AI summary
Zurich North America is hiring a Core Contract Surety Underwriter (at Underwriting Specialist or Executive Underwriter level) to underwrite and grow new and renewal surety business across California, Nevada, and Hawaii while managing a sizeable book of prominent accounts. This is a highly technical, market-facing role based in San Francisco or Walnut Creek (Sacramento also considered) with relationship-building and external marketing responsibilities. Standout perk: defined bonus eligibility (10% Specialist, 30% Executive) plus comprehensive benefits.
Key skills
Contract surety underwritingSurety lines of business knowledgeRisk assessmentAgency and broker relationship managementNegotiation and win-win sellingUnderwriting rules, insurance laws and regulationsMarketing strategy execution (external and internal cross-sell)Managing a large book of accountsWorking to quote deadlines (new and renewal)Microsoft Office
Pays $75,000–$165,000 base (Specialist $75,000–$125,000 with 10% short-term incentive; Executive $100,000–$165,000 with 30% incentive plan), with location/experience affecting offer.
You'll thrive here if you have contract surety underwriting experience, enjoy being client-facing and commercially minded, and can balance technical risk decisions with broker relationship-building under tight quote timelines.
Why apply
- Bonus eligibility (10% or 30%)
- Comprehensive benefits for families
- Manage prominent accounts across region
p 0.0in 8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifZurich North America is currently looking for an experienced Core Contract Surety Underwriter in our Central Pacific Region.strong /strongThis is a highly technical and market facing position and requires experience with Surety lines of business. This position will be located in our San Francisco or Walnut Creek office. We are open, at the discretion of the hiring manager, to hiring candidates in Sacramento region as well. This position will require approximately 20% travel. The territory for this role includes accounts in California, Nevada, and Hawaii./span/pp 0.0in 8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif /pp 0.0in 8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifThis role will be filled at either the Underwriting Specialist or Executive Underwriter, Core Contract Surety level. The hiring manager will determine the appropriate level based upon the selected applicant’s experience and skill set relative to the qualifications listed for this position./span/pp 0.0in 8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif /pp 0.0in 8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifAs a member of Zurichs Core Surety Underwriting Team, you will enjoy the opportunity to fully apply and hone your underwriting and marketing skills. Specifically, you will underwrite and analyze new and renewal Surety business utilizing The Zurich Way of Underwriting Framework within delegated authority levels on assignments of higher technical complexity ensuring a high-level service to customers. Our Underwriters are Client Externally Focused and the job’s core deliverables rely on delivering service to external clients and/or customers. Typically involves building relationships and promoting the company. /span/pp 0.0in 8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos, sans-serif /pp sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifThis role is responsible for the following: /span/pp sans-serif /pul type=discli helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifProduction and underwriting of new and renewal Surety business/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifManaging of a large book of prominent accounts/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifInternal marketing and production within Zurich North America in support of our cross-sell efforts /span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifExecution of the external marketing strategy/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifAdherence to underwriting rules and guidelines, insurance laws, regulations, and the Zurich Way of underwriting/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifEstablish new as well as develop existing agency and broker relationships/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifWorking within limits and authorities on assignments of varying degrees of complexity /span/li/ulp sans-serif /pp sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifUnderwriting Specialist Basic Qualifications: /span/pp sans-serif /pul type=discli helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifHigh School Diploma or Equivalent and 3 or more years of experience in the Underwriting or Market Facing area, Finance, Accounting, Banking/spanbrspan helvetica, sans-serifOR/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifHigh School Diploma or Equivalent and 6 or more years of experience in the Claims or Underwriting Support area/spanbrspan helvetica, sans-serifOR/span/li/ulul type=discli helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifZurich Certified Insurance Apprentice including an Associate Degree and 1 or more years of experience in the Underwriting or Market Facing area, Finance, Accounting, Banking/spanbrspan helvetica, sans-serifOR/span/li/ulul type=discli helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifZurich Certified Insurance Apprentice including an Associate Degree and 4 or more years of experience in the Claims or Underwriting Support area/spanbrspan helvetica, sans-serifAND/span/li/ulul type=discli helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifKnowledge of Contract Surety line/s of business and the legal and regulatory