Risk Business Partner

Zurich North America is currently hiring a Risk Business Partner. Our Risk Business Partner team enables and empowers ZNA business units and functional areas to understand, mitigate, and take action to address the risks to their strategy.

This person will report to the Risk Business Partner for National Accounts, Excess & Surplus, and Life. This role is based at one of our offices in New York, NY or Schaumburg, IL.

Responsibilities:

• Conducting risk assessments on ZNA’s strategic initiatives, operational areas, business projects, and insurance products in line with assigned priorities and the Enterprise Risk Management framework.
• Executing targeted deep‑dive reviews on emerging or topical themes — such as specific business objectives, processes, trends, or portfolios — to identify material risks, themes, and improvement opportunities.
• Acting as a key conduit for risk insights, sharing observations with the Enterprise Risk Management and Internal Controls teams to support the development of risk reports, dashboards, TRP/QRR content, and governance committee materials.
• Strengthening organizational risk awareness by communicating relevant risk observations to Assurance Partners (e.g., Compliance, Group Audit, Underwriting Quality), supporting a coordinated approach across the Three Lines of Defense.
• Supporting the First Line of Defense in the adoption and use of risk tools, systems, and methodologies (e.g., risk assessments, issue remediation tracking, project risk processes, and new ERM platform components).
• Researching and analyzing risk‑related data from internal and external sources; identifying key trends, insights, and emerging themes; and making recommendations that enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and maturity of the ERM framework.
• Synthesizes qualitative and quantitative information to form insights, identify patterns, and recommend balanced risk response.
• Knows when to escalate issues, how to articulate risk impacts, and how to frame recommendations for senior stakeholders.
• Builds trust-based relationships across ZNA’s First, Second, and Third Lines of Defense; engages effectively with Underwriting, Claims, Actuarial, Finance, Internal Controls, Audit, Legal, Compliance, and senior leadership.
• Understands insurance products, operational processes, distribution models, and how risk factors influence performance.
• Clear & concise writing to produce structured, actionable content for risk reports, risk assessments, and governance committee materials, as well as confidence in presenting risk themes, facilitating discussions, and engaging with senior leaders.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and 5 or more years of experience in the Risk Management área OR
• High School Diploma or Equivalent and 7 or more years of experience in the Risk Management área OR
• Zurich Certified Insurance Apprentice including an Associate’s Degree and 5 or more years of experience in the Risk Management área AND
• Risk Management and/or insurance industry underwriting, actuarial, reinsurance and/or claim operations experience
• Experience in the development and implementation of a comprehensive risk management manual, contract manual and risk management website

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced analytical, statistical, and problem solving skills
• Ability to evaluate strategic, operational, financial, and insurance risks to the ZNA business using structured ERM methodologies.

• Understands insurance products, operational processes, distribution models, and how risk factors influence performance.

• Ability to build trust based relationships across the business
• Strong project management skills

• Excellent time management skills
• Detail oriented
• Strong Microsoft Office skills (Excel, PowerPoint and PowerBI)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong knowledge of emerging areas of risk and national/local regulations

Your pay at Zurich is based on your role, location, skills, and experience. We follow local laws to ensure fair compensation. You may also be eligible for bonuses and merit increases. If your expectations are above the listed range, we still encourage you to apply—your unique background matters to us.

We offer competitive pay and comprehensive benefits for employees and their families. [Learn more about Total Rewards here.]

Why Zurich?

At Zurich, we value your ideas and experience. We offer growth, inclusion, and a supportive environment—so you can help shape the future of insurance. Zurich North America is a leader in risk management, with over 150 years of expertise and coverage across 25+ industries, including 90% of the Fortune 500®.

Join us for a brighter future—for yourself and our customers.

Zurich in North America does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, age, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy or other characteristics protected by applicable law. Equal Opportunity Employer disability/vets.

Zurich complies with 18 U.S. Code § 1033.

Please note: Zurich does not accept unsolicited CVs from agencies. Preferred vendors should use our Recruiting Agency Portal.

Location(s): AM - Schaumburg
Remote Working: Yes
Schedule: Full Time
Employment Sponsorship Offered: No  
 
Linkedin Recruiter Tag: #LI-MG1 #LI-ASSOCIATE