Group Risk Underwriter

Zurich; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Zurich in Blackrock, Co Dublin, is seeking a Group Risk Underwriter to join an experienced team under the Group Risk Actuary. You will underwrite group risk schemes, set terms and assist with pricing guidelines while collaborating with brokers and clients to drive profitable growth.

The role emphasizes technical underwriting, data interpretation and strong stakeholder engagement. Office-based work is required for the initial period with potential ongoing exposure to international group

Qualifications

• Significant experience (ideally 5+ years) underwriting group risk / employee benefits.
• Strong understanding of group risk selection principles, pricing and portfolio management.
• Experience handling complex and large group schemes, including renewals and experience-rated cases.
• Ability to interpret and assess data such as claims experience, demographics and industry risk factors.

Responsibilities

• Underwrite group risk cases within delegated authority.
• Evaluate employer and member risk information, including industry, demographics and claims experience.
• Set terms, conditions, exclusions and loadings per underwriting guidelines.
• Prepare quotations, renewals and rate reviews with accuracy and consistency.
• Contribute to pricing bases and rating tools where required.
• Support portfolio profitability and growth through disciplined risk selection and pricing.
• Monitor portfolio performance and claims experience.
• Collaborate with distribution, brokers and client relationship managers to win and retain business.
• Participate in client and broker meetings to explain underwriting decisions.
• Provide underwriting input into product development and tender responses.

Skills

Group risk underwriting

Pricing

Data interpretation

Stakeholder management

Tools

Spreadsheets

Rating tools

Job description

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Group Risk Underwriter

137015

Group Risk Underwriter

As a Group Risk Underwriter, you will be an experienced member of a team of 6+ underwriters, reporting to the Group Risk Actuary. The team sits within the Corporate Life and Pensions Proposition team. You will underwrite new and existing group risk schemes including Group Life, Income Protection and, where relevant, Group Serious Illness in line with Zurich’s risk appetite, pricing guidelines and regulatory requirements. You will help deliver profitable and sustainable growth by combining strong technical underwriting with a commercial mindset and effective collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

Your Role

As a Group Risk Underwriter, your main responsibilities will involve:

• Assessing and underwriting group risk cases within your delegated authority.
• Evaluating employer and member-level risk information, including industry, demographics, claims experience and supporting evidence.
• Setting appropriate terms, conditions, exclusions and loadings in line with Zurich underwriting guidelines.
• Preparing and reviewing quotations, renewals and rate reviews, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
• Contributing to the development and maintenance of pricing bases and rating tools where required.
• Supporting portfolio profitability and growth through disciplined risk selection and pricing.
• Monitoring portfolio performance and claims experience.
• Working closely with distribution, sales, brokers and client relationship managers to secure and retain profitable business.
• Participating in client and broker meetings to explain underwriting decisions and support negotiations.
• Providing underwriting input into product development, tender responses and large or complex case deals.
• Ensuring adherence to Zurich underwriting manuals, authority limits and internal control standards.
• Complying with all relevant regulatory and legal requirements, including data protection and fair customer outcomes.
• Maintaining high-quality documentation and audit trails for underwriting decisions.
• Sharing technical knowledge with colleagues and supporting the training and mentoring of junior underwriters where appropriate.
• Keeping up to date with market trends, competitor practices and developments in medical and occupational risk.

Your Skills and Experience

Your Skills and ExperienceTo be successful in this role, you will have:

Essential

• Significant experience (ideally 5+ years) as an underwriter in group risk / employee benefits (e.g. group life, disability, critical illness).
• Strong understanding of group risk selection principles, pricing approaches and portfolio management.
• Proven experience handling complex and large group schemes, including renewals and experience‑rated cases.
• Ability to interpret and assess data such as claims experience, demographic profiles and industry risk factors.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills; confident using spreadsheets and rating tools.
• Clear and confident communication skills, with the ability to explain underwriting decisions to non-technical audiences.
• Strong relationship and negotiation skills, especially when working with brokers and corporate clients.
• High attention to detail, accuracy and quality in all aspects of work.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple cases and deadlines.

Desirable

• Experience working with intermediated business and large corporate clients.
• Exposure to international group programmes, pooling/captive arrangements or multinational accounts (where relevant).
• Familiarity with actuarial concepts and experience rating for group schemes.

Competencies & Behaviours

• Customer-focused with a strong sense of accountability.
• Sound judgement and decision-making, with appropriate escalation.
• Collaborative and team-oriented working style.
• Adaptable, open to change and committed to continuous improvement.
• High integrity and alignment with Zurich’s values and Code of Conduct.

Additional Information

Primary work location is Blackrock, Co Dublin. The work is office based for at least the first four to six months.

Who we are

Zurich is one Ireland's leading insurance companies providing a wide range of general insurance and life insurance products and services. The company employs over 1,000 people across its locations in Dublin and Wexford.

Zurich is a strong brand, Zurich in Ireland is part of Zurich Insurance Group, a leading multi-line insurer that serves its customers in global and local markets. Our 55,000 employees worldwide form the basis of our success, helping our customers in 210 countries and territories to understand and protect themselves from risk. In order to deliver our services, we offer a competitive compensation package and interesting opportunities for further training & development. As a Zurich employee you benefit from a multitude of advantages as well as a strong culture, characterized by acceptance, diversity and team spirit.

At Zurich we are an equal opportunity employer. We attract and retain the best qualified individuals available, without regard to race/ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability.