Underwriter

Surety Bond Underwriter

If you are driven by curiosity and motivated to uncover the details that lead to sound decisions and enjoy applying strong analytical and communication skills to influence outcomes, consider building your underwriting career at VGM Insurance.

As a Surety Bond Underwriter at VGM Insurance, you'll underwrite all new and renewal surety bonds, maintain and strengthen relationships with carrier partners, and drive retention and performance across your assigned book of business. You'll bring structure to ambiguity - balancing risk, profitability, and customer experience - so the right decisions are made clearly and confidently.

VGM Insurance Services is headquartered in Waterloo, Iowa, and has provided Protection Beyond Policies for over 30 years. VGM Insurance offers industry-specific insurance products and risk management solutions nationwide for a variety of post-acute healthcare industries, as well as golf and hospitality markets.

Reporting Accountability: VP of Carrier Relations and Program Development within VGM Insurance

Working Location: On-site in Waterloo, Iowa

Working Hours Classification: Full-Time, 40+ hours per week, 8am-5pm CST Monday-Friday with additional hours as needed to meet business need and job requirements

In the Surety Bond Underwriter role, you'll apply data-driven analysis, collaborate with carrier and broker partners, and help steward a high-impact book of business with VGM Insurance's surety bond clients.

• Achieve new business & retention goals through proper underwriting and servicing of accounts throughout the bond term
• Perform new business underwriting of DMEPOS Medicare & Medicaid Bonds
• Obtain other bond quotes as needed for current & new customers working with carrier partners
• Annually perform Underwriting Review in partnership with Sompo on large accounts
• Build professional relationships by communicating frequently and clearly to customers to meet mutual objectives
• Maintain knowledge on how to perform standard renewal underwriting process, continuation certificate issuance process, and issuing riders
• Develop underwriting standards and improve processes for renewal underwriting, continuation certificate and rider issuance
• Oversee surety bond claims processing and continually educate customers on impact of claims
• Develop key relationships with broker partners & insureds.
• Work collaboratively with Account Managers on renewal and onboarding of platinum and/or large clients
• Perform other duties and complete other projects as assigned

Education and experience:

• Minimum of 2 years' experience in property and casualty insurance industry
• Minimum of 2 years' experience building business relationships with customers and clients, in a corporate office setting
• Experience in evaluating risks submitted to determine eligibility, profitability and desirability to determine acceptance or rejection in accordance with established guidelines
• Proven success in a surety underwriting or commercial underwriting role
• Commercial Insurance License – if not currently licensed, or license has expired upon employment, candidate is required to obtain license and pass all applicable exams.
• Bachelor's degree in business related field, or equivalent education and/or experience
• Knowledge and experience in insurance and surety bonds including coverages, rating, terminology and technical procedures

Skills and competencies:

• Excellent verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
• Proven attention to detail, follow-through skills, and problem-solving skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills to prioritize heavy workloads to meet time sensitive deadlines
• Self-starter with desire to grow surety bond portfolio through collaboration on new leads with sales team
• Work independently in a paperless environment
• Detail-oriented with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks at once
• Ensures that all regulatory, compliance and transparency requirements are met and complies with all internal policies and procedures
• Proven ability to maintain strong business relationships and communicate effectively with others

Physical requirements:

• Working in front of and using technology efficiently such as computers, phones, misc. office equipment for long amounts of time per day
• Occasional travel to VGM offices for meetings/training etc. if working remote/hybrid
• Operation of office equipment and using technology efficiently such as computers, phones, misc. office equipment for hours per day
• Visual abilities include reading, distance vision and peripheral vision
• Moving throughout the VGM facilities when needed

Learn more about VGM Group, Inc.:

Headquartered in Waterloo, Iowa, VGM is a 100% employee-owned company providing business and professional services to thousands of business customers across North America. Services include group purchasing, commercial insurance, management of healthcare services and networks in post-acute cases, healthcare distribution direct to patient homes, specialty consulting, online education, digital, print, and traditional marketing and more. VGM employs approximately 1,700 people across 40 states and Canada, with more than 1,100 working in Iowa. VGM has been named the Top Workplace in Iowa on multiple occasions and is proud of its role in the communities in which it serves. For more information visit

This job description reflects the general duties of the job but is not a detailed description of all duties which may be inherent to the position. Reasonably related additional duties may be assigned to the individual Associate.

VGM Group, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.