Commercial Surety - Manager, Underwriting Specialty (Remote)

Surety - Commercial Surety - Manager, UW Specialty
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, focusing 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. The role is responsible for evaluating current and future staffing needs and providing 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 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, customers, and the communities we serve, fostering 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, performance, and the relationships we build every day.

Position Overview
This role resides within Commercial Surety areas of the Specialty division. It underwrites, manages, and coaches a team of underwriters within a defined territory, with support and guidance from regional management. The manager provides oversight on day‑to‑day underwriting functions, collaborates with underwriting assistants, and manages the assigned book of business, primarily with key agents and increased levels of complexity. Responsible for assessing the present and future resource needs for employees and providing leadership, mentoring, and guidance to build and sustain a high‑performing workforce.

This is a full‑time, exempt role.

In This Role You Will
Technical Underwriting

Know and apply advanced underwriting concepts including risk selection, exposure and hazard identification and control, coverage implications, and loss analysis.

Understand pricing components and rating methodology and correlate pricing to exposure, financial and competitive analysis.

Adhere to underwriting guidelines and discipline to minimize exposure and appropriately price.

Effectively identify root cause and bring forth solutions to problems.

Participate in referrals and consultations from UAs and UWs within assigned territory.

Portfolio & Sales Management

Review key metrics and uncover trends that may lead to new business opportunities with agents while achieving profitable growth in accordance with business strategies.

Understand the relationship between changes in business strategies and financial results (e.g., loss ratio, premium, retention, and non‑rate and book mix strategies).

Keep current on state/territory issues, regulations, and trends.

Coach and mentor the territory UW team, providing business direction, driving underwriting actions toward business objectives, training, and development of employees.

Develop, execute, and manage specific territorial business plan strategies, including territorial business cultivation and agency management.

Manage agency‑related functions for personal book of business.

Involve key new business and renewals.

Stay current with and ensure team adheres to underwriting best practices and guidelines.

Oversee the operational and technical work of the team and implement claim handling best practices where applicable.

Leadership & Coaching

Manage underwriters, coach and mentor, providing business direction, driving underwriting actions toward business objectives, and training and developing employees.

In partnership with the Director or AVP, provide ongoing team leadership, including performance coaching, development, engagement, talent hiring, selection, and progressive performance management if needed.

Conduct formal and informal training sessions on Small Commercial Surety accounts and Transactional surety or emerging issues to elevate the level of underwriting expertise in the team.

Drive underwriting quality through the self‑review process.

Collaborate with Operations to execute best practices, optimize productivity, and manage service and quality with agents.

Identify and develop talent pipeline.

Demonstrate 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.

Act as a change advocate and be open to new and different ways of thinking.

Effective problem solver, who anticipates issues, seeks out and analyzes information collaboratively to propose solutions and 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 and 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. Through on‑the‑job experiences, personalized coaching, and 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.

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)

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. 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.

#J-18808-Ljbffr