Surety VP Market Facing Underwriting Officer

Zurich Insurance is currently looking for a VP Market Facing Underwriting Officer – Core Contract Northeast Region Surety Division. This is a highly technical and market facing position and requires experience with Surety lines of business. Ideal candidate for this position will be located in Owings Mills, Maryland; Hybrid - East PA; Bethesda, Maryland; DC or North VA. This position will require approximately 20% travel. 

As a member of Zurich's Surety Underwriting Team you will enjoy the opportunity to fully apply and hone your underwriting and marketing skills. Specifically, you will underwrite and analyze new and renewal Surety business utilizing The Zurich Way of Underwriting Framework within delegated authority levels on assignments of higher technical complexity ensuring a high-level service to customers. Our Underwriters are Client Externally Focused and the job’s core deliverables rely on delivering service to external clients and/or customers. Typically involves building relationships and promoting the company. 

This is a great opportunity to utilize your management skills to help us profitably manage our Core Contract Surety book. This is a critical leadership position that will focus on developing our underwriting talent and driving and cultivating broker relationships. 

We are looking for a Leader that will exercise strong technical underwriting knowledge while managing a team of production underwriters. A Leader that will empower, develop, and drive a cohesive team in delivering on our strategy in an appetite appropriate manner that strengthens our market positioning.  This role requires an influential approach to business relationships and oversight on strategic underwriting practices.

To analyze and underwrite highly complex new and renewal business, under minimal direction, utilizing The Zurich Way of Underwriting Framework as a subject matter expert, ensuring a high-level service to customers. 

The Sr. Regional VP is responsible for: 

• Working under minimal direction, underwrite and analyze new and renewal business within delegated authority levels of highly complex assignments
• Demonstrate specialized knowledge and expertise in products and industry.
• Administer and monitor underwriting rules and guidelines, insurance laws and regulations, and rating manuals.
• Work at the highest authority limits on assignments utilizing the highest degree of technical complexity and coordination. Develop and maintain relationships with distributors (agents & brokers) in support of business retention and acquisition and works with customers and distributors (agents & brokers) to determine their insurance related needs and provide solutions.
• Support the organization's sales culture by being a Help Point for agents, brokers and customers.
• Contribute to the development of propositions. Provide technical guidance, assistance, and training to lower level underwriters.
• Proactively seek renewal and new account opportunities.
• Complete detailed opportunity assessment with key distributors to identify growth opportunities.
• Qualify accounts to meet with the organization's appetite, balanced with sound business opportunity.
• Make agent/broker/customer and on-sight calls with a planned and well-prepared purpose.
• Negotiate Terms & Conditions and close deals.
• Cross-Sell other lines of business to increase product density with the account.
• Participate in Sales Team meeting as related to assigned brokers and / or territory.
• Proactively engage in the target account process, managing a qualified list of opportunities 90 to 120 days prior to effective date.
• Update required systems with details of broker / client visits and account status within specified time frame.
• Serve as key contact for assigned target accounts.
• Develop strong broker and client networks as related to industries underwritten by Business Unit.
• Calculate Target Price accurately by utilizing underwriting tools appropriately.
• Sponsor / lead product development.
• Develop training.
• Drive/manage how Business Unit will deal with emerging issues.
• Resolve technical issues for company.
• Provide expertise on coverage issues with claims.
• Develop u/w manuals, programs and guidelines.
• Handle & review large/complex underwriting submissions and