LifeSenior Underwriting Developer in Swindon

This role is available on a part-time, job-share or full-time basis. Location: Flexible. Closing date for applications: 11th June 2026.

The opportunity: We have a new opportunity as part of ongoing growth within Zurich. You’ll join us as an experienced Life and Disability Underwriter and contribute to driving forward improvements to the technical standards, controls, practices and customer outcomes of our life underwriting philosophy. You will be working under limited supervision, using your skills and delegated authority to achieve our business goals and maximise customer experience. You will proactively and responsibly take ownership for your personal development to enhance your knowledge and skills, using them to support achievement of your own and the team’s priorities. You will demonstrate initiative and take action on daily tasks and a range of more complex projects, planning and following through the handling of the activities in your areas of responsibility through to completion, considering alternatives when faced with obstacles to ensure task or project completion.

Role purpose:

• Own it: Take accountability for performing quality sampling of underwriting decisions, retrospective underwriting decisions on claims, or completing individual projects ensuring high quality delivery within required timeframes.
• Accelerate it: Identify trends and opportunities to help us enhance Zurich quality & delegated authority frameworks and processes to improve underwriting and claims outcomes for customers and Zurich.
• Win it: Provide insight, challenge and assurance that supports ensuring Zurich’s underwriting philosophy remains robust and accurate.

Many of our employees work flexibly in a variety of different ways, including part-time, flexible hours, job share, an element of working from home or compressed hours. This is because we want the best people for our roles, and we recognise that sometimes those people aren’t available full-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you may need.

Key responsibilities:

• Quality Assurance: Perform monthly reviews of manual underwriting decisions and POS rules, ensuring assessments are completed within agreed timelines.
• Claims Review: Evaluate claims cases to retrospectively confirm underwriting decisions, supporting accurate outcomes.
• Data Analysis & Continuous Improvement: Analyse quality sampling and retrospective decisions to identify trends and recommend updates to underwriting philosophy and processes, aiming to reduce costs and improve results.
• Proactive Optimisation: Use initiative to spot and develop opportunities for improving underwriting philosophy, streamlining processes, and supporting business-driven projects.
• Expert Delivery: Apply specialist Life and Disability underwriting expertise to deliver business solutions and drive initiatives forward.
• Technical Support & Guidance: Offer technical underwriting advice and support to operational underwriters, distribution teams, and other stakeholders as needed.
• Training & Development: Design and deliver training sessions on a range of underwriting topics to upskill teams and share best practice.
• External Relationship Management: Help manage relationships with key external partners to ensure technical standards and service levels are maintained, and changes are implemented smoothly.
• Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure all business practices meet regulatory requirements, risk policies, acceptance criteria, and local legislation (including medical confidentiality and ethical use of genetic testing).

What are we looking for?

• Underwriting Authority: Possess a high level of decision-making authority across all product lines, including Life, Critical Illness, and Income Protection.
• Quality Focus: Consistently maintain high standards in underwriting quality.
• Qualifications: ACII Diploma in Underwriting is preferred but not necessary.
• Technical Skills: Confidently use MS Excel, including PivotTables. Experience with Power BI is desirable.
• Data Analysis Experience: Ideally, have experience analysing data and identifying trends, with ability to share actionable insights.
• Customer-Centric Approach: Always put the customer first, combining technical expertise with a strong commitment to customer service.
• Market Awareness: Understand the broader Protection market and be aware of the different proposition types available for UK customers.

What will you get in return?

• 12% defined non-contributory pension scheme.
• Annual company bonus.
• Private medical insurance.
• Option to buy up to an additional 20 days or sell some of your holiday.
• Flexible benefits to tailor your benefits throughout the year.

Financials:

• 12% defined non-contributory pension scheme.
• Annual company bonus.
• Income Protection.
• Life cover – four times your salary.

Time Away:

• 28 days holiday a year plus bank holidays.
• You can also request to swap UK bank holidays for days off that have cultural or religious significance to you.
• The option to buy up to an additional 20 days or sell some of your holiday.
• Three days paid volunteering.
• Up to 16 weeks’ full pay for maternity, paternity and adoption leave.

Your Health:

• Access to private medical insurance.
• Virtual GP appointments.
• Discounted gym membership.
• Free flu jab.
• Access to a wealth of support from our wellbeing partners.

We’re making a difference: Creating a brighter, more sustainable future underpins all that we do here in Zurich. We were the first insurer to sign the ‘UN Business Ambition for 1.5˚C’ pledge. Our charitable arm, Zurich Community Trust, has awarded grants and volunteered time to deserving causes in the UK valued at over £90 million.

Equal Opportunity Statement: We’re committed to treating all applicants fairly and with respect, irrespective of their actual or assumed background, sexual orientation, disability or any other protected characteristic.