VP, Home Office Contract Surety Underwriter

Polikov Recruitment Solutions; New Jersey; On-site; USD 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Polikov Recruitment Solutions partners with a well-established insurance carrier to seek an experienced Contract Surety underwriting leader for the Home Office Underwriting function. The role emphasizes independent judgment, sharp financial analysis, and shaping underwriting philosophy.

The ideal candidate will lead complex risk evaluation, mentor regional teams, and uphold underwriting discipline in a demanding environment.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of Contract Surety underwriting experience.
• Experience underwriting large single and aggregate bond programs, including co-surety arrangements.
• Ability to evaluate complex contractor financials and creditworthiness.
• Experience coaching and developing underwriting professionals.
• Strong communication skills to defend underwriting positions to executives.

Responsibilities

• Complex Risk Evaluation & Underwriting Leadership at the Home Office.
• Provide technical leadership to regional underwriting teams.
• Maintain underwriting discipline and a profitability-first mindset.
• Develop and maintain underwriting standards and guidelines.

Skills

Contract Surety underwriting

Leadership

Financial analysis

Independent judgment

Risk assessment

Job description

We are partnering with a well-established, A+ rated insurance carrier seeking an experienced Contract Surety underwriting leader to oversee its Home Office Underwriting function.

This is a unique opportunity for an accomplished Contract Surety professional who enjoys evaluating large, complex risks, exercising independent underwriting judgment, and helping shape the underwriting philosophy and culture of an organization.

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer of Surety, this individual will play an integral role in maintaining underwriting discipline, providing technical leadership to regional underwriting teams, and ensuring the organization continues to approach business with a profitability-first mindset.

This is not a bureaucratic, check-the-box underwriting environment. The organization values individuals who can think independently, evaluate risk from multiple perspectives, and develop thoughtful, defensible underwriting positions. The expectation is not that every decision will be perfect, but that decisions are grounded in sound underwriting principles, financial analysis, and a clear understanding of the risk being assumed.

Equally important is the leadership environment. You will work alongside a highly respected executive team that values open dialogue, independent thinking, and mutual respect. Leadership is accessible, receptive to differing perspectives, and committed to providing its people with the resources and support necessary to succeed.

Key Responsibilities

• Complex Risk Evaluation & Underwriting Leadership

We are seeking a seasoned Contract Surety professional with the technical underwriting depth, leadership capabilities, and independent judgment necessary to operate at a senior Home Office level.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• 15+ years of Contract Surety underwriting experience, including substantial exposure to large, financially complex standard market risks.
• Demonstrated experience underwriting significant single and aggregate bond programs, including large co-surety arrangements.
• A proven ability to evaluate complex contractor financials, assess creditworthiness, and develop independent underwriting recommendations.
• Previous leadership or management experience with the ability to coach, mentor, and develop experienced underwriting professionals.
• Strong communication skills and the confidence to articulate and defend underwriting positions to executive leadership and other senior industry professionals.
• A disciplined approach to risk selection, with a strong understanding of the relationship between underwriting quality, portfolio profitability, and long-term organizational success.
• Experience developing or maintaining underwriting standards, reviewing portfolios, and ensuring adherence to established underwriting guidelines.

Keywords:

Contract Surety, Home Office Underwriting, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Construction Surety, AFSB, Surety Association, Underwriting, Underwriter, Leadership, Associate in Fidelity & Surety Bonding, Bid Bond, Performance Bond, Payment Bond, Financial Analysis, Underwriting Judgement,