Sustainability & Transition Risk Underwriter

Zurich Insurance; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global insurance provider in Toronto is seeking a sustainability subject matter expert to join their underwriting team. The ideal candidate will bring engineering expertise and underwriting experience, focusing on sustainability and transition risk. This hybrid position offers a supportive environment and the chance to make a real impact in the insurance industry, with a culture that values diversity and well-being.

Benefits

Comprehensive health benefits

Minimum of four weeks of vacation

Personal days off

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of work experience in a relevant field.
• Relevant professional memberships or advanced degrees are highly desirable.
• Understanding of financial governance across multiple jurisdictions.

Responsibilities

• Support underwriting community on ESG and sustainability aspects.
• Lead development of sustainability strategies and projects.
• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments for new technologies.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Emotional intelligence

Ability to work independently

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Finance, Risk Management, or a related discipline

Masters of Engineering (with Elite Certificate)

Job description

The Opportunity

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 underwriting—particularly within sustainability or transition risk—and are looking for a new challenge, we would love to hear from you.

Zurich Canada is seeking a sustainability subject matter expert with a robust background in underwriting. The ideal candidate will possess a unique blend of engineering expertise and proven underwriting experience, complemented by strong project management and risk assessment capabilities. Your underwriting acumen will be instrumental in evaluating the risks associated with new technologies and infrastructure development, as well as in developing and implementing sustainability engagement plans.

Reporting to the Chief Underwriting Officer, you will be expected to apply your underwriting knowledge to all aspects of the role, from risk assessment to stakeholder engagement. You should demonstrate an in-depth understanding of financial governance across multiple jurisdictions and possess the ability to interpret and respond to human behavioral cues effectively.

This is a unique opportunity for an underwriter to further build expertise in sustainability and transition risk, in a supportive environment where your voice matters.

This is a hybrid work opportunity.

What you will do

• Support Zurich Canada underwriting community with subject matter expertise on ESG and sustainability aspects to help craft underwriting solutions for our customers.
• Lead the development and execution of sustainability strategies in collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders, leveraging your underwriting expertise to assess and manage risk.
• Oversee and manage sustainability-related projects, ensuring timely and successful delivery, with a focus on underwriting implications and risk transfer.
• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments for new technologies, engineering advancements, and infrastructure projects.
• Effectively communicate technical risks and insights to underwriting teams and relevant stakeholders.
• Apply an evidence-based, engineering first principles approach known as risk-based assessment (RBA) to analyze and interpret risks.
• Understand and continually build knowledge on latest in LCA.
• Understand the fluidity of compliance requirements related to climate risk and ESG reporting standards, and its tie to transition risks.
• Adapt and apply RBA methodologies to transition planning, risk strategy development, and equity projection with underwriting best practices in mind
• Facilitate intelligent risk transfer within insured-insurer partnerships, drawing on your underwriting background.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry changes, including climate, technology, economic, and societal shifts —with a focus on their underwriting impacts.

Job Qualifications – What you bring to the table

Required :

• Bachelors degree in Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Finance, Risk Management, or a related discipline
• Masters of Engineering (with Elite Certificate)
• Relevant professional memberships (such as the Institution of Civil Engineers), certifications, or advanced degrees are highly desirable.
• Minimum of 2 years of work experience in a relevant field
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Emotional and situational intelligence
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team environment

Preferred :

• Additional languages to English fluency
• International work experience, not limited to financial services
• International Organization, Private Equity work experience
• Current or prospective M. Eng student with qualifying work experience

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.

A future with Zurich

Now is the time to move forward and make a difference. At Zurich, we want you to share your unique perspectives, experiences and ideas so we can grow and drive sustainable change together. As part of a leading global organization, Zurich North America has over 148 years of experience managing risk and supporting resilience. We are a leading provider of commercial property-casualty insurance solutions and a wide range of risk management products and services for businesses and individuals. Today, we serve more than 25 industries, from agriculture to technology and insure 90% of the Fortune 500. Our growth strategy is not limited to our business. As an employer, Zurich strives to provide ongoing career development opportunities and foster an environment where voices are diverse, behaviors are inclusive, actions drive equity, and our people feel a sense of belonging. Be a part of the next evolution of the insurance industry. Join us in building a brighter future for our people, our customers and the communities we serve.

As a global company, Zurich recognizes the diversity of our workforce as an asset. We recruit talented people from a variety of backgrounds with unique perspectives that are truly welcome here. Taken together, diversity and inclusion bring us closer to our common goal : exceeding our customers’ expectations. Zurich is committed to providing a diverse, inclusive and barrier-free environment resulting in an accessible organization for employees, customers, and other parties who interact with, or on behalf of, Zurich. We strive to achieve a workplace free of discrimination of all forms, including discrimination on the basis of physical or mental disability, or medical condition. If you are interested in a job opportunity, please advise if you require an accommodation, so we can work with you to provide a more accessible process.

Zurich does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or employment agencies. Any unsolicited resume will become the property of Zurich Canadian Holdings Limited. If you are a preferred vendor, please use our Recruiting Agency Portal for resume submission.

Only applicable for Canada : For Zurich Canada's commitment to diversity and accessibility please click here. If you would prefer to not receive future electronic messages from Zurich Insurance Company Ltd's recruitment management system, please email your request to have your job profile deleted from the system by clicking here. Zurich Insurance Company Ltd 100 King St., W., Suite 5500, Toronto, ON, M5X 1C9. www.zurichcanada.com