Agri Product Underwriting Specialist

To provide technical underwriting expertise and guidance to the Agri Market Facing Underwriters and wider functions under general direction. To support aspects of the management of the Agri portfolio and the achievement of the business plan through the delivery planned actions and initiatives leading to the creation of sustainable results in accordance with the Zurich Way of Underwriting and within delegated authority levels.

This role will entail strong internal and external stakeholder management skills as well as commercial awareness not limited to:

Comply with Zurich Risk Policy, Global Underwriting Policies (GUP) as well as local regulatory & industry requirements

Profitability, Loss Ratio (LR’s) & Combined Operating Ratio (CoR) in line with business plans
Gross Written Premium in line with business plans and strategy

Internal Relationship
Reporting to the Head of Agri Business 

Actively engage and interact where necessary with Actuarial Pricing and Reserving, Claims, Underwriting Technical Centre, Distribution Management, Proposition Development and other functional areas such as Marketing and Risk Engineering.

External Relationship
Build key relationships with customers, distributors, intermediaries and business partners. 
Engagement and participate in promotion of Zurich at events when appropriate.
 

As an Agri Technical Underwriter your main responsibilities will include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:

• Contribute to the implementation of underwriting strategies (e.g. pricing) and solutions (e.g. product development, underwriting tools and processes) for the Agri portfolio, both Direct and Intermediated channels.
• Monitor underwriting strategy relating to performance metrics, data and insights.
• Operate within established Zurich Risk Policy, Global Underwriting Policy and underwriting governance policies
• Understand portfolio regulatory and compliance obligations e.g. FSO, CPC, DP.
• Contribute and support the development of technical underwriting guidelines, and Best Practices, including controls and procedures.
• Supports LOB Head in aspects of portfolio management, including analysis to monitor profitability and growth and communications.
• Anticipate, recognize and respond to needs of customers.
• Support implementation of customer initiatives.
• Provide status updates.
• Resolve technical problems by referring to policies, procedures, specifications.
• Compare alternatives for solving problems or improving procedures or products and provide recommendations.
• Contribute, develop, and support delivery of technical underwriting technical training content driving underwriting capability and cultural development

• Monitor and review financial information, updating where necessary in order to identify any anomalies or discrepancies and ensure management has access to up to date and accurate information.
• Review and interpret information and advise internal clients of appropriate action to fulfil procedural and regulatory requirements.
• Assist in monitoring pricing, product development, exposure control, data quality, KPI results monitoring and assessing the impact of external forces (from the insurance market and wider environment).
• Works closely with Sales & Distribution, Market Facing Underwriters and Claims to enable the achievement of business plans
• Develop, communicate and maintain underwriting policy and procedures while enforcing a rigorous underwriting process and monitoring system for the portfolio, monitor adherence to underwriting procedures.
• Report and manage breaches where they arise, OEM’s etc.
• Assist in developing the framework for monitoring and delivery of underwriting decisions, e.g. authority grants, referrals, technical underwriting reviews, etc.
• Conduct scheduled reviews and refreshes of all related policy documentation (including proposal forms, SoFs, schedules, policy documents, underwriting guides, policy summaries).
• Active engagement with customers, business partners and acts as a Zurich representative at trade and industry groups, ensuring a strong external leadership profile for the individual and Zurich.
• Working under limited direction, executes The Zurich Way of Underwriting.
• Serve as an escalation point for technical referrals from Operational, Claims and Sales teams, case submissions, schemes or product changes and endorsement wordings.
• Monitor portfolio performance and emerging trends and actively participate in Business Planning and reforecast processes and delivery of underwriting initiatives providing input to monthly and quarterly executive governance reports, data requests and other group reports
• Builds relationships with key customers and distributors and manages strategic distributors’ agreements and terms of business with Zurich
• Proactively contribute ideas and work for the development of new or enhanced propositions based on technical, customer and distributor insights
• Helps create and deliver customer solutions through our Direct Customers & Broker partners.

As an Agri Technical Underwriter your main responsibilities will include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:

• Contribute to the implementation of underwriting strategies (e.g. pricing) and solutions (e.g. product development, underwriting tools and processes) for the Agri portfolio, both Direct and Intermediated channels.
• Monitor underwriting strategy relating to performance metrics, data and insights.
• Operate within established Zurich Risk Policy, Global Underwriting Policy and underwriting governance policies
• Understand portfolio regulatory and compliance obligations e.g. FSO, CPC, DP.
• Contribute and support the development of technical underwriting guidelines, and Best Practices, including controls and procedures.
• Supports LOB Head in aspects of portfolio management, including analysis to monitor profitability and growth and communications.
• Anticipate, recognize and respond to needs of customers.
• Support implementation of customer initiatives.
• Provide status updates.
• Resolve technical problems by referring to policies, procedures, specifications.
• Compare alternatives for solving problems or improving procedures or products and provide recommendations.
• Contribute, develop, and support delivery of technical underwriting technical training content driving underwriting capability and cultural development.
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent)
• Ideally holds or is working towards relevant professional qualifications i.e. CIP, ACII
• Minimum 3-5 Years industry knowledge.
• Demonstrates Intermediate UW technical knowledge 
• Demonstrates a high level of awareness and aptitude for our UW systems and technology based solutions
• Strong analytical skills and decision-making ability.
• Ability to work to strict deadlines and ambitious targets
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship building skills.
• Well organised with project management skills
• Knowledge of the Agricultural sector/Industry advantageous
• Knowledge of Zurich products/policy wordings
• Excellent communication and relationship skills with a strong history of collaborating effectively with key business partners
• Excellent planning and organisational skills 
• Excellent attention to detail
• Ability to prioritise workload and to adapt quickly and work on own initiative and limited direction 
• Good research skills
• Excellent IT literacy skills and knowledge of frequently used application

If you value an exciting and varied working environment and meet the above requirements, then we are looking forward to receiving your application. This role may be available both part or full-time. Please discuss with us the flexibility you may require. 

Closing date for applications is 4th September 2024. Early applications are encouraged as interviews may take place before closing date. 

In order to deliver our services, we offer our employees flexible working models and interesting opportunities for further training & development. As a Zurich Ireland employee you will benefit from a multitude of advantages as well as a strong culture, characterized by acceptance, diversity and team spirit.

At Zurich Ireland, we foster a culture of diversity and inclusion. Our purpose and values are designed to protect, inspire confidence and help our employees reach their full potential. We value and defend what is right and promote opportunities for equity among our professionals, regardless of gender, disability, LGBTQ+, race, ethnicity, generations, belief, etc. Together we are committed to delivering on our purpose - Let’s Create a Brighter Future Together