Executive Underwriter OR AVP Underwriting Director - E&S Primary Casualty

Zurich Insurance Group • Chicago, NY

5h • $100,000 - $215,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Zurich E&S is hiring an experienced Casualty Underwriter for its growing E&S Casualty team. The position may be based in Atlanta, Chicago/Schaumburg, Scottsdale, New York City, Dallas, or Rocky Hill, Connecticut, and follows a hybrid work arrangement with a flexible schedule set in partnership with the manager. The role requires marketplace visibility and meetings with agents and brokers. The underwriter will work with national wholesalers to grow the business while maintaining profitability within Zurich E&S’s wholesale distribution model.

The role develops and maintains broker and customer relationships across industries and uses casualty underwriting expertise in risk assessment, exposure evaluation, and pricing to build a profitable portfolio of new and renewal business. It collaborates with functions including claims, finance, risk engineering, actuarial, and technical underwriting. The position also uses market-facing, negotiation, and interpersonal skills to develop preferred distribution relationships in an assigned territory.

The Executive Underwriter or AVP Underwriting Director serves as a customer industry advocate, evaluates and prices risk, uses data and models to inform decisions, and conducts market-facing production. The role administers and monitors underwriting rules, guidelines, insurance laws and regulations, and rating manual rules; handles highly complex assignments within broad limits and authorities; and coaches, develops, and empowers junior team members.

Requirements

• Executive Underwriter: High school diploma or equivalent and at least 5 years of experience in underwriting or a market-facing area; or at least 10 years of experience in claims or underwriting support.
• Executive Underwriter: Zurich Certified Insurance Apprentice credential, including an associate degree, and at least 3 years of experience in underwriting or a market-facing area; or at least 8 years of experience in claims or underwriting support.
• AVP Underwriting Director: High school diploma or equivalent and at least 7 years of experience in underwriting or a market-facing area; or at least 14 years of experience in claims or underwriting support.
• AVP Underwriting Director: Zurich Certified Insurance Apprentice credential, including an associate degree, and at least 5 years of experience in underwriting or a market-facing area; or at least 12 years of experience in claims or underwriting support.
• Ability to work with national wholesalers and be visible in the marketplace, including meeting with agents and brokers.
• Ability to work on highly complex assignments within broad limits and authorities.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of E&S commercial insurance industry experience.
• Technical knowledge of primary and excess casualty underwriting across industry segments in the E&S marketplace.
• Advanced technical acumen in the habitational, hospitality, and special events industry segments.
• Established wholesale broker relationships.
• Creative problem-solving skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with broker partners and customers across industries in support of business objectives.
• Assess risk and exposure and price business to generate and maintain a profitable book of new and renewal business.
• Collaborate with claims, finance, risk engineering, actuarial, and technical underwriting teams.
• Use market-facing, negotiation, and interpersonal skills to grow relationships with preferred distribution partners in an assigned territory.
• Advocate for customers by understanding their risks and offering end-to-end insurance solutions that improve the customer experience.
• Use a disciplined approach to exposure evaluation, risk assessment, and pricing.
• Use risk insights, data, and models to support informed decisions at point of sale.
• Conduct market-facing activity and production within Zurich E&S Casualty.
• Administer and monitor underwriting rules and guidelines, insurance laws and regulations, and rating manual rules.
• Handle highly complex assignments within broad limits and authorities.
• Coach, develop, and empower junior team members.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits for employees and their families.
• Eligibility for Global Specialty Incentive Plan bonuses: 30% for Executive Underwriter and 40% for AVP Underwriting Director.
• May be eligible for merit increases.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED