Vice President of Liability Underwriting

Vice President of Liability Underwriting

Zurich North America is seeking a seasoned professional for the role of Vice President of Liability Underwriting. This position reports directly to the VP of Casualty Lines, Underwriting Officer. We prefer candidates who can work in a hybrid capacity across any of our U.S. offices.

The Vice President of Liability Underwriting plays a pivotal role in developing and executing Zurich North America's liability underwriting strategy. This individual will lead a team of underwriters, setting and evolving underwriting standards, guidelines, appetite, and authority levels while ensuring disciplined underwriting practices that drive portfolio performance.

In this position, you will leverage your deep liability expertise to formulate and implement strategies for our Commercial General Liability and Excess portfolio. Collaborating with global colleagues and Business Unit Heads of Underwriting, you will provide actionable insights, technical underwriting strategies, and pricing approaches that align with our financial goals and enhance portfolio quality.

We are looking for a results-driven professional with exceptional influencing skills and the ability to translate data and market trends into clear, actionable plans. This leader will be proactive and solutions-oriented, championing the modernization of underwriting capabilities through transformational initiatives. Balancing strategic vision with practical execution, you will deliver measurable impact throughout the organization.

• Define strategies to shape portfolio performance, identify trends, support pricing adequacy, and drive profitability frameworks.
• Provide underwriting direction to facilitate successful Commercial GL and Excess underwriting, achieving North American financial objectives.
• Drive profitable growth by supporting business units in developing, implementing, and monitoring their portfolio strategies.
• Formulate and execute strategic operational plans aligned with business unit goals and provide input to Commercial GL and Excess underwriting strategies.
• Assess long-term opportunities and risks associated with market shifts, projecting 5+ years into the future.
• Identify emerging issues relevant to current and future needs, ensuring strategies incorporate these insights effectively.
• Ensure governance and alignment of policies, procedures, and operational standards for your area of responsibility.
• Optimize resources and champion projects, products, and investments in Commercial GL and Excess that meet business needs.
• Evaluate underwriting activities to detect strategic risks and compliance concerns.
• Lead risk assessments and escalate potential issues to management as necessary.
• Enhance underwriting standards across Commercial GL and Excess Lines of Business to maintain or improve performance.
• Promote a rigorous monitoring system for underwriting processes and procedures.
• Provide strong leadership by managing underwriting personnel resources, driving talent development, and fostering a high-performance culture.
• Oversee the framework for underwriting decisions, including authority grants and technical reviews.
• Guide the design and implementation of rating and pricing tools and methodologies.
• Provide strategic insights for tools development and modernization.
• Maintain strategic partnerships internally and externally to advance business goals.
• Lead underwriting strategy for product development in coordination with business units and Product Management.
• Enhance standardization and simplification of products, processes, and tools across Lines of Business.
• Identify training opportunities in Commercial GL and Excess and assist with the training framework.
• Oversee underwriting engagement with industry and regulatory bodies.

• Bachelor's Degree and 10 or more years of relevant Operations experience.
• Experience working globally with underwriting partners.
• Management or supervisory experience.

• CPCU designation.
• Extensive technical knowledge and leadership skills indicative of a senior underwriting executive.
• Proven track record of fostering business improvements and…