Senior Underwriter

Location: Leeds, Manchester or BirminghamHybrid working: Three office days per week
We're supporting a leading specialist insurer with the appointment of a Senior Underwriter to its growing Life Sciences renewals team.
This is a hands-on underwriting role with additional technical and leadership influence. You'll manage some of the portfolio's larger and more complex renewal risks while supporting the development of a talented team of underwriters.
The portfolio covers a varied range of Life Science organisations, including pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, clinical trial, research, cosmetics and supplement businesses.
Key Responsibilities

Managing larger and more complex Life Science renewal accounts.
Assessing risk, negotiating terms and making commercially balanced underwriting decisions.
Building stronger, more proactive relationships with brokers.
Supporting profitable retention and identifying cross-selling opportunities.
Acting as a technical referral point for colleagues.
Coaching and sharing knowledge with less experienced underwriters.
Supporting the Team Manager and contributing to wider trading discussions.
Helping develop and grow a recently enhanced Life Science proposition.

Skills & Experience
Life Science underwriting experience would be ideal, but it isn't essential. We would also be keen to speak with technically strong Property and Casualty or Commercial Combined underwriters who are interested in moving into a specialist market.
You'll need:

Strong technical underwriting experience.
Experience handling complex commercial risks.
Sound commercial judgement and confident decision-making.
Strong broker relationship skills.
An interest in coaching and developing others.
The credibility and energy to positively influence a developing team.

You do not need to already hold a Senior Underwriter title or have formal management experience. Strong underwriting foundations and the ability to support others are more important.
Leeds is the preferred location because most of the team is based there. Candidates in Manchester or Birmingham can also be considered, provided they are comfortable travelling to Leeds approximately once per week.
This is an opportunity to become a key contributor within a specialist portfolio, help shape its future direction and develop towards broader leadership responsibilities.