Underwriting Specialist, Middle Market (Halifax - remote)

The Opportunity

Zurich Canada's Middle Market business is growing!

Are you looking for a caring, collaborative, values-driven workplace with inspiring teammates and leaders? Do you have the ambition and desire to be the best and thrive at the most impactful global insurance provider in the world? Look no further than Zurich Canada.

If you have experience in property/casualty underwriting in the Middle Market space, and are looking for a new challenge, we would love to hear from you.

Zurich Canada is currently looking for an Underwriting Specialist, Middle Market for the Eastern region.

Reporting to the VP, Middle Market, Eastern Canada will be responsible for creating strong broker relationships with the aim to provide meaningful customer service and strong commercial insurance solutions. Through development of strong broker relationships, you will thoughtfully underwrite new and renewal business while actively engaging in the marketplace to enhance the Zurich Canada brand. You will shape your portfolio of accounts within the broader Middle Market strategy as you utilize The Zurich Way of Underwriting, working within your delegated authority to ensure a high level of accountability and equally high level of service to customers.

This is a unique opportunity to build your knowledge and experience for the future in a supportive environment where your voice matters.

This is a remote opportunity.

What you will do

• Serve as an advocate of Middle Market value proposition with a focus on improving the customer experience by understanding our customer's risks and offering the best end to end solution for their insurance needs.
• Develop and nurture broker networks related to mid-market customer with focus on target industries as outlined in business strategy
• Make broker calls with a planned and well-prepared purpose focusing on promoting our products and services to increase penetration
• Identify opportunities through local relationships, proactively seeking renewal and new account opportunities adding to the growth and profitability of our Middle Market portfolio
• Use a disciplined approach to exposure evaluation, risk assessment and pricing:
• Qualifying accounts that align with business strategy and the organization's appetite, balanced with sound business opportunity.
• Measuring exposure and analyzing opportunities to provide appropriate coverage per organization´s risk and compliance processes.
• Apply rating tools and methodologies to deliver to customers and offer suggestions for improvements.
• Using risk insights and analytical tools to drive informed decisions at point of sale.
• Working within limits and delegated authorities, in conjunction with adherence to underwriting rules and guidelines, compliance protocols and insurance regulations
• Apply best practices and provide insights to continuously develop and improve underwriting systems and process
• Up-sell additional coverages associated with the Middle Market product suite (eg Z-Guard) for most comprehensive package solution
• Cross-sell other lines of business to increase product density with the account for most comprehensive Zurich solution
• Understand customer needs, challenges and market dynamics to initiate middle market product solutions for development
• Demonstrate key aspects of portfolio management in consideration of performance metrics, data and insights with aim to improve portfolio, driving diversified growth
• Ensure strong partnership with UAs within the Underwriting Services team to ensure proactive engagement with brokers and best-in-industry customer service focused on timeliness and accuracy of quotes, policy issuance and premium booking.
• Mentorship of less experienced underwriters and supporting training initiatives, as required
• Hone individual skill set and product knowledge, demonstrating senior underwriting level expertise, to become a trusted advisor to middle market brokers and customers

Job Qualifications - What you bring to the table

Basic Qualifications
• High School Diploma or Equivalent and 5 or more years of experience in the Underwriting or Market Facing area
OR
• High School Diploma or Equivalent and 10 or more years of experience in the Claims or Underwriting Support area
OR
• Zurich Certified Insurance Apprentice including an Associate Degree and 3 or more years of experience in the Underwriting o r Market Facing area
OR
• Zurich Certified Insurance Apprentice including an Associate Degree and 8 or more years of experience in the Claims or Unde rwriting Support area
AND
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Experience working on time restraints for quotes on new and renewal business
• Experience working in a team environment

Preferred Qualifications:
• Bachelors' Degree with 5 or more years' experience in the commercial P&C underwriting area
• Strong negotiation skills
• Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Microsoft Office skills

Our Culture

• At Zurich, we are proud of our culture. We are passionate about Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging (DIEB). We want you to bring your whole self to work, and we want our employees to be reflective of the communities in which we live and work. Our DIEB initiatives are creating an environment where everyone feels welcome.
• We have a collaborative culture where diversity of thought is valued. We value your input and strive to give our employees the tools they need to make an impact.
• We care about our employees' well-being and offer a comprehensive health/benefits plan with varying levels of coverage to suit your specific needs and a competitive total compensation package.
• We understand how important it is to rest, recharge and do the things you love. At Zurich, all employees receive a minimum of four weeks of vacation per year to do just that.
• We also understand that employees require time off for personal reasons. Maybe you have an appointment during a workday, a cultural or religious holiday you would like to observe, or you need time off to focus on your mental health. Zurich employees receive four personal days per year to be used at their discretion.
• We are committed to continuous improvement, and offer access to a comprehensive range of training and development opportunities.
• We care about our communities. Our communities are where our customers, people, and shareholders live and work. While we can be proud of the contribution to society Zurich makes through our core business of insurance, we must also give back to our communities through our talent, time and resources.
• We have won numerous awards for our workplace culture. We are proud to be one of Greater Toronto's Top Employers and to have received Insurance Business Canada's 5-Star Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award.

Make a difference. Be challenged. Be inspired. Be supported. Love what you do. Work for us.

About Us

Zurich Canada is part of the Zurich Insurance Group, a multi-line insurer with approximately 55,000 employees worldwide serving customers in global and local markets. Zurich Canada has been a leading insurance provider serving mid-sized and large companies, including multinational corporations, in the Canadian commercial market for 100 years. With over 500 employees in offices across the country, Zurich offers the global strength of a top insurance provider combined with in-depth knowledge of industries and local markets. Zurich Canada aspires to be risk management professionals' first choice as their premier partner to help meet the risk challenges of today and tomorrow. Read more at www.zurichcanada.com.