SME Schemes Portfolio Underwriting Manager

Working Hours: Part‑time, job‑share, or full‑time basis. Location: Flexible location, but regular travel to London or Croydon offices is required. Hybrid working is available. Closing Date: 16th February 2026.

The Opportunity: Are you ready for the next step in your career? If you have strong technical underwriting or portfolio management experience within Commercial Markets, this could be the ideal opportunity. We’re seeking a Schemes Portfolio Underwriting Manager to help shape our underwriting appetite and build a balanced, profitable portfolio aligned with Zurich’s strategy. As a subject‑matter expert in property, casualty or both, you’ll guide teams in making high‑quality underwriting decisions and manage risk. You’ll oversee the clarity and adequacy of third‑party policy wordings and underwriting guides, ensuring strong compliance, governance and customer protection. Your commercial acumen and understanding of niche and emerging risks will help us stay agile in a changing market. You’ll also work closely with customers and brokers, strengthening Zurich’s position as a trusted, forward‑thinking partner and supporting sustainable growth across our Schemes portfolio.

Responsibilities: You’ll be part of a supportive and high‑performing team of portfolio analysts and underwriters. You’ll help communicate, embed and champion effective strategies, methodologies and behaviours across the wider underwriting community. Development matters to us — and you’ll play an important role in setting high standards, supporting growth and helping others reach their potential.

• Technical Underwriting & Portfolio Oversight: You’ll design, implement and lead robust underwriting, portfolio and product oversight frameworks across the Schemes portfolio. From ensuring strong underwriting discipline to understanding performance drivers and refining acceptance criteria, you’ll be central to driving continuous improvement and best‑practice underwriting. You’ll build meaningful relationships with key partners, ensuring we deliver positive outcomes and add real value. You’ll support the negotiation of new and existing delegated arrangements and work with a diverse mix of niche trades and risks. Flexibility, creativity and a solutions‑focused mindset will be crucial to helping our partners succeed.

Qualifications: Experience in portfolio management and underwriting within personal lines or commercial markets. Strong authority and technical underwriting expertise in property, casualty or broader commercial lines. Experience reviewing policy wordings and contributing to underwriting guides. Understanding of delegated underwriting arrangements. Commercial, market, financial risk and regulatory awareness. Effective leadership, influencing and stakeholder management experience. Excellent relationship‑building, communication and negotiation skills. Ability to explain technical concepts clearly to non‑technical audiences. Experience managing or delivering through a diverse stakeholder network. Prior people management experience beneficial but not essential. A solutions‑focused approach with strong delivery capability. Advanced knowledge of commercial lines products. Understanding of portfolio financial dynamics (e.g., expense allocation, return on capital).

Benefits: We offer a wide range of employee benefits that can be tailored to each individual. Benefits include a 12% defined non‑contributory pension scheme, an annual company bonus, private medical insurance, and the option to buy up to an additional 20 days or sell some of your holiday. Additional benefits are available throughout the year.

Inclusive Employer: 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 will have the opportunity to let us know of any reasonable adjustment or practical support needed when you apply.

About Zurich: Zurich is one of the world’s leading insurers with over 55,000 employees in more than 170 countries. We are committed to sustainability, diversity, and inclusive culture while delivering value to customers and stakeholders.