Lead Underwriting Governance and Technical Standards

Sompo has a unique opportunity for a Lead Underwriting Governance and Technical Standards in our newly established CUO Office team for Continental Europe. Reporting directly to the Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO) for Continental Europe, you will play an important role in shaping and developing the CUO Office as a central function supporting underwriting excellence and governance across Sompo’s commercial insurance operation in Continental Europe.

Location: This position will be based preferably out of our Zurich office, but potential candidates might also sit in our other European office locations in Paris, Milan, Cologne or Munich.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Underwriting Governance & Quality Control: Rework and update underwriting policies and procedures, conduct audits and compliance checks, and ensure adherence to underwriting guidelines through file reviews, feedback, and escalation of deviations.
• Referral and Authority Management: Oversee referral processes, track underwriting authority levels, and manage onboarding, issuance, and adjustments for Letters of Authority (LoA).
• Underwriting Training & Accreditation: Design and deliver technical training programs for underwriters, lead and guide Subject Matter Expert (SME) groups, track underwriter development, and run accreditation and certification programs.
• Policy Development and Alignment: Collaborate with Group Functions and Underwriting Leaders to develop and maintain underwriting policies, strategies, risk appetite guidelines, and governance KPIs, ensuring consistency across geographies and systems.
• Multinational Underwriting Integration: Integrate multinational requirements into underwriting processes, analyse exposures for pools participation, and update country‑specific requirements for multinational structures.
• Technical Support for Complex Risks: Provide guidance on complex or non‑standard risks, advise on new and evolving exposures, support product development, and adapt underwriting criteria to emerging risks.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Work with actuarial, risk engineering, and portfolio teams to build underwriting tools, risk scoring models, and capacity management methods, while streamlining and automating underwriting processes.
• Documentation and Best Practices: Develop underwriting forms, checklists, best practice documents, and bulletins to ensure consistency and efficiency across the organization.

What You’ll Bring

• Comprehensive understanding of commercial underwriting practices, policies, and risk management.
• Ability to design, implement, and maintain scalable and compliant underwriting frameworks.
• Expertise in creating transparent and meaningful governance metrics for decision‑making.
• Proven experience in leading and aligning cross‑functional teams toward strategic goals.
• Capability to develop and deliver training programs and manage underwriter accreditation.
• Data‑driven with strong ability to assess audits, identify trends, and provide actionable insights.
• Familiarity with standard databases, underwriting tools, automation, and risk scoring models.
• Detail‑Oriented: precise and thorough compliance checks, audits, and policy management.
• Strategic Thinker: visionary with the ability to align practices with organisational goals.
• Collaborative: strong interpersonal skills to foster teamwork across diverse functions.
• Leadership and Mentorship: inspires and guides teams to achieve governance and underwriting excellence.
• Adaptable: flexible in managing change and integrating new tools or processes.
• Analytical and Decisive: critical thinker with effective problem‑solving and decision‑making skills.
• Integrity: committed to ethical practices and transparent governance.
• Results‑Driven: focused on delivering high‑quality outcomes and continuous improvement.

Our Benefits

• Expansive Health & Wellness Benefits
• Generous Retirement & Savings Plans
• Global Parental Leave & Adoption Assistance

Equal Opportunity Employer

Sompo is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.