Head of Engineering - Underwriting

Summary

• This is a strategic underwriting role responsible for leading and managing the Engineering and Surety lines of business within Malaysia. 
• This role is responsible for providing market facing underwriting leadership across all Engineering and Surety portfolios and to deliver on our customer value proposition.
• Accountable for driving profitable growth through formulating and executing underwriting plans, Portfolio strategies, Customer strategies and Go-To-Market strategies.

Job Accountabilities

• Manage the Engineering and Surety Portfolios
• Manage the selection/denial of new and/or renewal business
• Underwrite and analyze new and renewal business within delegated authority levels
• Develop and maintain relationships with distributors (Agents, Brokers and Partners) in support of business retention and acquisition and work with customers and distributors (Agents & Brokers) to determine their insurance-related needs and provides solutions
• Develop, promote and maintain leadership in the external insurance market to maintain the organisation’s position and influence
• Support the organization's sales culture by being a Help Point for Market Management Team, Agents, Brokers, Paterners, and Customers
• Assure development and implementation of policy, procedures and standards to produce profitable results
• Responsible for all portfolio’s Data Quality
• Accountable for all facultative reinsurance purchases & strategy

Key Tasks

• Pipeline Management
• Manage referrals and technical questions from direct report and Branches.
• Actively participate within the Zurich network leveraging Zurich’s global suite of capabilities and knowledge
• Establish and agree key performance targets and financial budgets for underwriting unit in order to optimize business performance in line with set objectives
• Educate and influence senior colleagues by demonstrating the impact of all relevant policies and governance processes to own area to ensure that the business is not exposed to undue risk
• Review themes from complex analysis conducted by others to make informed, authoritative technical/professional recommendations to determine approaches to underwriting in own area in order to improve business performance in the medium and longer term
• Develop processes and review policies relevant to underwriting in own area to ensure they are in line with strategic business objectives
• Manage relationships with key internal stakeholders in order to identify opportunities for service improvement to ensure commercial viability and customer satisfaction
• Participate in leadership team meetings of assigned area to provide specialist guidance and enable the implementation of policy, projects and change initiatives
• Contribute to the business strategy within own area to align underwriting strategy with wider business goals within a particular market
• Participate in the community of global/regional proposition development practitioners in underwriting to share best practice and continue to meet customer´s needs
• Oversee the development plans for underwriters across own area of business to ensure the capability exists to drive business results
• Oversee the design and implementation of rating tools and methodologies to deliver value to customers whilst being commercially viable for the organization
• Constantly review portfolio performances to ensure financial metrics are met
• Manage relationships with Country and Regional Underwriting teams

Qualifications/ Experience

• Holds a Bachelor’s degree or Post-graduate qualifications.
• Typically has at least 10 years Engineering underwriting experience
• Proven ability to develop and execute on strategic plans and company initiatives
• Experience in leading underwriting teams
• Proven strong market facing presence in local market and industry network
• Proven track record of growing a business and change management in a complex environment

Knowledge

• Demonstrate specialized knowledge and expertise in products and industry
• Proven track record of driving result
• Strong Engineering underwriting proficiency
• Commercially astute with a comprehensive understanding of the General Insurance industry and the products available
• Good market insights, trends and market intel, and exposure and insights of international markets
• A high level understanding of underwriting, claims and risk engineering dynamics
• Understanding of Corporate customers demands and challenges, in particular in multi-national insurance programs
• Proven knowledge of operational management and in comprehending financials of insurance portfolios
• Good knowledge in portfolio management, KPIs and dynamics
• An excellent understanding of the internal and external regulatory environment and requirements
• An extensive knowledge of Zurich’s Global capabilities and appetite
• Advanced and in-depth knowledge of products and line/s of business
• Good understanding of the external reinsurance market