Head of Large Contract Surety

Zurich North America is in search of a Head of Large Contract Surety for our Surety Division. This position reports directly to the Head of Surety and offers the flexibility to be based in one of our Zurich offices, with an expectation for business travel.

This is a National Role and will be responsible for driving the overall success of our Large Contract Surety portfolio. This leader will develop our strategy and deliver a collaborative value chain with our Brokers and Customers. This is a critical role and requires advanced knowledge of highly complex Contract Surety business and an influential oversight of strategic underwriting practices. This role manages our portfolio of the largest and most respected contractors nationwide and globally.

Success in this role requires a strong commitment to teamwork, communication, vision, and results-oriented execution We are looking for an individual  that is collaborative with a passion and capability for creating world-class teams and the ability to communicate to brokers, clients and drive and cultivate relationships. 

Responsibilities Include:

• Establishing key performance targets and financial budgets for underwriting unit to optimize business performance in line with set objectives.
• Developing a team of Underwriting Managers and Underwriters.
• Developing processes and review policies relevant to underwriting to ensure they are in line with strategic business objectives.
• Manage relationships with key internal stakeholders to identify opportunities for service improvement to ensure commercial viability and customer satisfaction.
• Participate in leadership team meetings of assigned area to provide specialist guidance and enable the implementation of policies, projects and change initiatives to produce profitable results.
• Contribute to the business strategy to align underwriting strategy with wider business goals.
• Participate in the community of global/regional proposition development practitioners in underwriting to share best practice and continue to meet customer´s needs.
• Oversee development plans for underwriters to ensure the capability exists to drive business results.
• Underwrite and analyze new and renewal business within delegated authority levels.
• Recommend and implement action plans after reviewing agency books of business and profit/growth results and trends.
• Develop and maintain relationships with distributors (agents and brokers) in support of business retention and new business and work with customers and distributors (agents & brokers) to determine their Surety needs and provide solutions.
• Support the organization's sales culture by being a trusted advisor for agents, brokers, and customers.
• Assure development and implementation of policy, procedures and standards.  

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and 12 or more years of experience in Underwriting or Market Facing or Broker or Carrier or Risk Management area within the Commercial Insurance industry
  AND
• Experience managing/leading a high performing team
• Contract Surety experience

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Advanced knowledge and practice of Large Contract Surety business
• Underwriting expertise, ability to manage complex portfolios
• Ability to think strategically
• Established Broker relationships nationally, strong market presence
• Strong leadership, managerial, team building and organizational skills
• Strong presentation, negotiation, communication and thought leadership skills
• Ability to effectively engage with varied stakeholders across the organization
• Knowledge in risk selection and assessment
• Technical knowledge of Surety industry operations and processes
• Strong knowledge of underwriting philosophy, techniques, national/local filing regulations and guidelines
   

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