Senior Underwriter - Transactional Surety

About Us

We’re not like other insurance companies. From our specialty products to our business model, our culture to our results — we’re different. Different is who we are, and how we work, interact, deliver and succeed together. Creating a different and better insurance experience doesn’t just happen. It takes focus and a shared passion for going beyond the expected to forge relationships and deliver care that makes a difference. This approach rises from and is supported by our talented, ethical and smart team of employee owners united around a single purpose: to work alongside our customers and partners when they need us, in unexpected ways, with exceptional results. Apply today to make a difference with us.

RLI is a Glassdoor Best Places to Work company with a strong, successful background. For decades, our financial track record has been stellar — a testament to our culture and validation of our reputation as an excellent underwriting company.

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.

Compensation Overview

The base salary range for the position is listed below. Please note that the base salary is only one component of our robust total rewards package at RLI. The salary offered will take into account a number of factors including, but not limited to, geographic location, experience, scope & responsibilities of the role, qualifications/credentials, talent availability & specialization, as well as business needs. The below range may be modified in the future.

Base Pay Range

$83,188.00 - $118,958.00

Total Rewards

At RLI, we're all owners. We hire the best and the brightest employees and allow them to share in the company's success through our Total Rewards. With the Employee Stock Ownership plan at its core, the Total Rewards program includes all compensation, benefits and perks that come with being an RLI employee.

Financial Incentives

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)

Work & Life

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

Health & Wellness

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

Personal & Professional Growth

RLI encourages its employees to pursue professional development work in insurance and job-related areas. We make a commitment to employees to provide educational opportunities that help them enhance their skills and further their career advancement. RLI fosters a true learning culture and encourages professional growth through insurance courses, in-house training and other educational programs. RLI covers the cost for most programs and employees typically earn a bonus upon successful completion of approved courses and certifications. Our personal and professional growth benefits include:

Training & certification opportunities

Tuition reimbursement

Education bonuses

Diversity & Inclusion

Our goal is to attract, develop and retain the best employee talent from diverse backgrounds while promoting an environment where all viewpoints are valued and individuals feel respected, are treated fairly, and have an opportunity to excel in their chosen careers. We actively support, and participate in, initiatives led by the American Property Casualty Insurance Association that aim to increase diversity in the insurance industry. Cultivating an exceptional and diverse workforce to deliver excellent customer service reinforces our culture and is a key to achieving superior business results.

RLI is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.