Head of Commercial Surety Underwriting

Polikov Recruitment specializes in the Surety Bond and Commercial P&C industry. We are partnering with an A+ rated global specialty insurance organization that is making a significant investment in the long-term growth of its Commercial Surety platform.This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for someone who wants to build something the right way.We are looking for a true Commercial Surety leader and builder. Someone who knows how to coach, mentor, delegate, empower, and attract talented underwriters who want to be part of a modern surety platform.This role is not simply about producing business or bringing a book of broker relationships.Those things matter, but they are not the main event.The right person will be responsible for helping build out multiple regional commercial surety hubs over the next several years. That means identifying the right talent, creating the right structure, developing underwriting confidence across the team, and building a culture where underwriters are trusted to make decisions.The organization is looking for a leader who believes in field authority, autonomy, accountability, and coaching.If your leadership style is built around micromanagement, heavy approval chains, or needing to be involved in every decision, this will not be the right fit.If you believe talented underwriters should be trained well, trusted with authority, coached through mistakes, and empowered to grow, this could be a very compelling opportunity.About the OpportunityThis person will lead the Commercial Surety line of business with responsibility for strategy, underwriting execution, portfolio management, risk management, profitability, and long-term growth.The organization is intentionally building a structure that allows regional underwriters to operate with meaningful field authority and a streamlined decision-making process. The goal is to create a better experience for brokers, agents, clients, and internal teams by reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and giving experienced underwriters the ability to make informed decisions closer to the business.This leader will work closely with senior surety leadership to develop the Commercial Surety strategy, build out regional hubs, support regional leaders, and create a high-performing underwriting culture.What Makes This Role Different?This is a people-first leadership role inside a serious Commercial Surety buildout.The organization is not looking for someone who only wants to sit at the top of the pyramid and approve deals.They need someone who can build the pyramid.That means:Finding and attracting the right underwritersBuilding regional hubs with the right leadership and underwriting talentCreating a culture of trust, authority, and accountabilityTeaching underwriters how to think through riskCoaching people through tough decisionsDelegating authority instead of hoarding itHelping the team learn from mistakes without creating fearBuilding a scalable Commercial Surety platform that can grow profitably over timeThis is the type of opportunity that should excite a Commercial Surety leader who enjoys building teams, developing people, and creating a culture where strong underwriters can do the best work of their careers.Key ResponsibilitiesLead the Commercial Surety line of business and help shape the long-term growth strategyBuild out multiple regional Commercial Surety hubs over the next several yearsRecruit, attract, mentor, and develop high-caliber Commercial Surety underwriting talentCreate a culture built around trust, field authority, disciplined underwriting, and accountabilityCoach underwriters through complex risks, underwriting decisions, and broker/client situationsDelegate authority appropriately and empower regional underwriters to make decisionsDevelop and execute a strategic business plan for profitable Commercial Surety growthMaintain responsibility for the profitability, risk quality, and long-term performance of the Commercial Surety portfolioPartner with regional bond leaders and field offices to support broker relationships and regional growthServe as a senior technical resource on complex Commercial Surety accounts, bond forms, contracts, referrals, and larger program opportunitiesSupport portfolio management, book reviews, underwriting procedures, and risk management toolsCollaborate with senior surety leadership, home office teams, field offices, reinsurers, and other key stakeholdersHelp refine underwriting guidelines, workflows, authority structures, and operating procedures as the platform scalesMaintain a strong balance between growth, underwriting discipline, service, and long-term profitabilityIdeal Candidate Profile10+ years of progressive Commercial Surety experienceStrong leadership experience within Commercial Surety or a closely related surety leadership roleProven ability to coach, mentor, develop, and retain underwriting talentExperience building or scaling teams, regions, territories, or underwriting platformsStrong understanding of Commercial Surety underwriting, bond forms, financial analysis, risk selection, portfolio management, and account structureAbility to think strategically while still being close enough to the business to support tactical executionComfortable leading through influence, trust, and accountability rather than control and micromanagementStrong communication skills with the ability to engage underwriters, brokers, clients, senior leaders, and internal partnersAbility to transfer technical knowledge to the team in a way that helps underwriters growStrong judgment around when to delegate, when to coach, and when to step inEntrepreneurial mindset with a disciplined underwriting foundationWillingness to travel as needed to build teams, support regional hubs, and develop key relationshipsThis Role Could Be a Fit If You Believe:Great underwriters want authority, not endless layers of approvalLeaders should coach and develop talent, not control every decisionMistakes should become learning opportunities, not reasons to take authority awayA strong Commercial Surety platform is built through people, culture, underwriting discipline, and trustThe best teams are built when leaders are willing to transfer knowledge and empower othersBureaucracy slows down good underwriters and creates a poor broker/client experienceLong-term profitability comes from good judgment, strong talent, and clear accountabilityIf you are a Commercial Surety leader who knows how to build teams, coach talent, delegate authority, and create a culture of trust, this is worth a confidential conversation. Email Bryan Jackson at bjackson@prs2000.com to discuss this one further.KeywordsSurety, Commercial Surety, Underwriting, Underwriter, Leadership, Senior Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Chief Underwriting Office, Regional Vice President, AFSB, Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding, Accounting, Finance, Renewable Energy, Data Centers, License and Permit, Commercial Contract Surety, Bond, Bonds, Bonded Programs