BOND MANAGER JOB DESCRIPTION

A Bond Manager is someone who owns underwriting decisions and drives the profitability of a surety book of business. That definition is simple. What makes it demanding is the range of credit risk judgment, producer relationship management, and team leadership it requires - simultaneously. Contract and non-contract surety lines each carry distinct exposure profiles, and the manager accountable for a regional portfolio must hold the technical depth to evaluate both. This role sits at the senior management layer of a surety operation, answering to divisional leadership while directing underwriting staff and shaping the territory's premium and PTOI outcomes.

As the Bond Manager, you own the underwriting authority, producer relationships, and portfolio performance of an assigned surety territory, with direct accountability for premium growth and PTOI targets. You lead a team of surety underwriters and support staff, coordinating with regional leadership, claims handlers, and agency partners to keep the book profitable and compliant with company underwriting standards.

Career Impact: Ownership of a regional surety book and a multi-underwriter team establishes the kind of portfolio management track record that opens doors to divisional director and national practice roles within commercial insurance.

Business Impact: The rate adequacy and credit risk decisions made in this seat directly determine whether a territory's PTOI targets are met or missed across contract, non-contract, and fidelity lines.

Growth Opportunity: Exposure to complex account underwriting, budget planning, and the Surety Underwriting Development Program builds the full commercial insurance leadership skill set that advances careers toward VP-level underwriting roles.

• Own underwriting decisions on contract surety, non-contract surety, and fidelity accounts within assigned authority.
• Lead a team of surety underwriters by setting performance objectives, conducting reviews, and delivering ongoing coaching.
• Drive new business production and existing account retention across the assigned regional territory.
• Monitor portfolio profitability, risk concentration, and compliance with underwriting guidelines to meet PTOI and premium targets.
• Coordinate producer and client visits to support marketing programs and gather underwriting data.
• Review and approve credit level recommendations, stepping in on major underwriting decisions across the book.
• Partner with claims handlers to monitor claim activity and implement corrective action where underwriting standards are not met.

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 10 or more years of progressive surety underwriting experience, with at least 2 years in an underwriting management role.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate and select credit risks across contract and non-contract surety lines.
• Strong knowledge of fidelity and surety underwriting principles, including financial statement analysis and credit worthiness assessment.
• Proven ability to communicate complex underwriting analyses clearly in written and oral form to agents, brokers, attorneys, and internal teams.
• Effective interpersonal skills for managing relationships with producers, CPAs, bankers, and senior internal stakeholders.
• Ability to manage budget planning, expense reporting, and business plan development for a regional territory.

• Advanced degree in Business, Finance, or a related discipline.
• AFSB designation or progress toward an equivalent surety industry credential.
• Experience managing a multi-office or multi-state surety territory.
• Familiarity with surety system applications used for underwriting, marketing, and accounting workflows.

• PTOI target attainment, measured quarterly against the assigned regional book.
• New business premium versus budget, tracking production against annual growth goals.
• Loss ratio by account segment, reflecting the quality of credit risk selection across the portfolio.
• Underwriting guideline compliance rate, measured through file audits and system utilization reviews.
• Staff development completion rate within the Surety Underwriting Development Program curriculum.
• Typical tools: Surety underwriting platforms (commonly proprietary carrier systems) and financial analysis software (commonly Excel or equivalent).

• Base Salary Range: $130,000 to $175,000 annually, depending on territory size and experience.
• Bonus: Annual performance bonus tied to PTOI and new business targets, typically 15 to 25 percent of base.
• Equity: Long-term incentive plan participation common at this level in large carriers.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage, typically employer-subsidized.
• PTO: 20 to 25 days annually, plus standard holidays.
• Common Perks: Professional development funding, AFSB exam support, and auto allowance for producer visits.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Surety and financial services employers are committed to fair hiring practices and consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, and local law. Background checks, including credit history review consistent with applicable law, are a standard condition of employment in this industry. Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

Reporting to the Bond and Specialty Insurance actuarial pricing leadership, the Bond Manager refines rate plans and delivers analytic insights for Private D&O and Private Non-Profit lines as part of a modernization effort across BSI's product portfolio. Partnering with underwriting, Product Management, Business Intelligence and Analytics, and Reserving teams, the Bond Manager enables profitable underwriting decisions and supports the development of junior team members.

