Senior Natural Catastrophe Specialist, Vulnerability (80-100%)

Are you passionate about using cutting-edge science to better understand natural catastrophe risk? Join our team where your expertise in structural engineering and vulnerability will help improve how we model and manage natural catastrophe risks across the globe. This is your opportunity to apply advanced engineering principles to drive confident natural catastrophe decision-making.

About the Role

As a Senior Natural Catastrophe Specialist with expertise in Vulnerability, you will help advance how we quantify vulnerability in catastrophe modeling to better understand the physical and economic impact of natural perils like tropical cyclones, earthquakes, severe convective storms, floods, winter storms, and wildfires.

Key responsibilities include:

• Advance our vulnerability modeling of natural catastrophes and insured losses to buildings, contents, and business interruption.
• Quantify the role of important building characteristics and regional differences in construction practices on vulnerability and losses.
• Analyze claims data to empirically develop and validate vulnerability curves for loss estimation.
• Establish yourself as an expert on natural catastrophe risk and modeling within Swiss Re and effectively communicate these risk views internally and externally.
• Collaborate with other business functions like underwriting, portfolio steering and risk management to translate vulnerability insights into actionable decisions.

About the Team

The catastrophe perils (Cat Perils) department is responsible for development and advancement of Swiss Re’s global Nat Cat risk assessment framework, models, and tools. The team consists of approximately 70 dedicated scientists and engineers in multi-faceted technical fields. We develop proprietary Nat Cat models and risk views, informed by the latest science and engineering as well as our unique underwriting experience and expertise, to grow Swiss Re's edge in Nat Cat re/insurance. We create value for Swiss Re by driving confident Nat Cat decisions, in close collaboration with peers in underwriting and other functions.

About You

You are passionate about shaping the future of Swiss Re's Nat Cat modeling landscape! You are a problem-solver who excels in applying advanced scientific methods to complex challenges in natural catastrophe modeling. Highly motivated, detailed-oriented and well organized you thrive in a fast-paced business setting. You are comfortable performing self-directed work with outstanding written and verbal communication skills.

We are looking for candidates who also meet these requirements:

• Minimum of 3 years of industry or academic experience in catastrophe modeling or risk assessment.
• Exceptional fundamentals developing, calibrating, and validating vulnerability models of buildings and infrastructure systems to natural catastrophes for loss prediction. Relevant lines of business include residential, commercial, and/or industrial structures.
• M.Sc. or Ph.D. degree in civil engineering or a related technical field.
• Strong analytical and programming skills (e.g., Python, Matlab, R), and experience using statistical tools and methods to solve applied problems.

Additional nice-to-haves include:

• Catastrophe modeling experience in a (re)insurance context.
• Familiarity with emerging vulnerability topics such as climate change adaptation, uncertainty quantification, data centers, business interruption and social inflation.
• Application of AI and machine learning in damage assessment, claims analysis and vulnerability estimation.
• Proficiency with GIS software and structured databases.

For Switzerland, the base salary range for this position is between 130,000 CHF and 194,000 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.