Senior Underwriter

Summary

At Zurich Middle East, we’re committed to shaping a brighter future together. As part of Zurich Insurance Group, one of the world’s largest and most experienced insurers, our mission is to help communities understand and protect themselves from risk—locally and globally. Join us in Dubai to lead the region’s most ambitious corporate life and pension business, delivering innovative protection solutions for affluent and high-net-worth clients.

As a Senior Underwriter, you will handle underwriting assignments of moderate to high complexity within your delegated authority. You will be a key technical expert, supporting customers and distributors, consistently delivering excellent customer service and upholding Zurich’s standards.

Job Accountabilities

As Senior Underwriter, your role will involve: 

• Technical Expertise: Provide guidance and technical support to customers and distributors, ensuring underwriting decisions are clear, accurate, and well-explained.
• Risk Assessment: Evaluate exposures and analyze risk in individual cases, maintaining underwriting standards and making decisions within agreed authority limits.
• Process Excellence: Collaborate with distributors and operational teams, working within defined processes and guidelines to help achieve business objectives.
• Relationship Management: Maintain strong relationships with internal and external distributors, requesting appropriate evidence and communicating rating decisions transparently.
• Continuous Improvement: Contribute to the enhancement of underwriting standards, controls, practices, and procedures, ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Product & Process Development: Support the development of new or improved propositions, procedures, and philosophies—helping ensure premium accuracy and effective risk management.\
• Automation: Apply your knowledge of automated underwriting systems to simplify workflows and enhance precision.
• Training & Development: Identify training opportunities for yourself and colleagues; assist in training as needed to build underwriting capability.

Job Qualifications

Education & Professional Background

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Finance, Insurance, or a related field (master’s degree or relevant certifications such as ACII, CPCU, or similar are an advantage).
• Several years’ proven experience in underwriting, preferably in a senior or technical capacity within the insurance industry.
• Strong working knowledge of underwriting guidelines, risk assessment, and exposure analysis.

Technical Skills & Expertise

• Strong knowledge of insurance products, underwriting practices, medical terminology, and applicable regulatory or legal requirements.
• Advanced analytical abilities to evaluate complex risks and exposures.
• Skilled in using underwriting tools, digital platforms, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Capable of interpreting and applying data to support sound decision-making.
• Practical experience with automated underwriting systems, including rule design and familiarity with leading software platforms.
• Excellent skills in data analysis and analytics, with the ability to understand performance metrics and identify emerging trends.

Communication & Customer Focus

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to convey complex underwriting decisions clearly and empathetically.
• Strong relationship management skills, with experience working closely with customers, distributors, and internal teams.
• Customer-centric approach, consistently delivering high levels of service.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Experience guiding or mentoring colleagues, identifying training needs, and supporting team development.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively contribute ideas for process and product improvement.
• Comfortable working both independently and collaboratively across departments.

Personal Attributes

• Results-oriented, reliable, and organized, with a keen eye for detail.
• Proactive problem solver, able to balance business objectives with customer needs.
• Adaptable and forward-thinking, open to continuous learning and change.

Additional Requirements

• Strong ethical standards and commitment to Zurich’s values.
• Eligibility to work in the UAE.
• Willingness to participate in ongoing training and development.