceptional Interpersonal Skills, Communication, High EQ, Sales, and Marketing. Preferred (not required): Commercial Underwriting, Builder's Risk Underwriting, Strong Work Ethic, and Self-Motivated.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Manage Multiple Tasks SimultaneouslyExceptional Interpersonal SkillsCommunicationHigh EQSalesMarketingPosition AccountsClose DealsDevelop PriceNegotiate PriceNegotiate CoverageNegotiate Terms and ConditionsIdentify Target AccountsProducer ManagementNew Business DevelopmentNegotiationCollaborationRisk AnalysisConstruction UnderwritingCasualty UnderwritingComplianceProductsPricing StrategiesAdaptabilityCreativityCommercial UnderwritingBuilder's Risk UnderwritingCoverageStrong Work EthicSelf-MotivatedManage Multiple Projects SimultaneouslyStrong Sales SkillsDeveloping PriceNegotiating PriceNegotiating Terms and ConditionsIdentifying Target Accounts

Qualifications

7+ Years Commercial Underwriting ExperienceBachelor's Degree or Equivalent Experience

Benefits

Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Paid Time Off
401(k) Match

Full job description

What We Do Yesterday's insurance wasn't built for today's risk. We see it in the data and we feel it in the field. Emerging technology can reinvent how risk is priced and managed, faster and smarter, anchored in proven expertise. First-movers will define the next era of commercial risk management, and Shepherd is building it.

Shepherd is a technology-driven Managing General Underwriter (MGU) transforming commercial Property & Casualty insurance for high-hazard industries. Our mission is to make risk frictionless for the builders and operators shaping the physical world, protecting progress from concept through construction and into decades of operation.

We're building the fastest, smartest commercial risk platform, where underwriting expertise, data, and automation work together to deliver:

  • Faster decisions

  • Smarter, more accurate pricing

  • Better risk outcomes

With Shepherd, safety, speed, and quality no longer trade off against one another. They compound. We're not just modernizing insurance products. We're building the risk infrastructure for the next generation of financial services, where technology, underwriting, and partnerships operate in harmony to support the world's most important industries and the progress they make possible.

Our Investors In March 2026, Shepherd raised a $42M Series B — bringing total funding to over $60M — led by Intact Private Capital, the investment arm of one of the largest insurers in the world. Intact is not only our lead investor but also a carrier partner, a testament to the confidence the incumbent industry has in what we're building. Our investors:

  • Intact Private Capital , led our Series B round

  • Costanoa Ventures , led our Series A round

  • Spark Capital , led our Seed round

  • Susa Ventures , lead our Pre-Seed round

  • Y Combinator

  • And several others

Our Team We're a team of technologists and insurance enthusiasts, bridging the two worlds together. Check out our About page to learn more.

About you We are looking for a motivated and eager individual who’s passionate about the future of construction and eager to do the best work of their career.

You would be a dream candidate if…

  • You have a minimum of 7+ years of previous experience in the commercial underwriting space (Construction, Casualty, and/or Builder's Risk experience preferred)

  • You aren’t afraid of ambiguity

  • You have a strong work ethic, are self-motivated, and have the ability to manage multiple tasks/projects simultaneously

  • You have exceptional interpersonal skills (verbal and written) and a high EQ

  • You have strong sales and marketing skills and are able to position accounts and close deals

  • Underwriting duties will include developing and negotiating price, coverage, terms and conditions for all new business and renewals while actively identifying target accounts that fit Shepherd’s underwriting appetite

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

About the Role

Shepherd's underwriting approach will be client-centric with a heavy emphasis on an efficient process. Our goal will be to leverage our technology and data to make quick, informed, underwriting decisions tailored to our client's specific needs.

  • Candidates must be able to demonstrate success in marketing, producer management, new business development, and the ability to successfully negotiate on all levels with both internal and external partners.

  • Teamwork, communication, and negotiation skills are required.

  • Solid background in risk analysis and experience with construction and/or casualty underwriting.

  • Knowledge and proficiency with compliance, coverage, products and pricing strategies.

  • Be adaptable and creative in a fast paced startup environment

This is an onsite position in our New York City, San Francisco, or Dallas Fort Worth offices.

#LI-Onsite

How we work 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. As the first PM you set a standard the rest of the team inherits, and the milestones belong to the team rather than to product.

  • 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.

Benefits 🏥 Premium Healthcare 100% contribution to top-tier health, dental, and vision

🥕 Fertility benefits and family building support

🏖️ Unlimited PTO Flexibility to take the time off, recharge, and perform

🥗 Daily lunches, dinners, and snacks We work together, and enjoy meals together too

🖥️ SF, NYC, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago and LA Offices

📚 Professional Development Access to premium coaching, including leadership development

🏦 Competitive 401(k) Plan

🐶 Dog-friendly office Plenty of dogs to play with and make friends with in the SF office

You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.