Nationwide · 16 hours ago
Director, Business Development - Surety (Large Commercial)
Chicago, IL
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$152K/yr - $269K/yr
10+ years expNationwide is a Fortune 100 company focused on helping people protect what matters most. They are seeking a Director of Business Development for their Surety Underwriting team to lead underwriting and sales strategies, manage relationships with agencies, and drive profitable growth.
BankingFinancial ServicesInsuranceLife Insurance
Responsibilities
Analyzes performance of portfolio as well as individual account performance and develops appropriate action to drive profitable growth based upon the analysis. Monitors risk selection, renewal retention and pricing decisions on a portfolio and an individual account level
Reviews and approves underwriting decisions of staff and ensures compliance to legal requirements and organizational, business and strategic objectives. Provides recommendations to leadership regarding underwriting strategy and opportunity. Measures and manages underwriting processing and quality. Actively manages and participates in agency management. May review complex or escalated business and make underwriting decisions based on the underwriting authority granted to the role, using company underwriting guidelines and standards
Determines priorities and workflow/service standards for the department. Monitors and manages performance measurements to ensure effectiveness of the department's service delivery process. Effectively aligns organizational structure to drive business results
Plans, develops and integrates territory sales plans to achieve top and bottom-line objectives. Translates strategic business plans into organizational direction. Creates financial and operational goals, budget and timelines to meet company standards. Directs associates and provides performance management, salary planning and administration, organizational planning, hiring and placement
Drives sales strategies to develop new business, improve retention and maintain profitability. Meets regularly with clients to enhance relationships and drive business results. Handles escalated customer service issues and requests
Provides input to leadership regarding strategic and business plans and helps identify operational opportunities and efficiency. Consults with agents and brokers to provide expertise, educate and identify business opportunities. Consults with team to develop experience, understanding and expertise in each situation to make the best possible decisions. Consults with Home Office leaders on accounts requiring higher level of authority
Communicates strategic direction and operational plans to internal associates and external partners. Communicates policies, procedures and financial budgets that result in attainment of business objectives. Ensures awareness of strategic corporate initiatives to maintain effectiveness in the field. Works in partnership with agencies to expand the program share amount in a shared surety account and understands the existing surety program in place
Develops and maintains strong business relationships with key groups and individuals within the commercial lines market. Develops effective internal and external collaborative partnerships across all customers and related functions, including: Claims, Marketing, IT, etc. to understand business developments and build a support network to help resolve business needs
Works in partnership with fellow leaders to manage the training of associates within the surety organization to ensure a high degree of competency and professionalism. Coaches territory managers and field underwriters on actively pursuing surety opportunities with agencies and/or brokers to develop and grow a profitable territory
Qualification
Required
Undergraduate degree in business, insurance, or a related field preferred
Actively pursuing of AFSB, CPCU or other insurance/finance related certification desired
Ten years commercial or contract surety or related underwriting experience preferred
Significant business management and people leadership experience desired
Requires knowledge of contract and/ or commercial surety operations products, procedures and practices
Expertise in surety lines of business, ratings, customer environment and markets
Expertise in underwriting risks, including utilizing relevant tools for underwriting
Requires extensive knowledge of surety underwriting best practices, field underwriting operations and day-to-day underwriting operational needs
Must have 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
Must have the ability to perform duties with independent judgment and within underwriting authority and company underwriting standards
Demonstrated decision-making ability required in day-to-day operations where there may be unclear or competing priorities, including evaluating and recommending solutions to customer service issues, work processing issues, underwriting selection and rating problems, and best practices compliance
Strong drive for results
Competencies include: Building Organizational Talent, Optimizing Diversity, Selling the Vision, Leading Change, Driving Execution, Entrepreneurship
Must have a valid driver's license with satisfactory driving record in accordance with Nationwide standards
Preferred
Familiarity with other company products preferred
Benefits
Medical/dental/vision
Life insurance
Short and long term disability coverage
Paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date
Nine paid holidays
8 hours of Lifetime paid time off
8 hours of Unity Day paid time off
401(k) with company match
Company-paid pension plan
Business casual attire
And more
Company
Nationwide
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Jim Grafmeyer
VP, Chief Enterprise Architect
Tony Fenton
Vice President Commercial Lines Underwriting & Product - Commercial, E&S and Specialty
Recent News
2025-11-24
2025-10-20
2025-09-27
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