Head of Proposition and Partnerships, Corporate Business

Job Summary

Zurich Middle East is part of Zurich Insurance Group, one of the world’s largest and most experienced insurers. Our mission is to help our local communities understand and protect themselves from risk both locally and globally. 

To support rapid business growth, we are seeking a strategic and analytical Head of Proposition and Partnerships to lead our Proposition and Partnerships team in continuing to deliver a world-class Employee Benefits proposition for Zurich Middle East’s corporate employee benefits customers.  

Reporting to the Head of Corporate Life & Pensions Business, the Head of Proposition and Partnerships is a leadership role responsible for developing and executing the strategic vision for propositions and partnerships across Zurich Middle East’s Corporate Life & Pensions Business. This role entails fostering strong relationships with key partners, identifying and capitalizing on new business and proposition opportunities, and ensuring alignment with the company's overall goals and objectives. 

Job Accountabilities

As Head of Proposition and Partnerships, your role will involve:  

Strategic Proposition Development 

• Leading a team to develop and implement the Proposition and Partnership strategy to support the organization’s long-term objectives and deliver solutions and optimal Corporate Life & Pensions customer experience processes which will delight our customers. 
• Regularly reviewing the profitability and suitability of our Corporate Business proposition and maintain appropriate technical documentation, including Policy Documents, Marketing Materials etc. 
• Build and nurture relationships with Zurich and Zurich partner peers to share and leverage best practices for the benefit of Zurich Middle East’s customers and distribution partners. 
• Develop relationships with internal (Zurich) and external (non-Zurich) stakeholders around the world in similar or related positions to translate how global best-practices can be deployed in the Middle East region. 
• Maintain relationships with customer-facing team members to ensure that any propositions are both customer-led and customer-tested before, during, and after development. 
• Analyze market trends and competitor activities to inform the development of new propositions and partnership opportunities. Maintain a database of all relevant competitors propositions and their evolution over time. 
• Positively represent Zurich Middle East in public forums to share thought leaderships. 

Strategic Partnership Development 

• Identify, evaluate, and establish strategic alliances and partnerships that align with the company's vision and enhance its market position, including expanding geographically in the Middle East region, across all types of insurable Employee Benefits lines (Life, Health, Savings) and enablers e.g. technology. 
• Build and maintain strong, long-lasting relationships with key partners and stakeholders. 
• Act as the primary point of contact for all partnership-related matters, ensuring clear and effective communication. 
• Negotiate and finalize partnership agreements to maximize mutual benefits. 

Partnership Business Development 

• Identify new partnerships that would deliver business opportunities and develop propositions to capture market share and drive growth. 
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop sound businesses cases to develop and launch new products and services that meet partner and customer needs. 
• Lead the creation and delivery of compelling value propositions to prospective partners. 

Additional Job Accountabilities

Performance Management 

• Monitor and analyze the performance of propositions and partnerships, ensuring alignment with business objectives. 
• Set and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of partnership initiatives. 
• Provide regular reports and updates to senior management on partnership performance and outcomes. 
• Ownership, oversight and maintenance of all governance responsibilities, including Cross Border Business (CBB), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Insurable Interest (II), and similar, policies. 

Team Leadership 

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing propositions and partnerships team members. 
• Foster and contribute to a collaborative and innovative team culture that encourages continuous improvement and high standards. 
• Allocate resources effectively to ensure the successful execution of team strategies and initiatives. 
• Contribute positively to support continuous development of the broader team culture.  
• Mentoring junior team members in other teams and maintaining a robust talent pipeline. 
• Collaborate with customers, distribution partners, internal team members including Sales & Distribution, Marketing, Pricing, Operations and shared service colleagues, to gather insights, data and influence optimal customer proposition outcomes. 

Job Qualifications

To be successful in your role, you will need:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field; MBA preferred. 
• At least 10 years of experience in partnerships, business development, or a related role, with a proven track record of success. 
• Deep technical experience in Corporate Protection/Risk and Corporate Savings 
• Strong experience with Corporate Medical / Health Insurance will be an advantage.
• Exceptional strategic thinking and analytical skills. 
• Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders. 
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts to non-technical audiences. 
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with senior stakeholders and partners. 
• Results-driven with a focus on achieving measurable outcomes. 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team. 
• Excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities. Ability to identify and evaluate pricing opportunities and risks in complex market environments. 
• Familiarity with pricing regulations, legal considerations, and compliance requirements.