VP, Underwriting Director, Energy

Zurich Specialties • Houston, NY

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

Zurich Specialties is seeking a VP, Underwriting Director to join the Energy Specialties Business Unit. This position reports to the Head of Energy. The preferred locations are our Houston or New York offices. This senior leader will play a critical role in driving portfolio strategy, underwriting excellence, and profitable growth across the Energy segment. In this role, the leader will utilize data analytics to inform business strategy, steward underwriting quality, and contribute to innovation in tools, products, and capabilities. They will work closely with underwriting teams and internal partners, including actuarial, claims, risk engineering, product development, and finance to deliver comprehensive risk transfer solutions spanning primary and excess casualty, property, and emerging energy-related products. The position also involves supporting customer engagement and distribution efforts, partnering with brokers and clients to enhance service quality and drive market opportunities. This leader will help shape underwriting discipline, guide complex risk decisions, and contribute to long-term strategic planning for the Energy portfolio. The role offers the opportunity to influence one of Zurich’s most dynamic specialty lines while collaborating across the enterprise to support innovation, operational effectiveness, and sustained profitable growth.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree and 10 or more years of experience in the Underwriting or Market Facing area.
• OR Bachelor’s Degree and 18 or more years of experience in the Claims or Underwriting Support area
• OR Only current employees at reward level 7 and above may apply with a High School Diploma or Equivalent and 10 or more years of experience
• AND Experience in a specialized insurance line of business or segment (Energy)

Nice To Haves

• Advanced knowledge of Energy product lines, the commercial insurance and Energy industry
• Strong Broker relationships
• Results oriented
• Portfolio management, risk selection and pricing experience
• Product development and underwriting strategy experience
• Strong collaboration, conflict resolution and influencing skills
• Technical knowledge and multi-level leadership skills
• Experience building and managing cross functional teams
• Strong executive presence, presentation skills, and the ability to interact across all levels of the organization
• Ability to manage vision and purpose, lead the organization through innovative and creative thinking
• Track record of fostering business improvement and delivering change in a complex insurance environment

Responsibilities

• Identify, prioritize, and escalate portfolio management, technical skills, and product innovation needs.
• Manage data analytics-based initiatives at a national level, working in partnership with actuaries to provide insights and subsequent tangible underwriting actions
• Lead the development of the Strategic Business Directives for the BU, which requires collaboration across Line of Business Technical teams; effective prioritization of and engagement and participation in ongoing portfolio management activities; and implementation, monitoring and driving execution of UW actions identified through monthly engagement with product team leaders.
• Leads and drives Tiering strategy (identifying appropriate signals for all lines of business) and has a granular view of tiering results.
• Spearhead SBU led efforts in underwriting quality, including file/regulatory documentation and Technical Underwriting Reviews/Audits
• Work with a high level of authority on technically complex risks to support the energy underwriting community, acting as a referral underwriter within the U.S. and facilitating global referrals as required.
• Demonstrate specialized knowledge and expertise in products and industry.
• Administer and monitor underwriting rules and guidelines, insurance laws and regulations, and rating manuals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive