VP, Contract Surety Underwriting

IAT Insurance Group•Jersey City, NJ

13h•$175,000 - $290,000•Hybrid

About The Position

IAT Surety is seeking a Vice President of Contract Surety Underwriting, based at any IAT location. Reporting to the Chief Underwriting Officer for Contract Surety, this role assists with managing the underwriting of the company’s Contract Surety and Specialty Surety lines of business and manages assigned Contract and Specialty Surety Regional Profit Centers. As a member of the Home Office Underwriting Management Team, the Vice President participates in growth planning and coordinates the organization’s strategic plan. The role requires strong integration and collaboration with other organizational divisions, expertise in contract surety matters, and an understanding of commercial surety. The position follows a hybrid schedule: employees work in the office with colleagues and other disciplines Monday through Wednesday, with the option to work remotely on Thursday and Friday. The role combines underwriting leadership, regional and home-office personnel management, business planning, portfolio and profitability oversight, and collaboration with field operations and agency partners.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and more than 12 years of relevant Surety industry experience, or an equivalent of 16 years of relevant Surety industry experience.
Extensive Contract Surety experience and Specialty Surety ability.
At least 6 years of supervisory experience.
Field experience.
Superior written and oral communication skills.
Ability to respond promptly and effectively to sensitive inquiries or complaints.
Demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, and provide career-development direction to direct reports.
Ability to translate a vision into concrete business plans and strategies.
Experience driving effective team behaviors to achieve optimal outcomes.
Ability to identify opportunities for change and challenge the status quo to improve the organization.
Track record of taking appropriate risks and using failure as a learning opportunity.
High ethical standards and expectation that others in the organization meet them.
Ability to establish and develop long-standing relationships.
High self-awareness, including seeking and embracing candid feedback with resiliency.
Ability to foster a collaborative environment.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States and must not require visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with Field Regional VPs on personnel management of Regional Managers and profit center staff.
Underwrite and manage complex Contract and Specialty Surety risks.
Manage and assist assigned regional offices in executing business-unit underwriting strategy, risk appetite, portfolio management, and profitability goals, including budgeted premium, loss ratio, new business, commissions, and retention.
Assist in developing underwriting guidelines.
Collaborate on planning and policy-making committees.
Establish and manage short- and long-range goals and objectives for assigned regions.
Perform personnel-management functions for assigned Home Office underwriting staff.
Assist in preparing annual budgets for the Home Office Contract and Specialty Surety Divisions and Regional Profit Centers.
Assist Regional Managers in developing strategic plans to identify business opportunities that support the company’s overall business plans.
Collaborate with Field Operations RVPs to provide training and direction to Regional Managers and profit center staff.
Assist in planning, developing, and implementing automated underwriting and support systems.
Partner with Field Operations RVPs to review marketing plans and determine appropriate Home Office visibility in support of agency and principal relationships.
Maintain knowledge of developments in the surety and agency industries and in the industries of principals to whom the company provides suretyship.
Respond promptly and knowledgeably to regional offices and agents.
Participate in industry functions to increase company visibility in the marketplace.
Perform other job-related duties as required.