AVP, Surety Claims

Sompo International; Scottsdale (AZ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical plans

Dental benefits

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Paid time-off

Job summary

Sompo International is seeking an AVP, Surety Claims to lead complex U.S. Surety claims across multiple bond classes. This senior role involves strategic guidance, cross-functional collaboration, and mentorship for a team of claims professionals.

Based in multiple U.S. offices including Scottsdale, AZ, the position requires deep expertise in performance bonds and high-exposure matters, with travel to industry events as needed. JD preferred and CPCU or similar credentials are a plus.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of Surety claims experience with leadership responsibilities.
• Proven expertise handling high-exposure Surety claims across multiple bond types.
• Strong legal review and contract interpretation skills.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and manage complex U.S. Surety claims, including coverage, liability, damages, and decisions.
• Develop strategies and lead resolution efforts for high-exposure claims.
• Partner with underwriting and leadership to mitigate risk and deliver claim solutions.
• Provide large loss, reinsurance, reserve, trend, and collateral reporting.
• Deliver training and mentorship to claims staff and support projects.
• Travel as needed and represent the organization at industry events.

Skills

Surety claims leadership

Legal and contract review

Negotiation and analysis

Stakeholder collaboration

Mentorship

Education

J.D. preferred

Tools

Claims systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

Are you looking for your next opportunity?

Sompo has a unique opportunity for an AVP, Surety Claims in our North America Insurance Surety Claim s team.

This positionwill provide technical claim management and guidance for our largest and most complex Surety claims consisting of performance bonds within the classes of business consisting of Coal, Oil and Gas Reclamation bonds, Contract bonds, Commercial bonds, Subdivision bonds, License and Permit bonds, SBA bond program, Closure and Post Closure bonds and other similar types of surety bonds.

Location: This position may be based out of our Mt. Juliet, TN, New York, NY, Morristown, NJ, Houston, TX, Scottsdale, AZ, Seattle, WA or Chicago, IL office. We strive for collaboration which is why we offer a work environment where our employees thrive and develop long lasting careers.

Our business, your impact, our opportunity:

What you’ll be doing:

• Evaluate and manage complex U.S. Surety claims, including coverage, liability, damages, and substantive claim decisions.
• Develop strategies and lead resolution efforts for performance bond and other high-exposure Surety matters.
• Partner with underwriting, senior leadership, and cross-functional teams to mitigate risk and deliver cost-effective claim solutions.
• Provide timely large loss, reinsurance, reserve, trend, and collateral management reporting.
• Deliver technical guidance, training, and mentorship to claims staff while supporting organizational initiatives and complex projects.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, represent the organization at industry events, and travel as needed.

What you’ll bring :

• 10+ years of Surety claims experience with a demonstrated progression of leadership and technical responsibility; J.D. preferred.
• Proven expertise handling complex, high-exposure Surety claims, including matters exceeding $10M and across all claim types.
• Leadership experience managing teams or providing technical oversight and mentorship to Surety claims professionals.
• Strong legal and contract review capabilities, including experience with settlements, litigation documents, contracts, and surety bonds.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills, with success collaborating across underwriting, finance, actuarial, operations, and other functions.
• Professional insurance credentials (e.g., CPCU) preferred, along with proficiency in claims systems and Microsoft Office applications.

Salary Range: $180,000 – $195,000. Actual compensation for this role will depend on several factors including the cost of living associated with your work location, your qualifications, skills, competencies, and relevant experience.

At Sompo, we recognize that the talent, skills, and commitment of our employees drive our success. This is why we offer competitive, high-quality compensation and benefit programs to eligible employees.

Our compensation program is built on a foundation that promotes a pay-for-performance culture, resulting in higher incentive awards, on average, when the Company does well and lower incentive awards when the Company underperforms. The total compensation opportunity for all regular, full-time employees is a combination of base salary and incentives that gets adjusted upfront based on overall Company performance with final awards based on individual performance.

We continuously evaluate and update our benefit programs to ensure that our plans remain competitive and meet the needs of our employees and their dependents. Below is a summary of our current comprehensive U.S. benefit programs:

• Two medical plans to choose from, including a Traditional PPO & a Consumer Driven Health Plan with a Health Savings account providing a competitive employer contribution
• Pharmacy benefits with mail order options
• Dental benefits including orthodontia benefits for adults and children
• Vision benefits
• Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Company-paid Life & AD&D benefits, including the option to purchase Supplemental life coverage for employee, spouse & children
• Company-paid Disability benefits with very competitive salary continuation payments
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with competitive employer contributions
• Competitive paid-time-off programs, including company-paid holidays
• Competitive Parental Leave Benefits & Adoption Assistance program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tax-Free Commuter Benefit
• Tuition Reimbursement & Professional Qualification benefits.

Who we are and what we stand for:

At Sompo, our shared purpose is to create meaningful value for clients, communities, and each other. We strive to foster a workplace where everyone feels respected, included, and empowered to excel. As a global organization, we embrace diversity and champion equal opportunity. Guided by our core values—Accountability, Agility, Collaboration, Development, and Integrity—we build trust and support one another to achieve our goals worldwide. Life at Sompo page

Our values come to life in how we hire and grow talent. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and organizational need, and we strive to ensure equitable access to opportunities so everyone can do their best work.