For more than 170 years, The Hanover has been committed to delivering on our promises and being there when it matters the most. We live our values every day, demonstrating we CARE through our values, Sustainability initiatives and inclusive corporate culture.
Our Commercial Surety team is seeking an Underwriting Specialist to join our Central Region. This role is based in the Midwest, with a preference for candidates located in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, or Michigan. We offer flexible work arrangements, including hybrid and fully remote options within those states, along with travel throughout the Midwest to support agency relationships, drive market development, and participate in key business meetings.
At The Hanover, our culture is grounded in our CARE Values—we care deeply about our people, our customers, and the communities we serve. We foster an inclusive, collaborative environment where experienced professionals are empowered to make decisions, share ideas, and grow their careers while contributing to shared business goals.
We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organization committed to attracting, developing, and retaining top talent. We believe diverse perspectives strengthen our teams, enhance performance, and deepen the meaningful relationships we build with our colleagues, customers, and business partners every day.
We encourage all qualified applicants to apply.
THIS IS A FULL-TIME, EXEMPT ROLE.
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Commercial Surety Department is seeking an experienced Underwriting Specialist to join the Central Region team. This role is responsible for the profitable underwriting growth, and management of a commercial surety portfolio through strong technical expertise, agency relationships, and strategic business development.
IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL:
- Independently manage and grow an assigned book of commercial surety business with moderate to high technical complexity.
- Identify, solicit, underwrite, and retain profitable new and renewal surety accounts aligned with underwriting appetite and portfolio objectives.
- Develop and maintain strong agency, broker, and client relationships to support business growth and retention.
- Analyze financial statements, operational exposures, bond obligations, and risk mitigation factors to make sound underwriting decisions.
- Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to evaluate complex submissions and obtain appropriate approvals.
- Apply underwriting principles related to risk selection, exposure analysis, bond form review, loss analysis, and pricing.
- Clearly communicate underwriting decisions, terms, and recommendations to agents and brokers.
- Manage portfolio performance against premium, profitability, retention, product mix, and new business objectives.
- Utilize marketplace and competitor intelligence to enhance decision-making and strengthen producer relationships.
- Proactively market Hanover’s surety capabilities and identify opportunities for cross-selling across business units.
- Stay current on industry trends, market conditions, and regulatory developments affecting the territory.
WHAT YOU NEED TO APPLY:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
- AFSB designation preferred
- 2-5+ years of Commercial Surety underwriting experience.
- 2–4+ years of successful agency relationship management and business development experience.
- Strong understanding of commercial surety underwriting principles, financial analysis, pricing, and portfolio management.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate and negotiate complex surety risks.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to confidently deliver technical underwriting decisions.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, negotiation, and relationship-management capabilities.
- Ability to adapt quickly to changing business conditions and embrace new approaches and ideas.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT:
It’s not just a job, it’s a career, and we are here to support you every step of the way. We want you to be successful and fulfilled. Through on-the-job experiences, personalized coaching and our robust learning and development programs, we encourage you – at every level – to grow and develop.
BENEFITS:
We offer comprehensive benefits to help you be healthy, build financial security, and balance work and home life. At The Hanover, you’ll enjoy what you do and have the support you need to succeed.
Benefits include:
- Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
- 401K with a company match
- Tuition reimbursement
- PTO
- Company paid holidays
- Flexible work arrangements
- Cultural Awareness Day in support of IDE
- On-site medical/wellness center (Worcester only)
- Click here for the full list of Benefits
EEO statement:
The Hanover values diversity in the workplace and among our customers. The company provides equal opportunity for employment and promotion to all qualified employees and applicants on the basis of experience, training, education, and ability to do the available work without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex/gender, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, ancestry or any other status protected by law.
Furthermore, The Hanover Insurance Group is committed to providing an equal opportunity workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment based on national origin, race, color, religion, gender, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information or any other status protected by law.”
As an equal opportunity employer, Hanover does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities who wish to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, or to perform essential job functions, should contact us at:[email protected] and include the link of the job posting in which you are interested.
Privacy Policy:
To view our privacy policy and online privacy statement, click here.
Applicants who are California residents: To see the types of information we may collect from applicants and employees and how we use it, please click here.
Compensation:
The target hiring range for this role may vary based on geographic location and other factors, including merit or performance, demonstrated proficiency, skills for the role, education, travel requirements, and experience. Additional compensation may include an annual bonus (which could take the form of a general bonus, sales incentive, or short-term incentive), long-term incentive or spot recognition awards. The posted range reflects our ability to hire at different position titles and levels depending on background and experience.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience
- AFSB designation
- 2-5+ years of Commercial Surety underwriting experience
- 2-4+ years of agency relationship management and business development experience
- Strong understanding of commercial surety underwriting principles, financial analysis, pricing, and portfolio management
- Ability to evaluate and negotiate complex surety risks
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including communicating technical underwriting decisions
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, negotiation, and relationship-management capabilities
- Ability to adapt to changing business conditions and embrace new approaches
The Hanover Insurance Group Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about The Hanover Insurance Group and has not been reviewed or approved by The Hanover Insurance Group.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is positioned as robust, spanning medical, dental, vision, life and disability options, alongside wellness supports like coaching and assistance programs. Access to added services such as health advocacy, flu shots, and location-specific on-site clinics appears to strengthen the overall package.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits are described as strong, highlighted by a 401(k) match up to 6% and additional financial programs like profit sharing/pension options in some descriptions. An employee stock purchase discount and free financial planning are also presented as meaningful financial-security add-ons.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off benefits appear generous, with four weeks of PTO at hire, multiple holidays, and the ability to purchase additional PTO. Hybrid/flexible work arrangements are frequently presented as enhancing the overall value of total rewards.
The Hanover Insurance Group Insights
What We Do
The Hanover is a leading provider of property and casualty insurance in the United States. We’ve been named to Forbes’ list of “Best Mid-Size Employers” since 2015, and have more than 4,200 employees in 35 branch offices, covering more than two million individual and business policyholders. As an employer of choice, The Hanover provides a unique experience, combining a long, proud history of delivering its promises, and a forward-thinking, innovative culture mentality. At The Hanover, you will gain new experiences, expand your skill set, and build your career working for an industry leader and one of the fastest growing companies in the insurance industry. Our compensation and benefits programs are based on the strong belief that our people are our company's most valuable asset. We offer comprehensive benefits to help our team members stay healthy, build financial security, balance work and personal responsibilities, and achieve their professional goals.
