Head of Energy, Construction & Marine, Canada

The Opportunity

Are you a proven leader in energy insurance with a strong technical foundation and a passion for building high-performing teams? At Zurich Canada, we’re seeking a dynamic executive to join our National Accounts leadership team as Head of Energy, Construction & Marine. In this role, you will have ultimate P&L responsibility for three critical specialty segments—Energy, Construction, and Marine—delivering strategy, innovation, and profitable growth across Canada.

You’ll leverage your deep expertise in the energy and mining sectors, established broker relationships, and forward-thinking leadership to shape a balanced, multi-line technical risk portfolio and make a lasting impact on Zurich’s Canadian business.

This is a unique opportunity to build your knowledge and experience for the future in a supportive environment where your voice matters.

This is a hybrid work opportunity.

What you will do

Underwriting & Portfolio Strategy

• Lead the technical and strategic direction for Zurich’s Energy, Construction (Engineering), and Marine portfolios, ensuring robust profitability and long-term growth.

• Apply your expertise in energy property and liability—including oil & gas, power generation, sustainable energy, infrastructure development, and mining - to guide underwriting and risk selection.

• Oversee and support Construction (Engineering) business, with a focus on builder’s risk, including Construction All Risk (CAR), Erection All Risk (EAR), and Course of Construction (COC) insurance solutions.

• Provide balanced leadership for the Marine segment, supporting growth in areas such as cargo, hull, and related marine risks.

• Collaborate with Middle Market and Alternative Risk Solutions teams to ensure a coordinated and aligned approach to our technical risks strategy across all business units.

• Oversee pricing, coverage structuring, and complex account management for high-value clients across all three segments.

• Innovate and enhance Zurich’s product offerings to stay ahead of evolving client needs and industry trends in each segment.

Leadership & People Development

• Inspire, coach, and develop a national team of underwriters and specialists across Energy, Construction, and Marine.

• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and continuously learning culture, with a strong emphasis on technical excellence and market engagement.

• Serve as a key member of the National Accounts leadership team, helping shape strategy and drive innovation.

• Champion professional growth and support diversity, equity, and belonging.

Market Engagement & Relationship Management

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with Canada’s leading brokers, clients, and industry partners across all three segments.

• Represent Zurich Canada at industry events, forums, and associations, leveraging your national and international market experience.

• Collaborate with Claims, Risk Engineering, Distribution, and Multinational Servicing teams to deliver seamless client solutions.

• Guide your team in strengthening Zurich’s reputation as a market leader in Energy, Construction, and Marine specialty lines.

Underwriting Excellence

• Set and uphold high standards for underwriting governance, technical quality, and risk controls.

• Use analytics, engineering insights, and catastrophe modeling to inform portfolio decisions.

• Drive disciplined pricing, exposure management, and reinsurance strategies.

Operational & P&L Excellence

• Take full P&L responsibility for the Energy, Construction (Engineering), and Marine segments within National Accounts.

• Optimize underwriting workflows and champion technology adoption to boost efficiency and accuracy.

• Ensure compliance, operational resilience, and continuous improvement across all business lines.

Qualifications - What you bring to the table

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in business, insurance, or a related field.

• 15+ years of underwriting experience in commercial P&C insurance, with significant expertise and a proven track record in energy (including mining) risks and heavy industry.

• Minimum 5 years of people leadership experience in a technical underwriting environment.

• Strong technical mastery in operational energy exposures, property and liability lines, and portfolio strategy.

• Strong background, and experience in Construction risk solutions.

• Demonstrated P&L accountability and a track record of delivering profitable growth across specialty business lines.

• Strong presence in the Canadian and/or international markets, with established broker and client relationships.

• Fluency in both spoken and written English is required to facilitate communication with internal and external stakeholders outside Quebec.

Preferred

• Advanced degree or designation (e.g., CIP, FCIP, engineering, or technical field).

• Experience with multinational, captive, and cross-border insurance programs.

• Deep familiarity with sustainable energy technologies (e.g., nuclear, solar, hydro, wind, carbon capture, BESS, biofuels).

• Experience managing both property and casualty exposures.

• Strong business planning, analytical, and change management skills.

Compensation for roles at Zurich varies depending on a wide array of factors including but not limited to the specific office location, role, skill set, and level of experience. The salary range provided is a nationwide market range and has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location where the position may be filled. As required by local law, Zurich provides in good faith a reasonable range of compensation for roles. Compensation may exceed the range listed based on the evaluation of skillset and experience.  The starting salary range for this position is $220,000 - $300,000.

Our Culture

• At Zurich, we are proud of our culture. We are passionate about Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging (DIEB). We want you to bring your whole self to work, and we want our employees to be reflective of the communities in which we live and work. Our DIEB initiatives are creating an environment where everyone feels welcome.

• We have a collaborative culture where diversity of thought is valued. We value your input and strive to give our employees the tools they need to make an impact.

• We care about our employees’ well-being and offer a comprehensive health/benefits plan with varying levels of coverage to suit your specific needs and a competitive total compensation package.

• We understand how important it is to rest, recharge and do the things you love. At Zurich, all employees receive a minimum of four weeks of vacation per year to do just that.

• We also understand that employees require time off for personal reasons. Maybe you have an appointment during a workday, a cultural or religious holiday you would like to observe, or you need time off to focus on your mental health. Zurich employees receive four personal days per year to be used at their discretion.

• We are committed to continuous improvement, and offer access to a comprehensive range of training and development opportunities.

• We care about our communities. Our communities are where our customers, people, and shareholders live and work. While we can be proud of the contribution to society Zurich makes through our core business of insurance, we must also give back to our communities through our talent, time and resources.

• We have won numerous awards for our workplace culture. We are proud to be one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers and to have received Insurance Business Canada’s 5-Star Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award.

Make a difference. Be challenged. Be inspired. Be supported. Love what you do. Work for us.

About Us

Zurich Canada is part of the Zurich Insurance Group, a multi-line insurer with approximately 55,000 employees worldwide serving customers in global and local markets. Zurich Canada has been a leading insurance provider serving mid-sized and large companies, including multinational corporations, in the Canadian commercial market for 100 years. With over 500 employees in offices across the country, Zurich offers the global strength of a top insurance provider combined with in-depth knowledge of industries and local markets. Zurich Canada aspires to be risk management professionals’ first choice as their premier partner to help meet the risk challenges of today and tomorrow. Read more at www.zurichcanada.com.