VP, Commercial Surety Regional Leader

Zurich Insurance - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Senior

Remote - Chicago, IL

Insurance Carriers and Related Activities

About the position

The VP, Territory Director for the Commercial Surety Group at Zurich is a critical leadership role responsible for managing a team of underwriters across a large territory in the Central Region. This position focuses on developing underwriting talent, cultivating broker relationships, and driving profitable business results while ensuring alignment with strategic business objectives. The role requires strong technical underwriting knowledge and the ability to influence business relationships effectively.

Responsibilities

• Managing a team of market facing underwriters, providing continuous coaching, and acting as a mentor to the team.
• Overseeing development plans for underwriters to ensure they have the capabilities to drive profitable business results.
• Developing processes and reviewing policies relevant to underwriting to ensure they are in line with strategic business objectives.
• Identifying market trends and coverage exposures that may impact business results; working with actuaries to ensure a proper rate/price structure.
• Managing relationships with key internal stakeholders to identify opportunities for service improvement to ensure commercial viability and customer satisfaction.
• Participating in leadership team meetings to provide specialist guidance and enable the implementation of policies, projects, and change initiatives to produce profitable results.
• Contributing to the business strategy to align underwriting strategy with wider business goals.
• Underwriting and analyzing new and renewal business within delegated authority levels.
• Recommending and implementing action plans after reviewing agency books of business and profit/growth results and trends.
• Developing and maintaining relationships with distributors (agents and brokers) in support of business retention and profitable new business.
• Working with customers and distributors (agents & brokers) to determine their insurance-related needs and provide solutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree and 10 or more years of experience in the Underwriting, Market Facing, Broker, Carrier, or Risk Management area within the Commercial Insurance industry OR Bachelor's Degree with 20 or more years of experience in Claims or Underwriting Support area within the Commercial Insurance industry.
• Experience in Commercial Surety
• 2 or more years of people management experience.

Nice-to-haves

• Advanced knowledge and practice of Surety Bonds
• Strong managerial, team building, and organizational skills
• Established Broker relationships
• Strong relationship, presentation skills, negotiation, and leadership skills
• Ability to interact with the C-Suite
• Knowledge in risk selection and assessment
• Ability to manage complex portfolios
• Technical knowledge of insurance industry operations and processes
• Knowledge of loss trends, triangles, and ratemaking.

Benefits

• Comprehensive employee benefits package
• Ongoing career development opportunities
• Diversity and inclusion initiatives
• Competitive compensation