VP, Middle Market, Ontario Region

The Opportunity

Are you looking for a caring, collaborative, values-driven workplace with inspiring teammates and leaders? Do you have the ambition and desire to be the best and thrive at the most impactful global insurance provider in the world? Look no further than Zurich Canada. 

If you have previous management and underwriting experience and are looking for a new challenge, we would love to hear from you. 

Zurich Canada is currently looking for an experienced Property & Casualty Manager (VP) to lead Ontario Middle Market team. This position reports to the Head of Middle Market Canada. This role is based in Toronto.

This Leadership role will be responsible for developing and driving the success of our Middle Market book of business in Ontario. This is a critical position, and we are looking for a leader that will drive and cultivate broker/customer relationships while developing and driving the strategy. We are looking for a Leader that will exercise strong P&C underwriting knowledge, takes an influential approach to business relationships and develops our underwriting talent.

Success in this role requires a strong commitment to teamwork, communication, vision, and results-oriented execution.  S/he must be a collaborative individual with a passion and capability for creating successful teams, developing our underwriting talent and future leaders. They must have the ability to influence, build, drive and cultivate relationships.

This is a unique opportunity to build your knowledge and experience for the future in a supportive environment where your voice matters. 

This is a hybrid job opportunity.

What you will do:

• Establishing key performance targets and financial budgets for underwriting unit to optimize business performance in line with set objectives.
• Contribute to business strategy to align underwriting strategy with wider business goals.
• Encouraging healthy collaboration for customer solutions.
• Developing a team of underwriters for success in the market.
• Reviewing underwriting process and policies to ensure they are in line with strategic business objectives.
• Managing relationships with key stakeholders to identify opportunities for service improvement to ensure commercial viability and customer satisfaction.
• Participate in leadership meetings to provide guidance and enable the implementation of policies, projects and change initiatives to produce profitable results.  
• Oversee development plans for underwriters to ensure the capability exists and demonstrates bench strength to drive business results.
• Underwrite and analyze new and renewal business within delegated authority levels.
• Recommend and implement action plans with our broker partners for profitable growth results.
• Develop and maintain relationships with brokers in support of business retention and new business and work with brokers / customers to determine their insurance-related needs and provide solutions.
• Support the organization's sales and service culture, as a trusted advisor for brokers and customers.
• Ensure development and implementation of policy, procedures and standards.

Job Qualifications - what you bring to the table:

• Bachelor’s Degree and 12 or more years of experience in Underwriting, Market Facing and/or Risk Management roles within the Commercial Insurance industry
  AND
• 5 or more years of people management experience

Preferred Qualifications 

• Advanced knowledge and practice of Middle Market Property & Casualty lines.
• Established broker relationships in the Ontario region
• Strong knowledge and experience related to the following:
  • Strategic planning and execution experience
  • People management
  • Team building, organizational skills and experience managing a portfolio
  • Relationship, presentation skills, negotiation and leadership skills
  • Risk selection and assessment
  • P&C insurance industry operations and processes
  • Underwriting philosophy, techniques, regulations and guidelines.

Our Culture

•    At Zurich, we are proud of our culture. We are passionate about Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging (DIEB). We want you to bring your whole self to work, and we want our employees to be reflective of the communities in which we live and work. Our DIEB initiatives are creating an environment where everyone feels welcome.
•    We have a collaborative culture where diversity of thought is valued. We value your input and strive to give our employees the tools they need to make an impact. 
•    We care about our employees’ well-being and offer a comprehensive health/benefits plan with varying levels of coverage to suit your specific needs and a competitive total compensation package.
•    We understand how important it is to rest, recharge and do the things you love. At Zurich, all employees receive a minimum of four weeks of vacation per year to do just that.
•    We also understand that employees require time off for personal reasons. Maybe you have an appointment during a workday, a cultural or religious holiday you would like to observe, or you need time off to focus on your mental health. Zurich employees receive four personal days per year to be used at their discretion. 
•    We are committed to continuous improvement, and offer access to a comprehensive range of training and development opportunities. 
•    We care about our communities. Our communities are where our customers, people, and shareholders live and work. While we can be proud of the contribution to society Zurich makes through our core business of insurance, we must also give back to our communities through our talent, time and resources.
•    We have won numerous awards for our workplace culture. We are proud to be one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers and to have received Insurance Business Canada’s 5-Star Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award.   

Make a difference. Be challenged. Be inspired. Be supported. Love what you do. Work for us. 

About Us:

Zurich Canada is part of the Zurich Insurance Group, a multi-line insurer with approximately 55,000 employees worldwide serving customers in global and local markets. Zurich Canada has been a leading insurance provider serving mid-sized and large companies, including multinational corporations, in the Canadian commercial market for 100 years. With over 500 employees in offices across the country, Zurich offers the global strength of a top insurance provider combined with in-depth knowledge of industries and local markets. Zurich Canada aspires to be risk management professionals’ first choice as their premier partner to help meet the risk challenges of today and tomorrow. Read more at www.zurichcanada.com.