Group Underwriting Office Head (Hybrid; m/f/x/d; 80-100%)

Location: Zurich, Zurich, CH

This is a rare opportunity to sit at the heart of one of the world's leading reinsurance organisations — orchestrating how underwriting strategy is activated, communicated, and delivered at the highest level. If you are a change and programme leader who knows how to move people, build momentum, and make complex strategy land with clarity and conviction, this role was built for you.

About the Role

As Group Underwriting Office Head, you are the operational and strategic anchor behind Swiss Re's Group Underwriting function, reporting directly to the Group Chief Underwriting Officer (GCUO) and serving as a member of the Underwriting Leadership Team. You will ensure effective leadership execution, coordination, and delivery across priorities. The role combines operational leadership of the GCUO Office with strategic change management, cross-functional initiative leadership, executive narrative development, and people leadership.

It is focused on underwriting leadership alignment and strategic narrative development rather than external or corporate communications activities.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership Office & Operational Excellence

• Manage the operational rhythm of the underwriting leadership function, including governance forums, leadership meetings, and committee structures

• Drive action tracking and follow-through, ensuring decisions made at the top translate into coordinated delivery across the function

• Manage budget planning and resource oversight for the GCUO Office

• Serve as a trusted advisor and sounding board to the GCUO, bringing structure, judgment, and strategic clarity

Team Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team, setting clear objectives and creating an environment where people grow and deliver
• Foster a delivery-oriented, collaborative culture built on accountability and high standards

Strategic Change & Transformation

• Support the definition and execution of underwriting strategic priorities and transformation initiatives
• Translate strategic direction into implementation plans and actionable execution roadmaps
• Coordinate cross-functional change initiatives across underwriting and adjacent functions with clarity and momentum
• Drive stakeholder alignment, strategic messaging, and change narratives that land with impact
• Monitor implementation progress and support delivery against strategic objectives

Underwriting Projects & Strategic Initiatives

• Lead underwriting-related projects, reviews, and thematic deep dives on behalf of the GCUO
• Structure ambiguous, complex topics into clear workstreams and executive-ready outputs
• Coordinate contributors across underwriting leadership to ensure cohesive, on-time delivery

Executive Narrative & Board-Level Content

• Lead the development and coordination of underwriting narratives, presentations, and materials for senior leadership and Board-level discussions
• Ensure strategic relevance, consistency, and alignment of content across underwriting
• Shape executive narratives and strategic messaging for clarity and impact
• Support the GCUO in preparing for key leadership and governance engagements

About the Team

You will be joining Group Underwriting a function with a clear and ambitious mission: to shape Swiss Re's underwriting portfolio to maximise long-term financial performance, aligned with our risk, capital, and sustainability objectives.

We are equally committed to building the underwriting capabilities of the future — investing in talent through structured career learning paths, targeted training programmes, and fostering a connected, high-performing underwriting community across Swiss Re. When you join this team, you become part of a function that is as focused on people and the long game as it is on results today.

About You

You are a rare blend of strategic thinker, programme leader, and master communicator. You know how to read a room, activate the right stakeholders, and build the momentum needed to make change happen in complex organisations. You bring the discipline of an experienced programme manager, the instincts of a seasoned change leader, and the craft of someone who knows how to make strategy resonate in a boardroom. You lead with presence, build trust at senior levels quickly, and take pride in developing the people around you.

We are looking for candidates who meet these requirements:

• Significant experience in change management, programme leadership, and transformation roles ideally within insurance, reinsurance, or financial services
• Demonstrated ability to activate and align senior stakeholders, with a track record of moving complex organisations through change
• Proven experience developing board-level and executive committee materials, with exceptional ability to craft and deliver strategic narratives that land with impact
• Strong people leadership experience, including coaching and developing teams to communicate and perform at a senior level
• Deep understanding of underwriting business dynamics

These are additional nice to haves:

• Experience in a Chief of Staff, DOO, or equivalent leadership office role at Group or C-suite level
• Familiarity with reinsurance business models, underwriting cycles, and portfolio management
• Formal change management or programme management qualifications (e.g. Prosci, MSP, PMP)

For Switzerland, the base salary range for this position is between 160,000 CHF and 240,000 CHF for a full-time role.

The specific salary offered considers:

• The requirements, scope, complexity and responsibilities of the role
• The applicant's own profile including education/qualifications, expertise, specialisation, skills and experience

In the situation where you do not meet all the requirements or you significantly exceed these, the offered salary may be below or above the advertised range. In addition to your base salary, you may be eligible for additional rewards and benefits including an attractive performance-based annual bonus.

Our company has a hybrid work model where the expectation is that you will be in the office at least three days per week.