SME Schemes Portfolio Underwriting Manager

Overview

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 a need to travel to London or Croydon offices regularly, Hybrid. Closing date for applications: 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 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?

• Leadership, Team Development & Direction: 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.

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’ll have the opportunity to let us know of any reasonable adjustment or practical support needed when you apply.

Who we are

At Zurich we aspire to be one of the most responsible and impactful businesses in the world and the best global insurer. Together we’re creating a brighter future for our customers, our people, and our planet. With over 55,000 employees in more than 170 countries, you’ll feel the support of being part of a strong and stable company who are 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.

If you’re interested in working in a dynamic and challenging environment for a company that recognises and rewards your creativity, initiatives, and contributions - then Zurich could be just the place for you. Be part of something great.

Our culture

At Zurich, our sense of community is strong and we’re particularly passionate about diversity and inclusion, which we’ve won numerous awards for. We want our people to bring the whole of themselves to work and ensure everybody is made to feel welcome, regardless of their background, beliefs, or culture. We want our employees to reflect the diversity of our customers and so are committed to treating all of our applicants fairly and with respect, irrespective of their actual or assumed background, disability or any other protected characteristic.

We’ve an environment that places a real importance on our people’s wellbeing from a physical, mental, social, and financial perspective. We work with our wellbeing partners and industry experts to provide the best advice and access to a wealth of lifestyle support. We’re also committed to continuous improvement, and we offer access to a comprehensive range of training and development opportunities. We’re passionate about supporting employees to help others by getting involved in volunteering, charitable and community activity. Our charitable arm, Zurich Community Trust, is one of the longest-established corporate trusts in the UK. In that time, we’ve awarded grants and volunteered time to deserving causes in the UK valued at over £90 million.

So make a difference. Be challenged. Be inspired. Be supported. Love what you do. Work for us.