HEAD OF DACH | 30192

Emerald Group; Zürich; On-site; CHF 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Emerald Group in Zürich seeks a Head of DACH to own underwriting strategy, portfolio performance, and client relationships across the region. You will lead a high-caliber underwriting team, define risk-adjusted growth, and maintain regulatory compliance to drive profitable expansion in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

You will work with senior stakeholders, shape rate adequacy, and manage complex treaty negotiations with insurers and brokers in a multinational setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, mathematics, actuariaI science, law, or a related field.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Fluency in German and English is required; additional regional language capability is an advantage.
• Significant underwriting experience within reinsurance, with strong exposure to the DACH market and property & casualty business.
• Demonstrated success managing a profitable portfolio and leading complex treaty negotiations with insurers and brokers.
• Deep understanding of underwriting fundamentals, pricing, portfolio management, contract structures, and risk governance.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the underwriting strategy for the DACH region in line with overall business goals and financial targets.
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing underwriting team, fostering technical excellence, accountability, and market engagement.
• Own and be accountable for portfolio profitability and quality of the book.
• Lead portfolio steering through performance metrics, rate adequacy, claims trends, and market developments.
• Build and maintain senior relationships with cedants, brokers, and market stakeholders across the DACH region.
• Lead production and financial planning and negotiation strategy for disciplined execution and competitiveness.
• Establish underwriting guidelines, referral processes, delegated authorities, and technical standards for the region.
• Ensure compliance with governance, regulatory requirements, audit expectations, and documentation standards.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, mathematics, actuarial science, law, or a related field

Advanced degree

Fluency in German

Fluency in English

Underwriting leadership

Portfolio management

Stakeholder management

Regulatory awareness

Contract structures

Job description

The Head of DACH owns underwriting strategy, portfolio performance, and client relationships across the region, with full accountability for profitable growth and underwriting discipline for property, regional casualty and motor business.

• Category: International Actuarial
• Type: Permanent

Key responsibilities including however, not limited to the following:

• Define and execute the underwriting strategy for the DACH region in line with overall business goals and financial targets, risk appetite and portfolio objectives
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing underwriting team, fostering technical excellence, accountability, and market engagement
• Full ownership and accountability for portfolio of business; ensuring the profitability, smart growth and quality of the book
• Lead portfolio steering through analysis of performance metrics, rate adequacy, claims trends, exposure accumulations and market developments
• Build and maintain senior relationships with cedants, brokers and key market stakeholders across the DACH region; representing the company in client meetings, industry events, and market forums across the region
• Lead production and financial planning and negotiation strategy, ensuring disciplined execution and commercial competitiveness
• Establish and maintain underwriting guidelines, referral processes, delegated authorities, and technical standards for the region
• Ensure compliance with internal governance, regulatory requirements, audit expectations, and documentation standards
• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, mathematics, actuarial science, law, or a related field; advanced degree preferred
• Fluency in German and English is required; any additional regional language capability is an advantage
• Significant underwriting experience within reinsurance, with strong exposure to the DACH market and property & casualty business
• Demonstrated success managing a profitable portfolio and leading complex treaty negotiations with insurers and brokers
• Deep understanding of underwriting fundamentals, pricing, portfolio management, contract structures, and risk governance
• Strong knowledge of market dynamics, client needs, and regulatory considerations in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
• Proven experience in leading and developing underwriting teams in a matrixed, international environment
• Strong commercial acumen combined with disciplined risk judgment and analytical capability