Underwriting Director - Construction Surety

Underwriting Director, Construction Surety

Travelers is seeking a collaborative and analytical individual with underwriting expertise to join the Construction Surety Home Office Underwriting team. This dynamic group is responsible for partnering with our underwriting Field organization to evaluate and manage complex risks, ensure compliance with company policies and underwriting guidelines, and support business strategies through detailed financial and contractual analysis. The Construction Surety team works with the Field organization to underwrite large surety programs and bonds, providing value to contractors while building and sustaining strong relationships with both contractors and producers. As an Underwriting Director, Construction Surety, you possess expert underwriting knowledge and will independently partner with the Field and Home Office organizations to drive and influence the execution of business unit strategy. By leveraging your expertise to educate underwriters, lead over-authority reviews, and drive the successful execution of underwriting strategies, you will influence the overall profitability, growth, and retention of business for assigned regions.

• Execute and help develop underwriting strategies and practices in support of profitable growth objectives in partnership with the Construction Surety Field organization.
• Drive the profitable growth and retention of a book of business of increasing complexity through meticulous risk/financial analysis, contract reviews, collaboration with strategic support units, and sound decision making.
• Meet with Field partners, key distributors, and customers/insureds to foster relationships and engage in meaningful dialogue, both in person and virtually, to influence successful business outcomes. Develop value propositions for clients/agents.
• Lead collaborative underwriting execution and risk mitigation through individual risk over-authority reviews as well as through the evaluation of underwriting integrity.
• Identify and strengthen key underwriting capabilities through coaching and/or trainings while educating underwriters nationwide on strategy to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Monitor trends, emerging issues, and regional underwriting results for the Construction Surety book of business and partner with underwriting leadership to address findings.
• Lead and collaborate with cross-functional teams to contribute to and drive progress in key projects and assignments. Serve as a Construction Surety subject matter expert with other business units and enterprise partners, as appropriate.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Bachelor's degree.
• Eight or more years of underwriting experience with the construction surety sector.
• Expert knowledge of risk appetite and risk selection, Construction Surety products, and industry trends.
• Expertise in analyzing and synthesizing complex information to make well-informed underwriting decisions.
• Ability to manage multiple complex priorities and projects simultaneously while maintaining high levels of accuracy and efficiency.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence others.
• Relevant industry designation(s) or certification(s).
• Ability to travel up to 40% of the time.
• Six years of underwriting, product knowledge, financial analysis, or risk assessment experience.
• Health Insurance: Employees and their eligible family members including spouses, domestic partners, and children are eligible for coverage from the first day of employment.
• Retirement: Travelers matches your 401(k) contributions dollar-for-dollar up to your first 5% of eligible pay, subject to an annual maximum. If you have student loan debt, you can enroll in the Paying it Forward Savings Program. When you make a payment toward your student loan, Travelers will make an annual contribution into your 401(k) account. You are also eligible for a Pension Plan that is 100% funded by Travelers.
• Paid Time Off: Start your career at Travelers with a minimum of 20 days Paid Time Off annually, plus nine paid company Holidays.
• Wellness Program: The Travelers wellness program is comprised of tools, discounts and resources that empower you to achieve your wellness goals and caregiving needs. In addition, our mental health program provides access to free professional counseling services, health coaching and other resources to support your daily life needs.
• Volunteer Encouragement: We have a deep commitment to the communities we serve and encourage our employees to get involved. Travelers has a Matching Gift and Volunteer Rewards program that enables you to give back to the charity of your choice.

Travelers is an equal opportunity employer. We value the unique abilities and talents each individual brings to our organization and recognize that we benefit in numerous ways from our differences.