Risk Engineering Graduate Development Programme 2024

Location: We’re flexible! The role of a Risk Engineer is home-based with an element of travel to customer sites and occasionally Zurich offices for training and meetings. Risk Engineers spend around 30-40% of their time on-site. 

Start Date: September 2024 

Closing date for applications: Sunday 5th November 2023 

Are you ready to create a brighter future together?  

The Risk Engineering Graduate Scheme is a fantastically diverse and rewarding two-year opportunity. We have developed a structured programme where you will learn how engineering expertise can assess and improve risk management across a wide range of disciplines and industry sectors.  

You'll work alongside highly experienced Risk Engineers and rotate around our market leading teams to build a strong understanding of our customers and how we identify, assess, and mitigate risk.  

 As part of this graduate scheme, Zurich will support your continued professional development by enrolling successful applicants into an MSc degree in Risk and Safety Leadership.  Approximately 20% of your working time will be allocated to your degree studies, including both on and off the job learning. This course will focus on the keys areas that will really benefit a Risk Engineer in the early years of their career.   

Who is Risk Engineering? 

Risk Engineering is a pivotal function within the insurance industry whereby we support our customers, internally and externally, with market leading risk management solutions which include site surveys, engineering judgment, account management, technical reporting and much more.   

Zurich Risk Engineering has 800 risk professionals operating across 40 countries and with over 75 years of experience. We provide data, tools and insights to help our customers make informed decisions around their risk management strategies and managing the total cost of risk. Our Risk Engineers undertake extensive consultations with internal and external customers to help reduce and mitigate loss.  

What skills will I need? 

A degree in civil, chemical, fire risk or mechanical engineering would be advantageous. To be successful in this role, you’ll need: 

• An engineering degree with a minimum 2:1 classification (or equivalent) predicted or recently achieved  
• At least 96 UCAS points – CCC grades (or equivalent) from 3 A-level subjects excluding general studies 
• A* to C grade (9 to 4) in Maths and English GCSE 
• Full clean driving licence upon application 

Alongside your engineering background, you will need to have the drive and enthusiasm to develop an understanding of each operational area and our business as a whole. Fantastic teamwork, communication, organisational and influencing skills are key, as is the desire to seize the initiative and embrace new opportunities to help make our business the best it can be. 

Your Opportunity  

We want our Graduate Risk Engineers to build experience across different roles in order to see how Risk Engineering adds value to Zurich and to our customers. 

As part of this role, you will have the opportunity to gain exposure to a number of areas to experience this first-hand and examples could include: 

• Commercial Property Surveying – including assessing the potential for Property Damage and Business Interruption across commercial premises such as offices, manufacturing plants, schools and warehouses.
• Energy Surveying – including Property Damage, Business Interruption and Liability surveys across industries such as mining, power (incl. the renewables sector), construction, oil, gas and petrochemicals plus heavy industries such as steel or pulp & paper. 
• Climate Change Resilience Services – including flood risk reviews, global exposure analysis, catastrophe modelling and on-site assessments. 
• Supply Chain Risk Management – including risk assessments identifying reputational, occupational, financial and regulatory risks to improve resilience. 
• Operations, which is the support function for Risk engineering, and would include the following options: 
• Data Analytics 
• Proposition & Vendor management 
• Compliance & Governance 
•  Sales 

 As part of the surveying rotations, you will build and manage internal and external relationships whilst providing a consultative approach to Risk Management through site visits, desktop reviews and survey programmes.   

Your experience will be unique throughout the two-year programme as you’ll agree your rotations with your manager based on both your own preferences and the business needs. 

What can I look forward to?  

We’re a diverse, passionate and well-respected team, you can look forward to working with a wide range of customers across different industries, helping them to understand and manage the risks facing their organisations. 

Throughout the programme, you will build diverse networks across the function and have excellent opportunities to develop and test your skills. You can expect to provide our customers with insight, influence the management of risk within their organisation and drive technical excellence. 

 What’s in it for you?  

As well as joining a company that is passionate about sustainability and our customers, you can expect:  

• £29,400 starting salary  
• Company Car (ECU) 
• On the road and home worker allowance 
• 25 days holiday plus an additional 3 volunteering days  
• Full private medical cover  
• 12% company pension contribution  
• Annual company bonus  
• Discounted gym membership  
• Discounted gadget insurance  
•  Discounted technology offers  

In return, you’ll be joining a business that values creating a brighter, more sustainable future and underpins all that we do. We’re also passionate about diversity and inclusion, which we have won numerous awards for. We want our people to bring the whole of themselves to work and everybody is made to feel welcome, regardless of their background, beliefs or culture.  

Here, you’ll have every opportunity to use your drive and enthusiasm to innovate the future of Zurich, where different opinions are valued, personal needs are respected, and opportunity is equal for all.    

So, make a difference. Be challenged. Be inspired. Be supported. Love what you do. Work for us.  

Please note this is a permanent role. You must have the right to work in the UK in order to apply.