Global Head Engineering & Construction, Group Underwriting, 80-100%

We are seeking a highly experienced and motivated individual to join Zurich’s Global Underwriting Leadership team as the Global Head of Engineering and Construction. The successful candidate will be responsible for setting the strategic direction for Zurich’s global engineering and construction portfolio to achieve profitability targets, growth and overseeing effective regional execution to deliver desired underwriting performance. The role will include a strong focus on sustainable energy infrastructure opportunities, which is a strategic priority for Zurich.

• Key Responsibilities: The role involves setting and overseeing the global engineering and construction underwriting strategy, monitoring market trends and regulatory developments, and working closely with underwriters to optimize performance. Ensuring our proposition, guidelines and capabilities are market leading to support profitable growth. 
• Financial Accountability and Relationship Management: The successful candidate will hold ultimate accountability for financial results, develop relationships with key clients and brokers, and reinsurers, to support profitable portfolio growth.
• Collaboration and Support: The role requires close collaboration with key stakeholders such as Claims and Risk Engineering, supporting underwriters on complex deals, and delivering training to ensure continuous development of our underwriting teams 
• Skills and Experience Required: Applicants must have at least 15 years of experience in underwriting complex engineering and construction risks, a deep understanding of the global construction market, excellent leadership and communication skills, and strong English language proficiency.

What you will do

• Set and oversee execution of the global engineering and construction strategy. Monitor and analyse market trends and regulatory developments relevant for the construction sector and adjust the strategy accordingly.
• Work closely with engineering and construction underwriting teams in our Business Units. Provide effective leadership, specialist guidance and support to optimise performance of the global portfolio, ensuring appropriate portfolio strategies and effective tracking and monitoring of strategic execution.
• Hold ultimate accountability for financial results.
• Maintain principle-based Underwriting Guidelines and ensure propositions, guidelines and capabilities are market leading to support profitable growth.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key clients and brokers to support profitable portfolio growth, and engage with reinsurers, regulators, and rating agencies as necessary. 
• Support underwriters on the largest and most complex individual deals.
• Oversee the granting of engineering and construction underwriting authority based on observed technical capabilities.  
• Ensure the development of appropriate capabilities to support underwriting requirements across engineering and construction lines and drive best practices.  This includes creating a pro-active and inclusive approach to talent management, succession planning and recruitment in line specific underwriting teams. 
• Work closely with data and analytics teams to further improve granularity of portfolio insights to support trend analysis and informed decision making.

What you bring

• Minimum of 15 years of experience in underwriting engineering and construction risks and managing construction underwriting portfolios with a proven track record of developing and implementing underwriting strategies that drive profitable growth. Specific expertise in sustainable infrastructure projects is required.
• Influential and credible customer and market profile consistent with our desired positioning as a thought leader supporting the infrastructure build needed for the global net zero transition.   
• Deep understanding of the global engineering and construction market and regulatory landscape.
• Very strong portfolio management skills with the ability to leverage data-driven insights to support proactive, strategic decision making.
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to lead, motivate and foster a culture of trust and accountability across teams located in different regions.
• Highly effective communicator with ability to influence and negotiate with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong English language skills.

Additional Information

We look forward to receiving your online application. 

Zurich wants to attract the best talent and we acknowledge that talents might not always be available full-time. At Zurich we will consider requests for flexible working. Many of our employees work flexibly in a variety of ways. Please talk to us during the interview about the flexibility you may need.

Explore our new Quai Zurich Campus

Information for recruitment agencies

Zurich does not accept any applications from recruitment agencies for this position. We refuse any responsibility for unsolicited applications as well as any associated fees. 

Why Zurich

At Zurich, we like to think outside the box and challenge the status quo. We take an optimistic approach by focusing on the positives and constantly asking What can go right? 

We are an equal opportunity employer who knows that each employee is unique - that’s what makes our team so great! 
Join us as we constantly explore new ways to protect our customers and the planet.
 

• Location(s):  CH - Zürich 
• Remote working:
• Schedule: Full Time
• Recruiter name: Grace Cunningham