Chief Risk Officer, Zurich U.S.

Zurich Insurance Group•Chicago, NY

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Zurich U.S. is seeking a Regional Head of Risk to lead the Risk function across the U.S. region. The role reports directly to the Group Chief Risk Officer and is based in one of Zurich’s U.S. hub locations. It requires periodic regional travel and occasional international travel to collaborate with global stakeholders and support business initiatives. As a member of the Group Risk Management leadership team, Zurich’s global leadership team, and the Risk Management Executive Committee, the Regional Head of Risk champions collaboration and coordinates diverse resource needs to deliver priorities. The role promotes the exchange of best practices and lessons learned, sponsors projects supporting global initiatives, and takes accountability for meeting regional regulatory requirements for risk management. In collaboration with Group Risk Management, the position ensures regional compliance with Group-wide governance and risk management responsibilities; develops and implements regional risk policies; monitors adherence; and identifies, assesses, and reports risks to senior management and the Group, particularly when risks exceed appetite or limits. The position builds and leads the evolution of Risk Management into a best-in-class function, develops talent and risk culture, and positions the function as both a governance safeguard and a respected business advisor. It embeds effective risk governance and monitoring, provides relevant risk insights, advises executive management on risk-taking and mitigation, and partners with business leaders to improve risk identification, assessment, and transparency. The role works with regional and Group executive management to set risk appetite and evaluate risk-return trade-offs, aligning risk strategy with corporate strategy. It also establishes strategic alliances and engages with regulators, external auditors, regional executive leadership, the Group CRO, and the Risk Management Executive Committee. The proposed national salary range is $291,200–$509,600, with eligibility for a 50% short-term incentive bonus and participation in the company’s long-term incentive program. Compensation may vary by location, skills, and experience. Zurich describes its employee benefits as competitive and comprehensive for employees and their families.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
15 or more years of experience in the insurance area.
Experience managing and developing collaborative teams.
Experience working with C-suite executives.
Experience assessing and mitigating risks or threats to business capital and earnings.

Nice To Haves

Experience in actuarial, finance, underwriting, business strategy, or investment management.
Strong people-management skills and experience developing and coaching evolving teams.
Strong business acumen and ability to understand Group, ZNA, and business-unit strategies, projects, and initiatives to provide context-appropriate risk advice and solutions.
Experience in risk management, business operations, and working with regulators.
Visionary, proactive, action- and outcome-oriented leadership.
Strong influencing, advisory, and stakeholder-management skills.
Advanced problem-solving and strategic-analysis skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to reach practical solutions in complex, multi-interest settings through adaptability and personal ownership of delivery.
Models behaviors demonstrating commitment to Zurich values.
Relevant professional qualifications, such as FCAS, ACAS, CFA, FRM, or CPCU.
Master’s degree.
Significant experience in Enterprise Risk Management, actuarial, finance, underwriting, or business strategy.
Experience working with insurance regulators and governance bodies.
Strong executive presence and exceptional communication and stakeholder-management skills.
Demonstrated ability to solve complex business challenges and influence outcomes across multiple constituencies.

Responsibilities

Build, lead, and direct the evolution of Risk Management into a best-in-class function.
Attract, develop, and motivate talent, and foster the culture of the risk function.
Position Risk Management as a strong safeguard of governance and a respected business advisor through relevant risk insights.
Embed effective and efficient risk governance and monitoring in the business.
Strengthen business relationships and provide risk insights that support business objectives and appropriately rewarded risk-taking.
Advise executive management on balancing rewarded risk-taking with risk mitigation based on risk-limit utilization and forward-looking risk assessments.
Partner with the business and advise senior management on priorities and risk management practices that improve risk identification, assessment, and transparency.
Work with regional and Group executive management to set risk appetite and assess risk-return trade-offs, linking risk strategy to corporate strategy and objectives.
Establish and manage strategic alliances with key regional and Group partners to develop a strategic agenda.
Communicate and engage with regulators, external auditors, the regional Executive Committee, the Group CRO, and the Risk Management Executive Committee.
Promote the exchange of best practices and lessons learned across the region and Group Risk Management.
Sponsor projects and programs that contribute to global initiatives.
Meet regional regulatory requirements for risk management and ensure regional adherence to Group-wide governance and risk management responsibilities.
Develop and implement regional risk policies and monitor adherence.
Identify, assess, and report regional risks to senior management and the Group, particularly risks outside established risk appetite or limits.
Travel periodically within the region and occasionally internationally to collaborate with global stakeholders and support business initiatives.