AVP, Head of Surety

Arch Insurance Group Inc.; Toronto; On-site; CAD 170,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Vacation & holidays

Job summary

Arch Insurance Canada Inc. in Toronto seeks an AVP, Surety to lead underwriting strategy and profitable growth. You will partner with senior leadership, brokers and clients, directing complex decisions and governance across contract and commercial surety. Travel ~10% is expected.

The role reports to the President & Chief Regional Executive and offers a comprehensive benefits package with incentives.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of surety underwriting experience with leadership experience.
• Deep expertise in financial statement analysis and credit evaluation.
• Proven ability to make and influence complex underwriting decisions.

Responsibilities

• Set and execute surety strategy for profitable growth and strong portfolio performance.
• Provide underwriting leadership ensuring consistent appetite, authority, pricing and docs.
• Direct complex underwriting decisions for large/sensitive accounts and escalate as needed.
• Drive distribution and market engagement with brokers, agents and clients.
• Oversee portfolio management, stress testing and action plans for deteriorating credits.
• Collaborate with Claims, Legal and Finance on risk mitigation and remediation.

Skills

Underwriting leadership

Portfolio management

Relationship management

Strategic leadership

Risk governance

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced designation

Job description

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.

Position Summary

The AVP, Surety provides strategic and operational leadership for the surety business, with accountability for profitable growth, disciplined underwriting, portfolio management, and distribution performance. This role partners closely with senior leadership, internal operations, and key external stakeholders to set underwriting direction, deepen producer and client relationships, and maintain strong risk governance across contract and commercial surety.

Reports To: President & Chief Regional Executive

Department: Arch Insurance Canada Inc. (“AICL”)

Responsibilities

• Set and execute surety strategy to achieve profitable growth, balanced risk selection, and strong portfolio performance across assigned markets.
• Provide underwriting leadership and governance, ensuring consistent application of appetite, authority, pricing, documentation, and best practices across regions and the home office.
• Direct complex underwriting decisions for large and sensitive accounts (including public, international, and co-surety exposures) and escalate material items to executive leadership as appropriate.
• Drive distribution and market engagement: build and maintain senior-level relationships with key brokers, agents, clients, and industry partners; lead targeted marketing plans and pipeline management.
• Own portfolio oversight including aggregate management, stress/scenario review, early-warning monitoring, and action plans for deteriorating credits or adverse industry trends.
• Partner with Claims, Legal, and Finance on risk mitigation, loss prevention, and remediation strategies; contribute to loss reviews and lessons learned to improve underwriting outcomes.
• Maintain and enhance underwriting standards, tools, and procedures; champion data quality, operating controls, and efficient workflows across the surety platform.
• Represent the surety organization with internal enterprise partners and external stakeholders (including reinsurers as applicable) by providing timely reporting, insight, and underwriting support.
• Lead, coach, and develop underwriting and support talent; set performance expectations, build bench strength, and promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and prudent risk taking.

Experience & Required Skills Bachelor’s degree required (Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field preferred); advanced designation(s) a plus. 15+ years of surety underwriting experience with demonstrated success leading teams and driving profitable growth. Deep expertise in financial statement analysis, credit evaluation, contract and/or commercial surety products, and portfolio/aggregate management. Proven ability to make and influence complex underwriting decisions, communicate tradeoffs, and partner effectively with executive stakeholders. Strong distribution leadership and relationship management skills with brokers/agents and key clients; excellent written and verbal communication. Ability to travel as needed (approximately 10% or more) Education Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

For individuals assigned or hired to work in the location(s) indicated below, the base salary range is provided. Range is as of the time of posting. Position is incentive eligible.

$170,000 - $175,000 CAD

• Total individual compensation (base salary, short & long-term incentives) offered will take into account a number of factors including but not limited to geographic location, scope & responsibilities of the role, qualifications, talent availability & specialization as well as business needs. The above pay range may be modified in the future.
• Arch is committed to helping employees succeed through our comprehensive benefits package that includes medical plus dental, vision and prescription drug coverage; a competitive retirement plan with generous matching; Vacation plus 4 Lieu Days per year; up to 12 paid company holidays per year plus 2 paid days of Volunteer Time Off plus 8 Sick Days per year; basic Life and AD&D Insurance as well as Short and Long-Term Disability; Maternity Leave top up of up to 18 weeks and Parental leave top up of 6 weeks; and Tuition Reimbursement.

15200 Arch Insurance Canada Ltd.