guidelines/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifKnowledge of time restraints for quotes on new and renewal business/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifExperience with Microsoft Office/span/li/ulp sans-serif /pp sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifOR/span/pp sans-serif /pp sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifExecutive Underwriter Basic Qualifications:/span/pp sans-serif /pul type=discli helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifHigh School Diploma or Equivalent and 5 or more years of experience in the Underwriting or Market Facing area/spanbrspan helvetica, sans-serifOR/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifHigh School Diploma or Equivalent and 10 or more years of experience in the Claims or Underwriting Support area/spanbrspan helvetica, sans-serifOR/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifZurich Certified Apprentice program including an Associate Degree and 3 or more years of experience in the Underwriting or Market Facing area/spanbrspan helvetica, sans-serifOR/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifZurich Certified Apprentice program including an Associate Degree and 8 or more years of experience in the Claims or Underwriting Support area/spanbrspan helvetica, sans-serifAND/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifKnowledge of Microsoft Office/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifExperience working on time restraints for quotes on new and renewal business/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifExperience working in a team environment /span/li/ulp sans-serif /pp sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifPreferred Qualifications: /span/pp sans-serif /pul type=discli helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifBachelor’s Degree/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifIn-depth knowledge of Surety line/s of business and the legal and regulatory guidelines /span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifAbility to effectively assess risk/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifStrong negotiation skills/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifStrong broker relationships in Northern California, Nevada amp; Hawaii./span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifSuperior skills in relationship building, active listening, needs analysis, and win-win negotiation/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifPossess a high level of customer service by meeting or exceeding broker and or customer expectations with respect to required deadlines/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifExcellent oral and written communication skills/span/lili helvetica, sans-serifspan helvetica, sans-serifStrong knowledge of underwriting philosophy, techniques, national/local filing regulations and guidelines/span/li/uldiv/divdivp /ppspan helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0ptYour pay at Zurich is based on your role, location, skills, and experience. We follow local laws to ensure fair compensation. You may also be eligible for bonuses and merit increases. If your expectations are above the listed range, we still encourage you to apply—your unique background matters to us. The pay range shown is a national average and may vary by location. The combined salary range for this position is $75,000.00 - $165,000.00. The proposed salary range for the Underwriting Specialist is $75,000.00 - $125,000.00, with short-term incentive bonus eligibility set at 10%. The proposed salary range for the Executive Underwriter is $100,000.00 - $165,000.00, span Global Specialty Incentive Plan bonus eligibility set at 30%./span/span/pdivdiv /div/div/divpspan helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0ptWe offer competitive pay and comprehensive benefits for employees and their families. [Learn more about Total Rewards a title= href=https://www.zurichna.com/careers/benefits target=_selfhere/a.]/span/ppspan helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0ptstrong /strong/span/ppspan helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0ptstrongWhy Zurich?/strong/span/ppspan helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0ptAt Zurich, we value your ideas and experience. We offer growth, inclusion, and a supportive environment—so you can help shape the future of insurance. Zurich North America is a leader in risk management, with over 150 years of expertise and coverage across 25+ industries, including 90% of the Fortune 500®./span/pp /ppspan helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0ptJoin us for a brighter future—for yourself and our customers./span/pp /ppspan helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0ptZurich in North America does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, age, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy or other characteristics protected by applicable law. Equal Opportunity Employer disability/vets./span/pp /ppspan helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0ptZurich complies with 18 U.S. Code § 1033./span/ppspan helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0ptstrong /strong/span/ppspan helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12.0ptstrongPlease note:/strong Zurich does not accept unsolicited CVs from agencies. Preferred vendors should use our Recruiting Agency Portal./span/pp /ppspan helvetica, sans-serifLocation(s): AM - San Francisco, AM - Gold River, AM - Sacramento, AM - Walnut CreekbrRemote Working: HybridbrSchedule: Full TimebrEmployment Sponsorship Offered: No br brspan Recruiter Tag: #LI-BN1 #LI-ASSOCIATE #LI-HYBRID /span/span/pp /pp /p