Underwriting Manager, Commercial Bond, Large Commercial Specialty

AXA Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 146,500 - 244,900; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Health and wellness programs

Competitive retirement savings plan

Job summary

A leading insurance provider is seeking an Underwriting Manager to lead a team managing sales and underwriting for commercial bonds. This role focuses on territory management and developing relationships with agencies and brokers for sales growth. Candidates should have significant experience in commercial surety and strong bond underwriting knowledge. The position offers a competitive compensation range of USD 146,500-244,900 and robust benefits including health and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in commercial or contract surety or related underwriting experience preferred.
• Requires advanced knowledge of contract and/or commercial surety operations products, procedures and practices.
• Expertise in bond lines of business, ratings, customer environment and markets.
• Requires extensive knowledge of bond underwriting best practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead an underwriting team for commercial bonds books of business.
• Develop and maintain business relationships for sales growth.
• Analyze portfolio performance to drive profitable growth.
• Determine workflow standards and priorities for the department.

Skills

Extensive experience in commercial or contract surety

Advanced knowledge of contract surety operations

Expertise in bond lines of business

Knowledge of bond underwriting best practices

Education

Undergraduate degree in business, insurance, or related field

Job description

The Underwriting Manager will lead an underwriting team that owns the sales and underwriting relationship for commercial bonds books of business. Primary focus of this role is on broad territory management, which includes relationship, underwriting and expense management. This role develops and maintains business relationships with agencies and/or brokers for the purpose of sales growth and distribution expansion, and independently underwrites accounts based on authority level granted to the role and underwriting appetite.

What you’ll be doing

What will your essential responsibilities include?

• Monitors market conditions and confirms information gathered within market space.
• Analyzes performance of portfolio as well as individual account performance and develops appropriate action to drive profitable growth based upon the analysis.
• Reviews and approves underwriting decisions of staff and ensures compliance to legal requirements and organizational, business and strategic objectives.
• Works with other members of the PRCB team, Specialty and P&C to develop and pursue cross selling opportunities.
• Determines priorities and workflow standards for the department.
• Plans, develops and integrates territory sales plans to achieve top and bottom line objectives.
• Communicates strategic direction and operational plans to external partners.
• Communicates policies, procedures, and financial budgets that result in attainment of business objectives.
• Develops and maintains robust business relationships with key groups and individuals within the commercial lines market.
• Develops customer service standards for commercial bond team. Drives customer service performance to established standards.
• Works in partnership with fellow leaders to manage the training of employees and to ensure a high degree of competency and professionalism.
• Sets operational expectations, goals and strategies

You will report to Head of Commercial Bond.

What you’ll bring

We’re looking for someone who has these abilities and skills:

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Extensive experience in commercial or contract surety or related underwriting experience preferred.
• Requires advanced knowledge of contract and/or commercial surety operations products, procedures and practices
• Expertise in bond lines of business, ratings, customer environment and markets.
• Requires extensive knowledge of bond underwriting best practices, field underwriting operations and day-to-day underwriting operational needs.

Desired Skills and Abilities:

• Undergraduate degree in business, insurance, or a related field preferred.
• License/Certification/Designation: Actively pursuing of AFSB, CPCU or other insurance/finance related certification desired.
• Significant business management and people leadership experience desired.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in order to disseminate vision of senior leadership and to motivate a large agency force.
• Ability to set work priorities and to initiate, evaluate and recommend solutions to upper management.
• Demonstrated decision-making ability required in day-to-day operations and recommending solutions to customer.
• Must have the ability to perform duties with independent judgment, with underwriting authority and company underwriting standards.

Who we are

AXA XL, the P&C and specialty risk division of AXA, is known for solving complex risks. For mid-sized companies, multinationals and even some inspirational individuals we don’t just provide re/insurance, we reinvent it.

By combining a comprehensive and efficient capital platform, data-driven insights, leading technology, and the best talent in an agile and inclusive workspace, empowered to deliver top client service across all our lines of business – property, casualty, professional, financial lines and specialty.

With an innovative and flexible approach to risk solutions, we partner with those who move the world forward.

Learn more at axaxl.com

What we offer

Inclusion

AXA XL is committed to equal employment opportunity and will consider applicants regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity and origins, marital status, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic. At AXA XL, we know that an inclusive culture and enables business growth and is critical to our success. That’s why we have made a strategic commitment to attract, develop, advance and retain the most inclusive workforce possible, and create a culture where everyone can bring their full selves to work and reach their highest potential. It’s about helping one another — and our business — to move forward and succeed.

• Five Business Resource Groups focused on gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity and origins, disability and inclusion with 20 Chapters around the globe.
• Robust support for Flexible Working Arrangements
• Enhanced family-friendly leave benefits
• Named to the Diversity Best Practices Index
• Signatory to the UK Women in Finance Charter

Learn more at Inclusion & Diversity at AXA XL | AXA XL. AXA XL is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Total Rewards

AXA XL’s Reward program is designed to take care of what matters most to you, covering the full picture of your health, wellbeing, lifestyle and financial security. It provides competitive compensation and personalized, inclusive benefits that evolve as you do.

We’re committed to rewarding your contribution for the long term, so you can be your best self today and look forward to the future with confidence.

Sustainability

At AXA XL, Sustainability is integral to our business strategy. In an ever-changing world, AXA XL protects what matters most for our clients and communities. We know that sustainability is at the root of a more resilient future.

Our Pillars:

• Valuing nature: How we impact nature affects how nature impacts us. Resilient ecosystems - the foundation of a sustainable planet and society – are essential to our future. We’re committed to protecting and restoring nature – from mangrove forests to the bees in our backyard – by increasing biodiversity awareness and inspiring clients and colleagues to put nature at the heart of their plans.
• Addressing climate change: The effects of a changing climate are far-reaching and significant. Unpredictable weather, increasing temperatures, and rising sea levels cause both social inequalities and environmental disruption. We're building a net zero strategy, developing insurance products and services, and mobilizing to advance thought leadership and investment in societal-led solutions.
• Integrating ESG: All companies have a role to play in building a more resilient future. Incorporating ESG considerations into our internal processes and practices builds resilience from the roots of our business. We’re training our colleagues, engaging our external partners, and evolving our sustainability governance and reporting.
• AXA Hearts in Action: We have established volunteering and charitable giving programs to help colleagues support causes that matter most to them, known as AXA XL’s "Hearts in Action" programs. These include our Matching Gifts program, Volunteering Leave, and our annual volunteering day – the Global Day of Giving.

For more information, please see Sustainability at AXA XL.

The U.S. base salary range for this position is USD 146,500-244,900.

Actual pay will be determined based upon the individual’s skills, experience and location. We strive for market alignment and internal equity with our colleagues’ pay.

At AXA XL, we know how important physical, mental, and financial health are to our employees, which is why we are proud to offer benefits such as a competitive retirement savings plan, health and wellness programs, and many other benefits. We also believe in fostering our colleagues' development and offer a wide range of learning opportunities for colleagues to hone their professional skills and to position themselves for the next step of their careers. For more details about AXA XL’s benefits offerings, please visit US Benefits at a Glance 2026.