Senior Sector Underwriter - Professional Indemnity, Trades, Construction & Engineering

Job Type:

Permanent

Build a brilliant future with Hiscox
 

About Hiscox UK

Hiscox UK is a leading brand in the insurance market, recognised as setting the standards others try to emulate. We consistently deliver strong growth and exceptional returns, recruiting only the very best and empowering them to deliver. We are known for insuring the homes of the rich and famous through to the most innovative technology companies. Our customers are diverse and unique and are only united by our ability to provide specialist insurance tailored to their needs.

The Role

Own the profitable growth and performance of an allocated sector within the region, balancing new-business development with the retention and development of the existing portfolio. Apply sector expertise and commercial judgement to build and convert a high-quality broker pipeline, while maintaining oversight of sector performance, portfolio quality and regional financial outcomes. Lead the underwriting and retention of the sector's largest and most complex risks, managing key renewals, strengthening broker relationships and using market insight to make Hiscox a preferred specialist market. Drive sustainable growth by combining trading, portfolio management and technical underwriting expertise to deliver strong customer, broker and commercial outcomes.

Turn sector knowledge, broker relationships and disciplined underwriting into profitable new-business growth.

Key Responsibilities

Sector Growth and Portfolio Performance

·   Own the profitable growth and performance of an allocated sector within the region, balancing new-business development with the retention and development of the existing portfolio.

·   Apply sector expertise and commercial judgement to build and convert a high-quality broker pipeline, while maintaining oversight of sector performance, portfolio quality and regional financial outcomes.

·   Lead the underwriting and retention of the sector's largest and most complex risks, managing key renewals, strengthening broker relationships and using market insight to make Hiscox a preferred specialist market.

·   Drive sustainable growth by combining trading, portfolio management and technical underwriting expertise to deliver strong customer, broker and commercial outcomes.

Complex Risk Selection and Technical Underwriting

·   Deliver personal new-business GWP and profitability targets.

·   Grow the sector pipeline and run-rate.

·   Improve target-submission quality, quote conversion and speed of response.

·   Develop productive relationships with priority brokers.

·   Applying appetite, authority and consistent underwriting judgement to balance customer, broker and commercial outcomes.

·   Contribute market insight and progress technical capability.

Broker Pipeline, Trading and Market Visibility

·   Review the role holder's sector pipeline, target brokers, quote activity and conversion against plan.

·   Qualify opportunities, gather and analyse risk information, shape multi-line solutions and negotiate terms within authority.

·   Follow priority cases through to decision, build strong broker relationships and share sector insight that influences appetite, proposition and future opportunity flow.

·   Maintain strong market visibility, translating changing broker and customer needs into recommendations for appetite, coverage, product and proposition improvements that support sustainable growth and sector performance.

Sector Insight, Coaching and Governance

- Be externally curious, commercially ambitious and technically disciplined: create opportunities, respond with pace and make clear decisions on the business Hiscox should win.

Candidate Profile

Skills and Experience

·       Established Senior Underwriter with a strong track record in PI and demonstrable depth of expertise across Trades, Construction & Engineering (TCE).

·       Strong track record of generating and underwriting profitable new business, with evidence of pipeline development, conversion and personal production.

·       Established broker relationships and market credibility, with the ability to proactively create opportunities rather than rely on business being presented.

·       Strong technical capability across risk selection, appetite, pricing, coverage, terms and complex referrals, making sound decisions within underwriting authority.

·       Strong understanding of the TCE sector, including market, regulatory and legislative developments, using these insights to help evolve the proposition.

·       A genuine trading mindset, comfortable meeting brokers, developing relationships and building a sustainable new-business pipeline.

·       Ability to underwrite across the full breadth of the SME appetite, from smaller cases through to larger and more complex opportunities.

·       Ability to identify opportunities beyond their own specialism and connect business with colleagues across other products and sectors where appropriate.

·       Ability to act as a recognised sector specialist, influencing brokers and senior stakeholders and helping shape sector trading priorities.

·       Strong commercial judgement, balancing profitable growth, customer outcomes, underwriting discipline and portfolio performance.

·       Diploma in Insurance/CII qualification preferred, although equivalent depth of relevant market experience may be considered.

Diversity and flexible working at Hiscox

At Hiscox we care about our people. We hire the best people for the job and we’re committed to diversity and creating a truly inclusive culture, which we believe drives success. We also understand that working life doesn’t always have to be ‘nine to five’ and we support flexible working wherever we can. No promises, but please chat to our resourcing team about the flexibility we could offer for this role.

We’ve introduced new hybrid ways of working to encourage a healthy work life balance.   We see it as the best of both worlds: structure and sociability on one hand, and independence and flexibility on the other.  

Work with amazing people and be part of a unique culture