Regional Surety Leader

General Description:  Responsible for managing the operational activities of the Regional Commercial Lines Surety Department in order to achieve profitability and ensure consistent standards of sales, service and professionalism as defined by USI’s Best Practices, Core Values and Risk Management Quality Control standards.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Regional Leadership and Relationship Management:

·        Responsible for communicating the Regional Surety vision, projects and priorities with OpCo and Office Leaders (Practice Leaders, Commercial Lines Managers) and USI internal clients (PC Producers and Account Managers).

·        Work with local office leaders to ensure coordination of sales and service support, assignment of service team, based on client exposures and segmentation

·        Assist in managing carrier relationships through planning annual strategies, developing marketing campaigns, monitoring book and carrier consolidation, and providing assistance in the event of client complaints.

Managing Staff:

·        Responsible for the management of employees through performance reviews, performance improvement plans, setting priorities, developing work plans and schedules, handling department issues, recording time and attendance and approval of expense reports.

• Supervise and manage department personnel by assisting with client issues, providing back-up assistance for clients, monitoring behavior and absenteeism, implementing training when needed, hiring new staff when needed, and holding department meetings.

·        Develop effective interdepartmental communication strategies.  Foster team behavior and a service-oriented department culture.

• Work with teams and/or offices undergoing significant operational changes including acquisitions and staffing challenges

·        Review account retention with Account Managers and ensure adherence to retention goals; achieve agency retention goals regarding percentage of retained business through proactive measures.

Implementing & Monitoring Operations Service Standards:

• Produce and monitor various monthly reports to ensure all policies have been renewed in a timely manner, invoicing is completed in accordance with Best Practices, review team members open items, workloads and backlog.
• Take necessary action to resolve issues.
• Monitor adherence to service standards through Key Performance Indicator (KPI) reporting.
• Ensure team members are addressing renewals in a timely manner.
• Provide technical expertise in coordinating the inside service of new and existing clients through sales, account development, and problem solving in accordance with the objectives and procedures based on USI Core Values and Standards.
• Manage through USI Surety initiatives and efficiencies – examples include appropriate segmentation of Surety clients and bonds and use of technology (SurePath, Sagitta, ImageRight).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• High School Graduate. College degree preferred, but not required.

• Effective leadership, communication, and organizational skills and the ability to direct and monitor the activities of others.  Previous managerial experience is needed.

·        In depth knowledge of agency management system functionality, workflow procedures, underwriting, sales and service processes.

• Must be licensed as an insurance agent and must be willing to meet agency and state continuing education requirements.

• Hold an industry designation such as AFSB, ARM, CIC, CPCU or expected to further industry knowledge through courses with intent to pursue an industry designation.
• Ability to plan and instruct staff members on information appropriate to their job responsibilities

• Must be able to prioritize, organize, and keep workload current.

• Ability to handle difficult behavior and conflict and bring to a timely resolution
• Ability to creatively and proactively problem solve.
• Knowledge of Sagitta/ImageRight/SurePath preferred, but not required.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with minimal instruction and a high degree of accuracy.
• Sets priorities and manages workflow to ensure efficient, timely and accurate processing of transactions and other responsibilities.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Keep informed regarding industry information, new product information, legislation, coverages and technology to continuously improve knowledge and performance.
• Interact with others effectively by utilizing good communication skills, cooperating purposefully and providing information and guidance, as needed, to achieve the business goals of the company.

• Recognized as one of Insurance Business America’s Top Insurance Employers for six consecutive years (2018-2023).
• Named to Business Insurance’s annual list of the Best Places to Work in Insurance four years in a row (2020-2023).
• Recipient of the American Heart Association’s Gold Status for a maintaining a culture of health and well-being five years in a row (2018-2022).
• Visit our Awards and Accolades page for a complete list of industry awards and recognitions! 

USI is proud to offer a full-suite of benefits including medical, wellness, dental and vision, 401(k), flexible spending and health savings account, short and long-term disability, company- and employee-paid life insurance as well as other unique employer-sponsored and voluntary programs. USI also offers a generous paid time away program including paid time off (PTO), paid time for employee disability leave, paid parental leave and holiday time.