Why This Role Matters

The Commercial Lines Manager plays a pivotal role at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), combining specialized loss control expertise with operational leadership for the FORTIFIED Commercial and FORTIFIED Multifamily (FC/FMF) designation programs. This role empowers IBHS commercial lines members with cutting-edge risk management solutions by advancing exposure management, strengthening loss control practices, and delivering tailored strategies to reduce loss severity and frequency.

As the Commercial Lines Manager, you will provide strategic guidance, technical expertise in resilient construction, and oversight of FC/FMF program operations. This position is ideal for a detail-oriented leader who is passionate about operational efficiency, risk reduction, and supporting stronger, more resilient communities against severe weather.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive member engagement through customized presentations, webinars and similar engagements to raise awareness of IBHS’ commercial products and the FORTIFIED designations.

• Product development through deep understanding of commercial insurance, building design, construction methodologies, building materials, and roofing materials and practices.

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the FC/FMF program including answering technical questions through Zen desk, phone calls, eligibility reviews, and making designation decisions.  

• Work collaboratively with senior staff to improve processes, procedures, participate as needed in business development activities and implement strategic vision for the program.

• Collaborate with IBHS researchers to integrate and author research findings into FC/FMF standards and commercial programs products, while providing technical leadership to FC/FMF participants and commercial members to enhance resilience.

• Serve IBHS member companies by delivering loss control expertise, developing and implementing risk mitigation strategies (e.g., property assessments, hazard analysis) to minimize risk exposure.

• Enhance member companies’ loss control capabilities through tailored recommendations, tools, and training to improve insurability and reduce claim frequency and severity.

• Lead FC/FMF program operations, ensuring effective designation processing, quality control checks, and audits to uphold FORTIFIED standards.

• Respond to technical inquiries from member companies, contractors, and evaluators on commercial building design, engineering, and FORTIFIED program requirements throughout the entire FORTIFIED process.

• Develop and deliver virtual and in-person training for member companies, auditors and stakeholders to ensure consistent application and adoption of FORTIFIED standards.

• Represent IBHS as a technical expert, advocating for resilient construction and advanced loss control practices across various industries.

Competencies

• Analytical Thinking – Applies logical reasoning and data-driven analysis to evaluate complex issues and inform sound decisions.

• Customer Orientation – Prioritizes understanding and meeting the needs of internal and external stakeholders.

• Effective Communication – Clearly conveys ideas in verbal and written form, tailoring messages to diverse audiences.

• Quality Orientation – Maintains high standards of accuracy, consistency, and attention to detail in all work.

• Learning Agility – Quickly absorbs new information and applies knowledge to evolving situations and tasks.

• Reliability – Demonstrates dependability, accountability, and consistency in meeting commitments.

• Critical Judgment & Decisiveness – Evaluates options effectively and makes timely, well-informed decisions.

• Integrity & Ethics – Acts with honesty, fairness, and transparency in all professional interactions.

• Problem-Solving – Identifies challenges, analyzes root causes, and develops innovative and practical solutions.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in civil/structural, mechanical, or architectural engineering

• Certificates, Licenses, and Professional Designations: Professional Engineer (PE) or Engineer In Training (EIT) preferred; Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) or Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designations will also be considered with relevant experience.

• Experience: 5+ years (10+ preferred) in commercial construction/design or loss control with field experience in risk mitigation, wind design, building codes and materials (e.g., wood/steel/concrete framing, roofing, etc.).

• Technical Skills: Proficient in wind design calculations (ASCE 7-10/7-16), building code knowledge, natural hazard mitigation strategies and engineering analysis is required. Understanding of natural catastrophe modeling is a plus.

• Business Skills: Proven ability to build and foster partnerships and relationships while driving program growth.

• Core Skills: Excellent communicator, critical thinker, and ability to effectively manage conflicts;

• Computer Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office suite and able to learn proprietary software.

• Travel: Travel is required between 25%-30% of the time.

• Mindset: Entrepreneurial, dependable, committed to quality and integrity.

Working conditions

Typical office environment where desks, rolling chairs, supply boxes, etc. may present an occasional hazard. On occasions, ability to climb ladders, access roofs, and walk on un-even ground while in the field may be required.

Physical requirements

• Visual Acuity – close visual acuity to perform an activity such as computer typing, extensive reading, preparing and analyzing reports, documenting minutes of a meeting.

• Hearing - Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication.

• Talking - Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

• Walking - Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

• Standing - Particularly for sustained periods of time.

• Sitting - Particularly for extended periods of time.

Direct reports

This position does not supervise others.

IBHS Commitment