At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape underwriting strategies while managing a diverse portfolio.
- Company: Join Zurich, a leading insurance company committed to sustainability and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, competitive salary, and a comprehensive benefits package.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values wellbeing and community engagement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment with opportunities for growth and creativity.
- Qualifications: Experience in underwriting and portfolio management within commercial markets is essential.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Working hours: This role is available on a part-time, job-share or full-time basis. Location: We’re flexible on where you are based, however, there will be the need to travel to London or Croydon offices regularly, Hybrid. Closing date for applications: 22nd July 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 managing 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.
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.
What will you be doing? This role focuses on three key areas:
- Leadership, Team Development & Direction Setting: 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.
- Customer & Partner Engagement: 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.
What are we looking for?
- 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
- Strong portfolio management skills
- 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)
What will you get in return? Everyone’s different. That’s why at Zurich, we offer a wide range of employee benefits so our people can choose what fits them and their life. Our benefits provide real flexibility so our people can make considered choices and tailor their benefits throughout the year. Our benefits include 12% defined non-contributory pension scheme, annual company bonus, private medical insurance and the option to buy up to an additional 20 days or sell some of your holiday, alongside a range of other flexible benefits.
Who we are: At Zurich we aspire to be one of the most responsible and impactful businesses in the world. Together, we’re creating a brighter future for our customers, our people and our planet. With over 65,000 employees, you’ll feel the support of being part of a strong and stable company that is a long-standing player in the insurance industry. We’ve made a promise to each other and every employee: to focus on sustainable impact, to care about each other’s wellbeing, to use our diverse expertise to be curious and optimistic and to develop the skills needed for our future.
Your application: 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. As an inclusive employer we also want to ensure that all candidates feel comfortable and are able to perform at their best during the interview. You’ll have the opportunity to let us know of any reasonable adjustment or practical support needed when you apply. We’d love it if you could submit your application online. If you require an alternative method of applying, please send an email to recruitment@uk.zurich.com.
So, make a difference. Be challenged. Be inspired. Be supported. Love what you do. Work for us.
SME Schemes Portfolio Underwriting Manager in London employer: Zurich Insurance Group
At Zurich, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a flexible work environment that accommodates part-time, job-share, and full-time arrangements. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our supportive culture, diverse inclusion communities, and comprehensive benefits package, including a generous pension scheme and private medical insurance. Join us in a dynamic setting where your contributions are valued, and you can make a meaningful impact while enjoying a balanced work-life experience.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land SME Schemes Portfolio Underwriting Manager in London
✨Hit Up Local Insurance Events
Get yourself to local insurance meetups or networking events! These are goldmines for part-time positions, plus you get to connect with industry professionals who might just know about openings at places like Zurich Insurance Group. Don’t forget to chat up everyone – you never know who might have the inside track!
✨Join Insurance Communities
Dive into insurance forums or online communities. Places like LinkedIn groups or even specialty sites related to insurance are perfect for finding part-time gigs. Ask questions, share your goals, and let folks know you’re on the lookout – community members often share job leads that aren’t advertised widely.
✨Consider Remote Opportunities
Part-time roles can sometimes be remote, which opens up even more doors. Check out remote job boards specifically for insurance roles or on company websites like Zurich Insurance Group. You’d be surprised at how flexible some insurers are with part-time work!
✨Polish Your Cover Letter and Apply Directly
When you find a gig that’s a good fit, don’t just submit a standard application – tailor your cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and enthusiasm for the insurance industry. And hey, be sure to apply through our website! We love seeing strong candidates taking that extra step.
We think you need these skills to ace SME Schemes Portfolio Underwriting Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Insurance Knowledge:When applying for a part-time role in insurance, make sure to showcase any relevant knowledge or experience you have. This could include coursework, internships, or even personal projects related to risk assessment. The more you can emphasise your understanding of insurance products and principles, the better!
Tailor Your CV to Stand Out:Your CV should reflect not only your work history but also any certifications or courses you’ve completed in the insurance field. If you have any industry-specific qualifications such as CII (Chartered Insurance Institute), be sure to include them. Customise your CV for the role at Zurich Insurance Group by focusing on skills like communication and analytical thinking.
Express Your Availability and Flexibility:As you’re applying for a part-time position, it’s important to be clear about when you can work. Mention your availability in your cover letter to ensure Zurich Insurance Group knows you’re ready to jump in and assist their team. Flexibility can be a big plus in this industry!
Show Your Willingness to Learn:In your application, don’t hesitate to express your eagerness to grow within the insurance field. Highlight any ways you've actively sought to learn more about the industry, whether through courses, workshops, or reading up on the latest trends. This shows your commitment and can make your application pop!
How to prepare for a job interview at Zurich Insurance Group
✨Understand the Technical Basics
Make sure you're up to speed with the basic concepts of insurance, like risk assessment, policy types, and claims processing. We can’t stress enough how important it is to demonstrate that you grasp these fundamentals, as they often come up in interviews for roles like SME Schemes Portfolio Underwriting Manager at Zurich Insurance Group.
✨Showcase Your Customer Service Skills
In the insurance industry, interaction with clients is key. Be prepared to share examples of how you’ve handled customer queries or complaints, especially in a part-time capacity. We want to see that you can build rapport and deliver clear explanations—this can make or break your chances at Zurich Insurance Group.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
You might face questions that put you in specific situations, e.g., 'How would you handle a dissatisfied customer?' Practice thinking through these scenarios so you can showcase your problem-solving skills and customer service knowledge fluidly when asked during the interview.
✨Flexibility and Availability is Key
As a part-time candidate, it's crucial to be clear about your availability during the interview. We should highlight that we're eager to fit into the team’s schedule while adapting to peak times or unusual circumstances in the insurance sector—show that you're committed to working alongside them effectively.
