L&H Underwriting Portfolio Lead (80-100%)

Are you driven by the vital role and impact that underwriting brings to Life and Health insurance? In this role, you'll have the opportunity to shape Swiss Re's UK & Ireland underwriting philosophy and approach, work with some of the market's leading insurers, and help clients navigate how underwriting is changing. If you bring strong Life & Health underwriting expertise, enjoy building trusted client partnerships, and want to be part of a collaborative team, this could be an exciting next step in your career.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Life & Health underwriter to join us as Life & Health Underwriting Portfolio Lead for the UK & Ireland. Reporting to the Head of Underwriting and Claims, UK&I, you will help shape and apply our underwriting philosophy and risk appetite, support strong portfolio management, and provide clear technical guidance to colleagues and clients. You will be a senior voice within the UK & Ireland Underwriting and Claims team, working closely with colleagues from various disciplines both globally and in the UK & Ireland.

Key Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver the UK & Ireland Life & Health underwriting philosophy, including how it is reflected in client support, underwriting guidance and Life Guide — the globally ranked number one underwriting manual in the annual NMG survey
• Act as a senior technical underwriting expert, providing clear guidance, advice and constructive challenge to colleagues and clients
• Build trusted, long-term relationships with clients by understanding their challenges and helping them apply underwriting solutions that work in practice
• Collaborate closely with Underwriting and Claims Portfolio & Proposition Teams, Medical Officers, Pricing, Client Markets and Global teams to support the UK & Ireland market strategy
• Set underwriting risk appetite and strategy, using sound judgement to shape its direction and ensure alignment with business and client needs
• Use portfolio insight, claims experience and broader knowledge to inform underwriting decisions and identify opportunities to improve outcomes
• Represent Swiss Re at client and industry events, sharing underwriting expertise and perspective on emerging issues
• Guide clients in adopting innovative underwriting solutions, including AI, and support them in building robust risk control frameworks to address emerging challenges

About the Team

The Life & Health Claims and Underwriting Team is a forward-thinking group that leverages deep experience to maintain a dual focus on strong portfolio outcomes and a future-fit service proposition. The team is dedicated to managing the L&H portfolio and delivering high-quality technical assessments, while harnessing portfolio insights, technology and market trends to design services and solutions that align with clients' strategic goals. We are a collaborative, innovative team committed to making a meaningful difference for our clients and the people they serve.

About You

We are looking for a technically strong and people-oriented underwriting professional who combines deep Life & Health expertise with a genuine passion for client partnership and collaborative working. You are curious, proactive and excited about the future of underwriting — including how data, technology and AI are reshaping the landscape.

We are looking for candidates who meet these requirements:

• Proven Life & Health underwriting expertise, with a strong technical foundation and a solid understanding of what drives portfolio performance and profitability
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain trusted client relationships, understanding client challenges and translating underwriting expertise into practical, workable solutions
• Experience setting or contributing to underwriting risk appetite and strategy, with the confidence to apply sound judgement in complex or ambiguous situations
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey technical topics clearly and practically to both specialist and non-specialist audiences

These are additional nice to haves:

• Experience collaborating across multidisciplinary teams — including pricing, medical, claims and client-facing functions — with the ability to listen to different perspectives and give and receive constructive challenge
• Curiosity and enthusiasm for emerging underwriting approaches, including data analytics, AI and digital tools, and how these can improve underwriting decisions and processes while maintaining sound risk management
• A track record of representing an organisation externally at industry events or in client forums, contributing to thought leadership on underwriting practices and emerging risks

For London, the base salary range for this grade position is between GBP 84,000 and GBP 126,000 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 addition to your base salary, Swiss Re offers an attractive performance-based variable compensation component, designed to recognise your achievements. Furthermore, you will enjoy a variety of global and location specific benefits. Eligibility may vary depending on the terms of Swiss Re policies and your employment contract.

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