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Shepherd is a technology-driven Managing General Underwriter (MGU) transforming commercial Property & Casualty insurance for high-hazard industries. The company raised $42M in Series B funding (March 2026, led by Intact Private Capital) and has total funding exceeding $60M. Shepherd builds the fastest, smartest commercial risk platform where underwriting expertise, data, and automation deliver faster decisions, smarter pricing, and better risk outcomes.
As Technical Lead for Inland Marine, you will be the primary technical underwriting resource for this line of business, reporting to the Head of Property. You own underwriting guidelines and advisories, lead coverage form development, and review risks exceeding underwriter authority. You serve as the technical liaison with capacity partners and support the underwriting team in making sound, well-documented decisions.
Key responsibilities include:
**Referral Authority & Account Review**: Review Inland Marine referrals involving TIV thresholds, catastrophe exposures (wildfire, flood), structural or occupancy complexity, and other guideline triggers. Approve or decline referred risks within delegated authority, document rationale and pricing guidance, and escalate decisions requiring Head of Property or capacity partner approval. Review bound accounts before issuance to confirm all details match approved documentation. Maintain a 24-hour turnaround standard on referrals.
**Underwriting Guidelines & Governance**: Develop, maintain, and communicate Inland Marine underwriting guidelines and technical advisories. Keep guidance on pricing, deductibles, waiting periods, referral triggers, and authority parameters consistent with approved appetite and carrier requirements. Oversee file audits with Compliance, track corrective actions, and use findings to improve guidance. Maintain individual underwriting authority statements and recommend changes based on proficiency and audit results. Partner with Claims to incorporate loss trends into guidelines and training. Review portfolio trends with Actuarial, Data, and Claims teams.
**Capacity Partner & Reinsurance Support**: Act as technical liaison between Inland Marine underwriters and capacity partners. Coordinate referrals, coverage questions, and required approvals. Support leadership with underwriting analyses and technical materials for carrier and reinsurance discussions.
**Training & Technical Development**: Develop and deliver onboarding, ongoing technical training, and certification assessments covering forms, authority, and underwriting judgment. Coach underwriters on file handling, referral quality, and documentation.
**Product & Forms**: Lead technical development and revision of Inland Marine coverage forms and endorsements. Maintain the approved forms library with Compliance. Work with Product, Engineering, and Data Science to build underwriting requirements into the platform.
Requirements:
- 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
- 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 endorsement mechanics
- Experience reviewing other underwriters' decisions as a referral point, technical authority, or underwriting manager
- 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
- Knowledge of technology platforms, jobsite sensors, or other tools used to reduce losses from common Inland Marine perils (preferred)
- Experience with insurtech or MGA platforms and interest in building underwriting tools (preferred)
