AVP, Contract Surety

With a company culture rooted in collaboration, expertise and innovation, we aim to promote progress and inspire our clients, employees, investors and communities to achieve their greatest potential. Our work is the catalyst that helps others achieve their goals. In short, We Enable Possibility℠.

About the role

The Assistant Vice President, Contract Surety is responsible for the profitable growth, underwriting leadership, and strategic management of an assigned territory. This role oversees a complex portfolio of Contract Surety accounts, driving disciplined underwriting practices, business development initiatives, and agency management strategies to achieve organizational objectives. The AVP serves as a trusted advisor to agents, brokers, and clients, fostering strong market relationships while identifying opportunities to expand market presence and enhance portfolio performance. Working closely with divisional leadership, this position contributes to the development and execution of business strategies that support sustained growth, profitability, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Gather and analyze information, applying appropriate underwriting techniques, necessary to make an accurate evaluation of credit quality & acceptability of risk.
• Prepare and conduct marketing activities within assigned territory/agencies; manage producers within territory including premium collection.
• Develop and manage a book of business, meeting/exceeding profitability objectives as set forth by management, including building and growing strategic relationships as well as finding opportunity for new business within the defined territory.
• Meet with principal owners of the account to assess their general management acumen, past experience, work experience of key personnel, depth of organization and desired work objectives with branch manager’s involvement as needed.
• Continuously monitor assigned accounts to ensure compliance with Arch standards and make/recommend appropriate corrective actions as needed.
• Correspond with CPAs, bankers, lawyers, architects, subcontractors and engineers to secure additional underwriting detail, as needed, to assess risk on preliminary and ongoing basis.
• Prepare underwriting submissions, making recommendations and/or decisions within established authority limits.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of experience in the Surety industry, with demonstrated expertise in underwriting and portfolio management.
• Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding (AFSB) designation preferred.

Skills

• Strong leadership skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Organization and prioritization to meet multiple demands and commitments.
• Solid understanding of financial and accounting principles and the ability to demonstrate sound business judgment in evaluation of the financial condition, experience, credit history and character of contract accounts.
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.

Benefits

• Multiple medical plans plus dental, vision and prescription drug coverage.
• Competitive 401k with generous matching.
• PTO beginning at 20 days per year.
• Up to 12 paid company holidays per year plus 2 paid days of Volunteer Time Offer.
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance as well as Short and Long-Term Disability.
• Paid Parental Leave of up to 10 weeks.
• Student Loan Assistance and Tuition Reimbursement.
• Backup Child and Elder Care.