Global Head of Marine Lines

Working hours: This role is available on a part-time, job-share or full-time basis. 

Location: London

Closing date for applications: 8th June 2025

The opportunity:  

We are seeking a highly experienced and motivated individual to join Zurich’s Global Underwriting Leadership team as the Global Head of Marine. You’ll be responsible for setting the strategic direction for Zurich’s global marine portfolio to achieve profitability targets, growth and overseeing effective regional execution to deliver desired underwriting performance.

·   Key Responsibilities: The role involves setting and overseeing the global marine 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: You’ll 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: You’ll need extensive experience in underwriting complex marine risks, a deep understanding of the global marine market, excellent leadership and communication skills, and strong English language proficiency.

What will you be doing?

· Set and oversee execution of the global marine strategy. Monitor and analyse market trends and regulatory developments relevant for the construction sector and adjust the strategy accordingly.

· Work closely with marine 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 marine underwriting authority based on observed technical capabilities.  

· Ensure the development of appropriate capabilities to support underwriting requirements across marine lines and drive best practices.  This includes creating a proactive 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 are we looking for?

·       Extensive experience in underwriting marine risks and managing marine underwriting portfolios with a proven track record of developing and implementing underwriting strategies that drive profitable growth.

·       Deep understanding of the marine 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.

What will you get in return? 

Everyone’s different. That’s why at Zurich, we offer a wide range of employee benefits so our people can choose what fits them and their life. Our benefits provide real flexibility so our people can make considered choices and tailor their benefits throughout the year. Our benefits include 12% defined non-contributory pension scheme, annual company bonus, private medical insurance and the option to buy up to an additional 20 days or sell some of your holiday. 

Follow the link for more information about our benefits - Employee benefits | Working at Zurich Insurance UK 

As an inclusive employer we want to ensure that all candidates feel comfortable and are able to perform at their best during the interview. You’ll have the opportunity to let us know of any reasonable adjustment or practical support needed when you apply.  

Who we are:  

At Zurich we aspire to be one of the most responsible and impactful businesses in the world and the best global insurer. Together we’re creating a brighter future for our customers, our people and our planet.  

With over 55,000 employees in more than 170 countries, you’ll feel the support of being part of a strong and stable company who are a long-standing player in the insurance industry. 

We’ve made a promise to each other and every employee; to focus on sustainable impact, to care about each other’s wellbeing, to use our diverse expertise to be curious and optimistic and to develop the skills needed for our future.  

If you're interested in working in a dynamic and challenging environment for a company that recognises and rewards your creativity, initiatives and contributions - then Zurich could be just the place for you. Be part of something great. 

Our Culture:   

At Zurich, our sense of community is strong and we’re particularly passionate about diversity and inclusion, which we’ve won numerous awards for. We want our people to bring the whole of themselves to work and ensure everybody is made to feel welcome, regardless of their background, beliefs or culture. We want our employees to reflect the diversity of our customers, and so are committed to treating all of our applicants fairly and with respect, irrespective of their actual or assumed background, disability or any other protected characteristic. 

We’ve an environment that places a real importance on our people’s wellbeing from a physical, mental, social and financial perspective. We work with our wellbeing partners and industry experts to provide the best advice and access to a wealth of lifestyle support. We’re also committed to continuous improvement and we offer access to a comprehensive range of training and development opportunities. 

We’re passionate about supporting employees to help others by getting involved in volunteering, charitable and community activity. Our charitable arm, Zurich Community Trust, is one of the longest-established corporate trusts in the UK. In that time, we’ve awarded grants and volunteered time to deserving causes in the UK valued at over £90 million. 

So make a difference. Be challenged. Be inspired. Be supported, Love what you do. Work for us.