Head of Liability, Canada

The Opportunity

Are you looking for a caring, collaborative, values-driven workplace with inspiring teammates and leaders? Do you have the ambition and desire to be the best and thrive at the most impactful global insurance provider in the world? Look no further than Zurich Canada.

If you have extensive experience in commercial liability underwriting leadership and are seeking a new challenge, we would love to hear from you.

Zurich Canada is currently looking for a Head of Liability Insurance to lead the strategy, performance, and innovation of our national liability insurance portfolio within our Commercial P&C business. This critical role includes full management responsibility for our extensive casualty teams located in regions across Canada, a national auto team, and a centralized Environmental team. The focus of this role is on the National and Specialty segments, while collaborating closely on strategy coordination with the Middle Market and Alternative Risk Solutions groups to ensure alignment across Zurich’s liability portfolio.

Reporting to the Head of National Accounts, you will provide leadership and oversight for all aspects of liability underwriting across Canada—including product development, pricing, risk selection, governance, and broker engagement. You will lead teams of underwriting managers and senior technical underwriters, and be accountable for profitable growth, market relevance, and long-term portfolio sustainability.

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

•    Define and lead national underwriting strategy, appetite, and risk governance for all Liability lines (CGL, Umbrella/Excess, Environmental, and specialized casualty) within the National and Specialty segments.
•    Collaborate with Middle Market and Alternative Risk Solutions teams to ensure a coordinated and aligned approach to liability strategy across all business units.
•    Drive portfolio profitability through disciplined underwriting, data-driven insights, and proactive rate and exposure management.
•    Lead and coach an extensive regional team of casualty underwriters and managers, a representative auto team distributed across Canada, and a centralized Environmental segment.
•    Provide oversight and authority on complex or large accounts beyond local delegation levels.
•    Build and maintain strong relationships with key brokers, customers, and industry associations to support growth and retention.
•    Leverage deep knowledge of Canadian distribution partners and market trends to keep Zurich at the forefront of customer and industry needs.
•    Collaborate cross-functionally with Claims, Risk Services, Legal, Actuarial, and Product teams to ensure technical excellence and customer-centric solutions.
•    Monitor trends in litigation, legal reform, social inflation, and emerging liability exposures—both in Canada and with a keen awareness of U.S. liability trends—to adapt underwriting approach and product offerings.
•    Represent Zurich in industry forums and conferences to reinforce Zurich’s thought leadership and market position in the casualty space.
•    Ensure underwriting practices comply with OSFI and provincial regulatory requirements as well as internal Zurich governance frameworks.
•    Champion a culture of inclusion, learning, performance excellence, and professional development across all liability teams.

Qualifications - What you bring to the table

Required:

•    15+ years of progressive experience in commercial liability underwriting, with a strong focus on large account or specialty casualty risks.
•    5+ years of leadership experience managing underwriting teams or regional portfolios, ideally including auto and environmental lines.
•    Deep and current knowledge of the Canadian liability insurance market, including key distribution partners, industry trends, and regulatory requirements.
•    Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with brokers, customers, and strategic partners in the Canadian insurance landscape.
•    Demonstrated strength in analyzing and responding to Canadian market and legal trends, with an ideal background that includes exposure to U.S. liability market dynamics and emerging risks.
•    Proven track record of delivering profitable growth in a competitive commercial lines environment.
•    Fluency in both spoken and written English is required to facilitate communication with internal and external stakeholders outside Quebec.

Preferred:

•    University degree in business, insurance, risk management, law, or a related field.
•    CIP, FCIP, or CRM designation (or progress toward one) strongly preferred.
•    Exceptional communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
•    Strategic mindset with strong business acumen, analytical capability, and a collaborative approach.
•    Strong leadership, team building, and organizational skills.
•    Strong relationship building and negotiating skills.
•    Strong presentation skills.
•    Ability to interact with the C-Suite.
•    Knowledge in risk selection and assessment.
•    Ability to manage complex portfolios, including auto and environmental lines.
•    Technical knowledge of insurance industry operations and processes.
•    Knowledge of loss trends

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.