Senior Underwriter - Transactional Surety

RLI Insurance • Peoria, AZ

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a Senior Underwriter - Transactional Surety to own profit and loss responsibility for a book of Transactional Surety business, focusing on profitable growth through strong agency partnerships and disciplined underwriting. This role involves building and maintaining relationships with agency partners, brokers, and key contacts, serving as a responsive, reliable, and solutions-oriented underwriting partner. The position requires actively managing a territory, primarily Arizona and New Mexico, through regular travel and in-person engagement, including agency visits, joint planning meetings, and industry events. The goal is to drive new business opportunities by deepening existing relationships and establishing new agency partnerships, increasing RLI’s visibility and relevance in the marketplace. A key responsibility is to develop and execute a territory marketing plan focused on targeted agency engagement, thoughtful pipeline development, and long-term partnership growth. The role also involves generating and sustaining quality submission flow through consistent communication, follow-up, and a strong understanding of agency needs and market dynamics. Analyzing, evaluating, accepting, declining, rating, and quoting new and renewal business, including moderately complex to complex risks, while maintaining underwriting discipline is essential. Clear and professional communication of underwriting appetite, decisions, and recommendations is expected, reinforcing RLI’s value through responsiveness, consistency, and expertise. The Senior Underwriter will balance relationship development with adherence to underwriting guidelines and authority, ensuring sound risk selection and portfolio performance. Assistance with bond approval, issuance, and change requests, ensuring accuracy and timeliness, is also required. The role may involve leading special projects and contributing to broader team and organizational initiatives as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in insurance, finance, risk management, business, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5+ years of underwriting, surety, or related experience.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain productive agency relationships preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong relationship management skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility with agency partners through consistent, high-quality interactions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey underwriting decisions and collaborate effectively with internal and external customers.
• High level of responsiveness, follow-through, and customer focus, aligned with RLI’s service expectations.
• Ability to analyze and underwrite risks using sound judgment, balancing production goals with underwriting discipline.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to effectively manage a travel and underwriting based role.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to identify opportunities for growth and strengthen RLI’s position within the agency distribution network.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, contributing to team success while managing individual territory objectives.

Responsibilities

• Own profit and loss responsibility for a book of Transactional Surety business, with a focus on profitable growth through strong agency partnerships and disciplined underwriting.
• Build, develop, and maintain meaningful relationships with agency partners, brokers, and key contacts, serving as a responsive, reliable, and solutions-oriented underwriting partner.
• Actively manage a territory, primarily Arizona and New Mexico, through regular travel and in-person engagement, including agency visits, joint planning meetings, and industry events.
• Drive new business opportunities by deepening existing relationships and establishing new agency partnerships, increasing RLI’s visibility and relevance in the marketplace.
• Develop and execute a territory marketing plan focused on targeted agency engagement, thoughtful pipeline development, and long-term partnership growth.
• Generate and sustain quality submission flow through consistent communication, follow-up, and a strong understanding of agency needs and market dynamics.
• Analyze, evaluate, accept, decline, rate, quote, new and renewal business, including moderately complex to complex risks, while maintaining underwriting discipline.
• Communicate underwriting appetite, decisions, and recommendations clearly and professionally, reinforcing RLI’s value through responsiveness, consistency, and expertise.
• Balance relationship development with adherence to underwriting guidelines and authority, ensuring sound risk selection and portfolio performance.
• Assist in bond approval, issuance, and change requests, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Lead special projects and contribute to broader team and organizational initiatives as needed.

Benefits

• Annual bonus plans
• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)
• 401(k) — automatic 3% company contribution
• Annual 401k and ESOP profit-sharing contributions (Up to 15% of eligible earnings)
• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays
• Paid volunteer time off (VTO) to support our communities
• Parental and family care leave
• Flexible & hybrid work arrangements
• Fitness center discounts and free virtual fitness platform
• Employee assistance program
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts
• 2x base salary for group life and AD&D insurance
• Voluntary life, critical illness, & accident insurance for purchase
• Short-term and long-term disability benefits
• Training & certification opportunities
• Tuition reimbursement
• Education bonuses

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior