Principal Duties & Responsibilities

• Own profit and loss responsibility for a book of Transactional Surety business, with a focus on profitable growth through strong agency partnerships and disciplined underwriting.

• Build, develop, and maintain meaningful relationships with agency partners, brokers, and key contacts, serving as a responsive, reliable, and solutions-oriented underwriting partner.

• Actively manage a territory, primarily Arizona and New Mexico, through regular travel and in-person engagement, including agency visits, joint planning meetings, and industry events.

• Drive new business opportunities by deepening existing relationships and establishing new agency partnerships, increasing RLI’s visibility and relevance in the marketplace.

• Develop and execute a territory marketing plan focused on targeted agency engagement, thoughtful pipeline development, and long-term partnership growth.

• Generate and sustain quality submission flow through consistent communication, follow-up, and a strong understanding of agency needs and market dynamics.

• Analyze, evaluate, accept, decline, rate, quote, new and renewal business, including moderately complex to complex risks, while maintaining underwriting discipline.

• Communicate underwriting appetite, decisions, and recommendations clearly and professionally, reinforcing RLI’s value through responsiveness, consistency, and expertise.

• Balance relationship development with adherence to underwriting guidelines and authority, ensuring sound risk selection and portfolio performance.

• Assist in bond approval, issuance, and change requests, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.

• Lead special projects and contribute to broader team and organizational initiatives as needed.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in insurance, finance, risk management, business, or a related field.

• Minimum of 5+ years of underwriting, surety, or related experience.

• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain productive agency relationships preferred.

• [OR] equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge, Skills, & Competencies

• Strong relationship management skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility with agency partners through consistent, high-quality interactions.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey underwriting decisions and collaborate effectively with internal and external customers.

• High level of responsiveness, follow-through, and customer focus, aligned with RLI’s service expectations.

• Ability to analyze and underwrite risks using sound judgment, balancing production goals with underwriting discipline.

• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to effectively manage a travel and underwriting based role.

• Strategic thinker with the ability to identify opportunities for growth and strengthen RLI’s position within the agency distribution network.

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, contributing to team success while managing individual territory objectives.

• Annual bonus plans
  
• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)
  
• 401(k) — automatic 3% company contribution
  
• Annual 401k and ESOP profit-sharing contributions (Up to 15% of eligible earnings)
  

• Paid time off (PTO) and holidays
  
• Paid volunteer time off (VTO) to support our communities
  
• Parental and family care leave
  
• Flexible & hybrid work arrangements
  
• Fitness center discounts and free virtual fitness platform
  
• Employee assistance program
  

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits
  
• Flexible spending and health savings accounts
  
• 2x base salary for group life and AD&D insurance
  
• Voluntary life, critical illness, & accident insurance for purchase
  
• Short-term and long-term disability benefits
  

• Training & certification opportunities
  
• Tuition reimbursement
  
• Education bonuses