Commercial Surety - Manager, Underwriting Specialty (Remote)

For more than 170 years, The Hanover has been committed to delivering on our promises and being there when it matters the most. We live our values every day, demonstrating we CARE through our values, Sustainability initiatives and inclusive corporate culture.

The Hanover’s Commercial Surety business unit is seeking an experienced Surety - Commercial Surety - Manager, UW Specialty who brings strong technical expertise, a sales-minded approach, and a collaborative spirit. This role is ideal for a relationship-driven professional who enjoys developing agency partnerships, identifying growth opportunities, and delivering tailored surety solutions that drive profitable results and is focused on Small Commercial Accounts and Transactional Surety

The Manager, UW Specialty, oversees an assigned book of business, with a primary focus on key agency relationships and accounts of increased complexity. This role is responsible for evaluating current and future staffing needs and providing the leadership, coaching, and development necessary to build and sustain a high‑performing team that supports business objectives across the West region.  The Manager partners closely with agents and brokers to strengthen market presence and cultivate trusted, long‑term relationships. Success in this role depends on strong collaboration with leadership teams to consistently deliver high‑quality outcomes and exceptional service to our customers.

The way we work continues to evolve.  This role offers flexible work arrangements and may be hybrid or fully remote, with the ability to travel as needed to support agency engagement, market development, and key meetings throughout the West region.  The position may be based in CA, OR, WA, AZ, UT,ID or CO.  

At The Hanover, our culture is grounded in our Care Values—we care about our people, our customers, and the communities we serve. We foster an inclusive, supportive environment where experienced professionals are empowered to make decisions, share ideas, and grow their careers while working together toward shared goals.

The Hanover is a diverse and inclusive organization committed to attracting, developing, and retaining top talent. We believe diverse perspectives and experiences strengthen our teams, our performance, and the relationships we build every day.

Position Overview:

This role resides within Commercial Surety areas of the Specialty division. Underwrites, manages, and coaches team of Underwriters within defined territory, with support and guidance from regional management. Provides oversight on day-to-day underwriting functions.  Collaborates with underwriting assistants, manages assigned book of business, primarily with key agents and increased level of complexity. Responsible for assessing the present and future resource needs for employees and provide the leadership, mentoring and guidance necessary to build and sustain a high performing workforce.

This is a full-time, exempt role. 

IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL:

Technical Underwriting:

• Knows and applies advanced underwriting concepts including risk selection, exposure and hazard identification and control, coverage implications, and loss analysis.
• Understands pricing components and rating methodology and correlates pricing to exposure, financial and competitive analysis.
• Adheres to UW guidelines and underwriting discipline to minimize exposure and appropriately price.
• Effectively identifies root cause and brings forth solutions to problems.
• Participates in referrals and consultations from UAs and UWs within assigned territory

Portfolio & Sales Management:

• Reviews key metrics and uncovers trends that may lead to new business opportunities with agents while achieving profitable growth in accordance with business strategies.
• Understands the relationship between changes in business strategies and financial results (e.g., loss ratio’s, premium, retention, and non-rate and book mix strategies).
• Keeps current on state/territory issues, regulations, and trends.

• Coaching and mentoring the territory UW team, providing business direction, driving UW actions towards our business objectives, training, and development of employees.
• Underwriting management, development, and execution of specific territorial business plan strategies, including territorial business cultivation and agency management.
• Manage agency related functions for personal book of business.
• Involvement in key new business and renewals.
• Stays current with and ensures team adheres to underwriting best practices and guidelines.
• Oversee the operational and technical work of the team and where applicable  implement claim handling best practices.

Leadership & Coaching:

• Managing underwriters, coaching, and mentoring, providing business direction, driving UW actions towards our business objectives, training, and development of employees.
• In partnership with the Director or AVP provides ongoing team leadership including Underwriting, performance coaching, development, and engagement, talent hiring, selection and progressive performance management if needed.
• Conducts formal/informal training sessions on Small Commercial Surety accounts and Transactional surety or emerging issues in order to help elevate the level of underwriting expertise in the team.
• Drives underwriting quality through the self-review process.
• Collaborates with Operations to execute best practices, including optimizing productivity and managing service and quality with agents.
• Identifies and develops talent pipeline.
• Demonstrates a willingness to consistently enhance team performance.

WHAT YOU NEED TO APPLY:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and surety experience. Professional designations are strongly preferred
• Minimum of 7+ years of experience underwriting a broad range of commercial surety bonds and building agency relationships resulting in profitable new and renewal business.
• Acts as a change advocate and is open to new and different ways of thinking.
• Effective problem solver, who anticipates issues, seeks out and analyzes information collaboratively to propose solutions. Takes ownership for a successful resolution
• High degree of business, commercial surety, and marketplace knowledge
• Excellent communication skills are essential; effective face-to-face interactions and presentations to groups, as well as strong phone skills, along with sound written communications, including impeccable follow through
• Ability to effectively coach and develop others
• Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate and influence across multiple levels of the organization within senior and field management and underwriters.
• Analytical Thinking
• Influencing Others
• Results Orientation
• Agile and Adaptive 
• Talent Management

CAREER DEVELOPMENT:

It’s not just a job, it’s a career, and we are here to support you every step of the way. We want you to be successful and fulfilled. Through on-the-job experiences, personalized coaching and our robust learning and development programs, we encourage you – at every level – to grow and develop.

BENEFITS:

We offer comprehensive benefits to help you be healthy, build financial security, and balance work and home life. At The Hanover, you’ll enjoy what you do and have the support you need to succeed.

Benefits include:

• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• 401K with a company match
• Tuition reimbursement
• PTO
• Company paid holidays
• Flexible work arrangements
• Cultural Awareness Day in support of IDE
• On-site medical/wellness center (Worcester only)
• Click here for the full list of Benefits

EEO statement:

The Hanover values diversity in the workplace and among our customers.  The company provides equal opportunity for employment and promotion to all qualified employees and applicants on the basis of experience, training, education, and ability to do the available work without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex/gender, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, ancestry or any other status protected by law.  

Furthermore, The Hanover Insurance Group is committed to providing an equal opportunity workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment based on national origin, race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information or any other status protected by law.” 

As an equal opportunity employer, Hanover does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities.  Individuals with disabilities who wish to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, or to perform essential job functions, should contact us at:HRServices@hanover.com and include the link of the job posting in which you are interested.

Privacy Policy:

To view our privacy policy and online privacy statement, click here.  

Applicants who are California residents: To see the types of information we may collect from applicants and employees and how we use it, please click here.

Compensation:

The target hiring range for this role may vary based on geographic location and other factors, including merit or performance, demonstrated proficiency, skills for the role, education, travel requirements, and experience. Additional compensation may include an annual bonus (which could take the form of a general bonus, sales incentive, or short-term incentive), long-term incentive or spot recognition awards. The posted range reflects our ability to hire at different position titles and levels depending on background and experience.