L&H Underwriting Portfolio Lead

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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.

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.

• 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

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.

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.

• 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

• Experience collaborating across multidisciplinary teams — including pricing, medical,…