Core Functions

• Take ownership of assigned projects and meetings, make recommendations, and present results to business partners.
• Perform analytics independently and plan next steps within analyses with little oversight.
• Contribute to complex analytical work with guidance.
• Develop rate plans and provide analytic insights to help set strategy for Private D&O and Private Non-Profit business.
• Assess coverage profitability through rate adequacy and other ad hoc analyses.
• Complete rate reviews and rate filings as required.
• Partner with underwriting, Product Management, Research and Development, Business Intelligence and Analytics, IT, Regulatory, and Reserving teams.
• Mentor and train team members as part of initial development of leadership skills.
• Proactively build and own professional business relationships across the BI and AA community.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM-related field required.
• Associate Actuarial Credential preferred.
• Four or more years of quantitative analysis experience preferred, with 2 years required.
• Strong understanding of insurance products and industry, including underwriting, products, reinsurance, distribution, sales, operations, risk control, claim, and financials.
• Demonstrated ability in actuarial and quantitative analysis and statistical concepts.
• Strong PC skills in MS Office and programming skills in SQL and SAS.
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects and effectively manage ambiguity.

Embedded within the branch underwriting team, the Bond Manager underwrites and services complex bond accounts within an assigned authority level while leading the team's strategic and marketing direction. Working closely with agents, agency partners, and a people leader, the Bond Manager drives profitable surety and fidelity outcomes by supervising underwriting staff and expanding the branch book of business.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Make informed and timely underwriting decisions regarding contract surety, non-contract surety, and fidelity business.
• Review underwriting decisions made by the underwriting team.
• Provide approval, declination, and recommendation for review on bid requests exceeding the team's authority level.
• Meet with agents to assist in the acquisition and underwriting of fidelity and surety business.
• Act as a point of contact with agencies to answer questions and concerns.
• Supervise the bond underwriting and support team.
• Lead marketing efforts of the bond underwriting team within the assigned branch in collaboration with the leader.
• Collaborate with the people leader to develop long-term and short-term strategic direction of bond activity.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent relevant work experience.
• AFSB designation preferred.
• Seven years of surety and fidelity experience, with previous supervisory experience preferred.
• Excellent knowledge of fidelity and surety underwriting.
• Ability to review and understand financial statements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong computer skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

The Bond Manager owns the end-to-end participant enrollment and bail-out process for the Justice Study, a Harvard-led criminal justice research initiative conducted in collaboration with the University of Zurich. Reporting to the Therapeutic Justice Foundation Board of Directors, the Bond Manager links incarcerated participants with community support services and produces financial and statistical reports that advance pretrial reform policy in Texas.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the bail-out process, track funding, and provide expenditure reports to the University of Zurich.
• Coordinate with the research team to identify, interview, and enroll participants through the informed consent process at the Jail or Magistrate.
• Conduct study surveys at intake and follow-up surveys for incarcerated participants at planned survey times.
• Connect study participants with support services by coordinating with community agencies and pretrial services.
• Apprise defendants of bond conditions regarding court dates and schedules.
• Maintain current client records including address, phone number, and place of employment.
• Maintain detailed supervision files on participants in residential and outpatient treatment programs.
• Prepare data reports on study statistics such as releases, re-arrests, bond forfeitures, and closed files.
• Provide data and financial accounting reports to the Therapeutic Justice Foundation, Inc as required.
• Participate in all audits and reporting requirements for the A2J Lab, UZH, and the study's funder.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice, Jurisprudence, Industrial Organizational Psychology, or a related field, or a Bachelor's degree plus 2 years of data collection experience.
• Must hold a valid driver's license and maintain a favorable background investigation and criminal history from the Bexar County Sheriff's Office.
• Experience with the criminal justice system required.
• Strong knowledge of data collection and knowledge of regulatory legislation regarding detention and release guidelines.
• Considerable skill in effective and efficient case management.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations and operate a personal computer and basic office equipment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, County employees, outside organizations, law enforcement agencies, and the general public.