Territory Contract Underwriter — Risk & Agency Growth

Merchants Bonding Company; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hybrid/remote options

Free health insurance

Volunteer time off with matching gifts

Infants in the Workplace Program

Job summary

Merchants Bonding Company in Chicago, IL is seeking an experienced underwriting professional for full-time roles. The position focuses on risk evaluation of surety submissions, agency relationship management, and leadership in production goals.

The role involves analyzing financial statements, project exposure, and credit reports to inform decisions; leading agency discussions and building strategic partnerships; and owning territory initiatives with data-driven strategies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred. Fields of study such as business, finance, accounting, or economics are especially relevant.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in contract surety underwriting or equivalent financial risk evaluation role.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate financial strength, identify key risk indicators, and apply underwriting guidelines.
• Experience leading agency relationships and representing underwriting decisions in client-facing environments

Responsibilities

• Reviews and underwrites contract surety submissions within assigned authority, applying sound judgment and seeking input from colleagues when collaboration can enhance decision quality.
• Conducts thorough analysis of contractor financial statements, project exposure, and credit reports to assess risk and inform underwriting decisions.
• Prepares well-reasoned underwriting positions for referral or review. Anticipates potential concerns and proactively addresses them within recommendations.
• Leads account discussions and decision-making during agency meetings, jobsite visits, and presentations.
• Develops strategic relationships with key agency partners to grow premium and ensure consistent pipeline.
• Manages agency interactions, including resolving service issues and collecting market intelligence.
• Establishes and pursues quarterly and annual production goals in collaboration with manager.
• Takes ownership of territory-level initiatives and outcomes, using data and feedback to refine strategies.

Skills

Underwriting

Risk evaluation

Agency relationships

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/finance/economics

Job description

Merchants Bonding Company in Chicago, IL is seeking an experienced underwriting professional for full-time roles. The position focuses on risk evaluation of surety submissions, agency relationship management, and leadership in production goals.

The role involves analyzing financial statements, project exposure, and credit reports to inform decisions; leading agency discussions and building strategic partnerships; and owning territory initiatives with data-driven strategies.