Property Technical Director

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 experience in technical underwriting and are looking for a new challenge, we would love to hear from you. 

Zurich Canada is currently looking for a Property Technical Director. Reporting to the Vice President and Portfolio Manager, you will provide expert technical underwriting expertise guidance to Property Business Unit Leaders and Underwriters. You will act independently with minimal direction as a subject matter expert in support of the achievement of business plans and proposition development. 

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

What you will do

•    Proactively monitor underwriting strategy relating to performance metrics, data and insights, syndicate findings and adjust underwriting strategy as necessary.
•    Operate in established Zurich Risk Policy, Global Underwriting Policy, and underwriting governance policies, and operationalize the policies into guidelines and best practices.
•    Lead initiatives that have a high impact on the development of technical underwriting guidelines, and Best Practices, including controls and procedures.
•    Handle the most complex queries and referrals within delegated authority.
•    Deliver results in partnership with a variety of stakeholders both within Canada, within North America, and Globally.
•    Lead various projects, aligning appropriate resources within Technical Underwriting and Business Units, setting project direction and engaging with teams to ensure successful outcomes.
•    Assist with approval of terms and conditions and Line of Business-wide issues, enabling Underwriters to write profitable business.
•    Provide expert support to Underwriters.
•    Take a leading role in contributing to the development of business plans and pricing strategies and alignment of these with Business Unit Strategies.
•    Be responsible for key aspects of portfolio management, including analysis to monitor profitability and growth. Implement recommendations on aspects requiring change or remedial action.
•    Support the implementation and sustainment of The Zurich Way of Underwriting.
•    Lead underwriting operational transformation and support a sound governance framework in assigned area.
•    Contribute to the development of strategic Line of Business underwriting goals, and underwriting policy for the assigned Line of Business.
•    Partner with peer Technical Underwriting members and Business Units to execute underwriting strategy.
•    Operationalize an underwriting business strategy through active engagement with internal and external stakeholders utilizing market and industry data to drive decision making.
•    Implement risk appetite changes based on relevant internal and external data.
•    Contribute to the development of technical standards, controls and practices in line of business or product line.
•    Participate in Technical Underwriting Reviews, identify trends, and contribute to the development of action plans and agreed upon action items.
•    Participate in compliance-related queries, including regulatory exams and insurance department inquiries.
•    Act as a subject matter expert in developing underwriting technical training content and deliver technical training.
•    Address emerging issues and identify opportunities for growth or change within the specific Line of Business.
•    Develop and recommend strategic business and service plans; provide input to the strategy.
•    Identify opportunities and risks associated with changes in direction of external environment, looking forward 5 + years.
•    Determine which emerging issues (internal and external) are relevant to the region's current and future needs and ensure strategies, programs, processes.
•    Ensure successful implementation of key organization-wide initiatives by consulting with executives and other leaders to gain their commitment and improve their business effectiveness.

Job Qualifications - What you bring to the table

Required:
•    Bachelor’s Degree and 10 or more years of experience in the Underwriting area

Preferred:
•    FCIP or equivalent designation
•    Ability to multi- task
•    Excellent listening, verbal, and written communication skills
 

Our Culture

•    At Zurich, we are proud of our culture. We are passionate about Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging (DEIB). 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.