Agri Market Facing Underwriter

Agri Market Facing Underwriter- Hybrid

Zurich Insurance Europe AG, Ireland Branch is looking for an Agri Market Facing Underwriter to join our Personal Lines Department. The Agri Underwriter is responsible for the account management of our Farm Protection Business through our Direct Customers & Broker partners. 

Develop and maintain relationships with our Farm Business Development Managers, Direct Customers & Broker partners in support of business retention and acquisition and to determine their insurance related needs and provide solutions. 

Contribute to the development of propositions and apply organisations quality standards in order to deliver profitable business results.  

The Underwriter will be working closely with Sales and Distribution and other internal operations, such as Product, Claims, Business Lines and Finance to ensure all areas of the business are managed according to the Zurich Way of Underwriting and within delegated authority levels.

This role may be available part-time or full time. This is because we want the best people for our roles, and we recognise that sometimes those people aren’t available full-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you may need.

Your Role

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

• Builds relationships with key customers and distributors and manages strategic distributors’ agreements and terms of business with Zurich
• Under direct supervision; underwrite and analyses new and renewal business utilizing the Zurich Way of Underwriting framework and within delegated authority levels.
• Specific job tasks for area of responsibility include:
• Measuring exposure & analysing risk primarily for business referred by our online quotation tools/products
• Quoting & setting coverage for cases not automatically rated/accepted
• Negotiating terms & conditions
• Contribute to managing accounts 
• Build relationships in support of customer/business acquisition and retention (e.g., by handling a range of queries, providing advice to assist with the development of an account)
• Implementing agreed technical standards, controls, practices and procedures, thereby maintaining underwriting discipline
• Proactively contribute ideas and work for the development of new or enhanced propositions based on technical, customer and distributor insights
• Adhere to Central Bank compliance standards of operating
• Demonstrate high level of quality assurance in all elements of the underwriting process
• Ensure any issues arising are dealt with in accordance with Zurich standards and that where appropriate issues escalated in a timely fashion
• Responsible for relationship management 
• Responsible for the maintenance of all customer
• Underwriting Records in accordance with regulatory /statutory and internal requirements.

Relationships:

Internal Relationships

• Active engage and interact where necessary with Risk Engineering, Claims, Underwriting Technical Centre, Distribution Management, Proposition Development and other functional areas.

External Relationships

• Build key relationships with customers, distributors, tied agents and business partners. 
• Engagement and participate in promotion of Zurich at events when appropriate.  

Your Skills & Experience

Qualification, Knowledge & Experience:

• A minimum of 2 Grade C3/H5 at Higher Level in the Leaving Certificate (or equivalent) or FETAC Level 6 Diploma. 
• Bachelor’s degree and / or holds or is working towards relevant professional qualifications i.e. CIP, ACII. 
• Minimum 3 Years industry knowledge in Commercial Insurance 
• Underwriting Authority Level Min 1
• Excellent technical insurance knowledge, including specific knowledge in the Agricultural sector

 
Skills & Competencies:

• Advanced knowledge of the Insurance Industry is required, specific knowledge of the Agricultural sector would be beneficial 
• Thorough understanding of the relevant systems, sales practices in addition to our products being sold in the market 
• Solid understanding of Underwriting practices, rules and performance metrics
• A high level of experience in contributing to and working effectively as part of a successful team 
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills supporting an ability to develop and maintain valuable and productive relationships with key customers 
• Excellent planning and organisational skills 
• Strong Problem-solving, decision-making and judgement skills
• Strong knowledge of regulatory and legal requirements 
• Supports organisational change and improvement 
• Ability to drive and manage own work
• All employees are expected to work in accordance with the values laid out in Zurich Basics. 

Key Personal Attributes:

• Results driven with a proven track record of executing and delivering results
• Excellent communication and relationship skills with a strong history of collaborating effectively with key business partners
• A strong team player with a flexible, positive attitude towards work
• Excellent planning and organisational skills that support a high service standard
• Excellent attention to detail, including a strong ability to multitask
• Ability to prioritise workload and to adapt quickly within a busy environment to ensure we respond effectively to customer needs and expectations
• Good research skills
• Good IT literacy skills and knowledge of frequently used applications

Additional Information

Primary work location is Wexford and occasional travel may be required to other Zurich locations.

If you value an exciting and varied working environment and meet the above requirements, then our recruiter is looking forward to receiving your application by clicking on the button “Apply online”.

Who we are

Zurich is one of Ireland's leading insurance companies providing a wide range of general insurance and life insurance products and services. The company employs over 1,500 people across its locations in Dublin and Wexford.

Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich) is a leading global multi-line insurer founded more than 150 years ago, which has grown into a business serving more than 82 million customers in more than 200 countries and territories, while delivering industry-leading total shareholder returns.

Reflecting its purpose to ‘create a brighter future together,’ Zurich offers protection services that go beyond traditional insurance, to support its customers in building resilience. Since 2020, the Zurich Forest project supports reforestation and biodiversity restoration in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest.

The Group has more than 65,000 employees and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd (ZURN) is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and has a level I American Depositary Receipt (ZURVY) program, which is traded over-the-counter on OTCQX. Further information is available at www.zurich.com.