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Are you looking for a new opportunity? Your Scheme needs you

11 Mar 2026

The role of a Trustee director can be very rewarding and provide a great opportunity for personal development. The Trustee of the Zurich Financial Services UK Pension Scheme (the “Scheme”) includes four member-nominated Trustee directors (“MNDs”) and their current terms of office end in August 2026. 

Trustee Board

In addition to the four MNDs, the Trustee Board currently has five company-nominated trustee directors (including the Chair) and one independent trustee director.

To be eligible to be an MND you must be a current employee who’s a member of the Scheme, or a former employee who’s now receiving a pension paid from the Scheme. Current MNDs can also apply for a further term of office if they wish, although it is not generally possible to serve more than three terms of office.  

The pension arrangements for Zurich employees (and former employees) have been a key part of the company’s benefits package for many years. The Scheme has around 5,200 active members, 19,700 deferred members and 15,500 pensioner members. It pays out around £16.5m a month in pensions and receives nearly £4.5m a month in DC contributions. 

You don’t have to be a pensions expert to apply; you’ll get appropriate training and support to help you with the technical aspects of the role. To be an effective Trustee director you must be able to work as part of a team with diverse backgrounds, skills and experience. You also need to be an effective communicator, convey your views clearly and be receptive and responsive to the input of others. 

The Trustee Board normally meets at least five times a year to consider the effective running of the Scheme, including making decisions on funding, investments, risk management and discretionary issues. Meeting papers are circulated in advance and you will be required to read these before the meeting to ensure you are fully prepared. Most meetings are held online via Teams call, with two meetings generally held in person at Zurich’s office in Swindon.  

Selection process

All applications will be considered and shortlisted nominees will be assessed through a structured competency-based interview process, which will include an interview with the selection panel and may also include online aptitude tests and mock Trustee Board exercises. 

As part of Zurich, we aim to have a diverse mix of Trustee directors that reflects our membership and the communities in which we live and work. Zurich is a workplace that values different opinions, respects personal needs, and provides equal opportunities for all. The Trustee believes that diversity in thought, experience, background, skills and personal attributes contributes to and enhances the Trustee Board’s capabilities and as such welcomes all applications regardless of your background, beliefs or culture. We want the best person for the role – is that you? 

If the number of nominations received is less than or equal to the number of vacancies, those individuals will not be deemed automatically selected and their suitability for the role of MND will be assessed by the selection panel. If the number of nominations received is more than the number of vacancies the selection panel will assess the suitability of candidates and decide who should be appointed.

Important Notes 

  • You will need a proposer and one supporter (who are both members of the Scheme) and you will need to submit your application form to the Scheme Secretary. Further details are provided on the nomination form. 
  • Generally, anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to be a trustee. There are some exceptions, and you must:
    • Not have been convicted of an offence that involves dishonesty or deception;
    • Not be an un-discharged bankrupt or have entered into voluntary agreements with creditors; 
    • Not have been disqualified from acting as a company director; 
    • Not have property in Scotland that is covered by a sequestration order; 
    • Not be part of a company where another director of that company has been disqualified from being a trustee; 
    • Not be part of a Scottish partnership where another partner has been disqualified from being a trustee; 
    • Not be the auditor for the Scheme; 
    • Not be the actuary for the Scheme; and 
    • Not be prohibited from being a trustee by The Pensions Regulator.

How to apply

If you feel you can make a positive contribution to the Trustee Board we would really like to hear from you. You can get an application form from Sally Wilton (sally.wilton@uk.zurich.com) in the Zurich UK Pensions and Benefits team. Please note that MNDs are not paid for fulfilling this role. If you would like to speak to one of the current MNDs about their experiences on the Trustee Board, let Sally Wilton know and she can arrange this.

The closing date for completed application forms is 5pm on Friday 24 April 2026.