Sr. Commercial Surety Underwriter (West Coast)

Polikov Recruitment Solutions; California; Remote; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Polikov Recruitment Solutions is partnering with an A+ rated carrier to recruit a Senior Commercial Surety Underwriter to grow its presence across the Western states, with California as a primary focus. You will manage an existing book, maintain agency relationships, and pursue profitable opportunities while exercising strong underwriting discipline.

The role is market-facing and requires travel to visit agents, attend association events, and build lasting relationships.

Qualifications

• This role requires strong commercial surety underwriting knowledge and ability to assess risk quality.
• Experience managing agency relationships and growing a multi-state territory.
• Proven ability to travel or visit agents and stay active in the market.

Responsibilities

• Underwrite small-to-mid size commercial surety business across an assigned Western territory
• Manage and grow an existing book of commercial surety business, primarily in California
• Develop profitable business opportunities across multiple Western states
• Evaluate submissions, assess risk quality, and determine terms, pricing, and account structure
• Make sound underwriting decisions focused on profitability and long-term account quality
• Maintain strong relationships with agents, brokers, and key business partners
• Visit agents and producers to strengthen relationships and identify new opportunities
• Attend industry events to remain active in the commercial surety marketplace
• Work with regional underwriting leadership on strategy and risks outside of authority
• Maintain desk management, documentation, and communication around underwriting decisions
• Support growth of a profitable commercial surety book with underwriting discipline

Skills

Commercial underwriting

Relationship building

Territory management

Underwriting discipline

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Risk Management, or related field

Job description

Polikov Recruitment specializes in the Surety Bond and Commercial P&C industry. We are working with an A+ rated carrier that is looking to add a Senior Commercial Surety Underwriter to support and grow its commercial surety presence across the Western territory.

This is a strong opportunity for a Commercial Surety Underwriter who enjoys small-to-mid size commercial surety business, agency relationships, territory development, and disciplined underwriting.

This is not a large account-based commercial surety role.

The ideal candidate will be someone who understands the commercial surety marketplace, enjoys being active with agents, and wants the autonomy to help grow a multi-state territory while taking over an existing book of business.

The primary focus will be California, but the organization is looking to continue growing across multiple Western states. This person will step into a small book of business, manage existing agency relationships, and identify opportunities to expand profitable commercial surety production throughout the region.

What Makes This Opportunity Different?

This is a bottom-line driven organization that prioritizes profitability, underwriting discipline, and long-term account quality.

Underwriters are not managed purely against aggressive production goals. The expectation is not to chase premium for the sake of chasing premium.

That said, this is still a market-facing role.

The right person will be expected to visit agents, attend association events, build relationships, stay visible in the commercial surety space, and remain active in the territory. The philosophy is simple: activity drives opportunity, and strong underwriting determines whether that opportunity makes sense.

This is a great fit for someone who wants independence, autonomy, and the ability to grow a territory without being micromanaged.

Key Responsibilities:

• Underwrite small-to-mid size commercial surety business across an assigned Western territory
• Manage and grow an existing book of commercial surety business, primarily in California
• Develop profitable business opportunities across multiple Western states
• Evaluate submissions, assess risk quality, and determine appropriate terms, pricing, and account structure
• Make sound underwriting decisions focused on profitability, risk selection, retention, and long-term account quality
• Maintain strong relationships with agents, brokers, and key business partners throughout the territory
• Visit agents and producers to strengthen relationships, retain accounts, survey exposures, and identify new opportunities
• Attend industry and association events to remain active and visible in the commercial surety marketplace
• Work closely with regional underwriting leadership on strategy, account opportunities, and risks that fall outside of authority
• Maintain strong desk management, responsiveness, documentation, and communication around underwriting decisions
• Support the continued growth of a profitable commercial surety book without sacrificing underwriting discipline

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• 5+ years of commercial surety underwriting experience preferred
• Experience underwriting small-to-mid size commercial surety business
• Strong understanding of commercial surety products, bond forms, underwriting guidelines, and risk selection
• Ability to evaluate submissions, financial information, account quality, and overall risk characteristics
• Existing agency or broker relationships in California or the broader Western territory preferred
• Self-starter who enjoys being active in the market and developing agency relationships
• Strong communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills
• Ability to work independently and manage a territory with autonomy
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage a desk effectively
• Profitability-focused underwriting approach
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the discipline to grow the book the right way
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Risk Management, or a related field preferred
• Ability to travel throughout the territory as needed

Location:

This role is remote, with a preference for someone located in California or the broader Western region.

San Francisco or Northern California would be ideal, but the organization is open to the right commercial surety background if the person has the ability to manage and grow the Western territory effectively.

Keywords:

Commercial Surety, Surety Underwriter, Bond, Bonds, Surety Bonds, License and Permit, Motor Vehicle Dealer Bonds, Court Bond, Judicial Bond, Probate Bond, Commercial Contract Bonds, AFSB, Associate in Fidelity and Surety Bonding, Bond Agent, Bond Producer, Bond Underwriter, Notary Bonds, ERISA Bond, West Coast, California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Utah, Remote