Head of Technical Underwriting Operations & Sustainability

Zurich North America Technical Underwriting is seeking a Head of Technical Underwriting Operations and Sustainability. This position reports to the Chief Underwriting Officer and works closely with the Technical Underwriting leadership team, and our preference is for the position to be based in our Schaumburg, IL office, but we will consider other locations. 

This is a multi-disciplinary role that is responsible for the management of Technical Underwriting operations, oversight of our sustainability efforts and facilitation of the governance framework supporting the ZNA underwriting community. This role requires strong collaboration across both Technical Underwriting, as well as our ZNA Business Units and other Functions. The role includes responsibility for project management for various ZNA-wide underwriting initiatives.

This role supports the Chief Underwriting Officer in developing executive level communications (both global, regional, and external), and for equipping the Chief Underwriting Officer with relevant and necessary data to support decision making of internal and external engagements.

Responsibilities Include:

• Lead multi-disciplinary teams that provide governance, administrative, and technical support to Technical Underwriting teams.
• Support Chief Underwriting Officer in development of executive level communications that span ZNA Executive Committee, ZHCA Audit Committee, external rating agencies, etc.
• Lead and implement ZNA level initiatives within TUW, including organizational structure; technology; sustainability; etc.
• Represent Technical Underwriting in ZNA Operations Counsel; Risk and Control Committee; and various Employee Engagement Counsels.
• Manage TUW expense targets, including headcount utilization and external spend.
• Oversee and coordinate ZNA underwriting governance framework activities, including underwriter empowerment (authority and guidelines) and underwriting quality.
• Engage with Global CI Underwriting to integrate and ensure adherence to global guidelines and policies, while advocating for ZNA needs.
• Collaborate with TUW, BU and other Functional leadership to drive alignment and execution of strategic and operational priorities.

• Drive employee engagement activities and initiatives within TUW and in collaboration with larger ZNA community.
• Partner with Human Resources to address people management efforts, as well as talent retention and recruitment needs that align with and support ZNA’s Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging goals.
• Drive town hall agendas, ensuring topics and content are meaningful and relevant.

 

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and 12 or more years of experience in the Operations area within the Property & Casualty Commercial Insurance Industry
  AND
• 2 or more years of management experience 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Deep understanding of the Insurance Industry
• Previous Operations, Strategy and Operational Planning experience
• Demonstrated financial acumen with the ability to create or revise operational plans in order to execute with a strong focus on results
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to define and analyze operational performance targets and measure the quality and quantity of work effort for the purpose of improvement
• Strong executive presence and the ability to interact with the C-Suite 
• Strong collaboration, communication, problem solving, conflict resolution, project management and influencing skills
• Experience building and managing cross functional teams Ability to define and analyze operational performance targets

As a condition of employment at Zurich, employees must adhere to any COVID-related health and safety protocols in place at that time (https://www.zurichna.com/careers/faq).

 

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