Branch Manager

Arch Insurance (UK) Limited; St Albans; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Arch Insurance (UK) Limited seeks a Branch Manager to lead the local team, drive profitable growth, and uphold Arch’s customer-centric service standards. The role requires strategic partnership with the Regional Manager and key broker partners to optimize distribution and new business opportunities.

You will manage performance, develop distribution plans, and ensure governance of broker engagement, pipelines, and broker relationships across the branch for sustainable regional profitability.

Qualifications

• Over 10 years of experience in the insurance industry in a management or leadership position.
• Proven track record of stakeholder and broker relationship management.
• Knowledge of corporate underwriting appetite and broker engagement.
• CII qualifications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Understand and support implementation of Corporate underwriting appetite and philosophy.
• Identify and maintain productive relationships with key broker partners.
• Prospect, build pipelines, and secure new business opportunities from targeted brokers.
• Design and implement effective distribution and broker engagement plans.
• Lead and facilitate quarterly business reviews with strategic partners.
• Utilise CRM tools to capture and manage broker engagement activities.
• Manage branch travel, expenses and time-off approvals.
• Foster a high-performance culture built on collaboration and teamwork.

Skills

Relationship-building

Business development

Strategic planning

Risk assessment

Team leadership

Collaboration

Accountability

Customer-centric mindset

Communication

Education

CII qualifications preferred

Leadership experience in insurance

Job description

With a company culture rooted in collaboration, expertise and innovation, we aim to promote progress and inspire our clients, employees, investors and communities to achieve their greatest potential. Our work is the catalyst that helps others achieve their goals. In short, We Enable Possibility℠.

The Branch Manager serves as a strategic leader, exemplifying Arch’s core values and fostering a high-performance culture within the branch. This individual is tasked with effectively implementing company strategy and articulating a shared vision for the branch or region, in alignment with the Regional Manager.

Key responsibilities include driving profitable growth through the cultivation of relationships with strategic broker partners and focus brokers—identified annually based on their return on investment potential in the local market. The Branch Manager will oversee robust tracking of prospects, pipelines, enquiries, and significant case management, ensuring accountability across both the branch team and broker partners regarding new business acquisition and retention.

Additionally, the role involves close collaboration with the Regional Manager and internal stakeholders to enhance broker engagement, uphold superior service standards, and contribute to overall regional profitability and growth.

Approximately 75% of the Branch Manager’s time is dedicated to broker engagement, new business development, and excellence in distribution, while the remaining 25% focuses on leadership, performance management, promoting teamwork, and maintaining a supportive office environment. As a role model for service excellence, the Branch Manager inspires all employees to achieve exemplary results.

Key Tasks And Responsibilities

• Understand and support implementation of Corporate underwriting appetite and philosophy
• Identify, develop, and maintain productive and profitable relationships with key broker partners.
• Prospect, build pipelines, and secure new business opportunities from targeted brokers.
• Design and implement effective distribution and broker engagement plans.
• Direct and support team members to ensure consistent visibility and presence in broker offices.
• Lead and facilitate regular quarterly business reviews (QBRs) with strategic partners and local deal brokers, ensuring outcomes are action-focused and mutually beneficial.
• Utilise CRM tools to accurately capture and manage all broker engagement activities.
• Conduct regular one-to-one meetings with direct reports for performance management and professional development.
• Manage branch travel and entertainment expenses within agreed budgets
• Manage holiday and time-off approvals for the team.
• Oversee and execute all leader standard work and follow up on Process of Excellence output
• Foster a high-performance culture built on collaboration and teamwork.
• Monitor and report on team attendance and sickness absence.
• Ensure accountability for overall team performance and branch objectives.

Role Requirements & Skills

Skills / Competencies

• Relationship-building and stakeholder management: ability to cultivate and maintain strong relationships with brokers, clients, and strategic partners to drive business growth and ensure service excellence.
• Business development and pipeline creation: ability to identify new underwriting opportunities, expand the client base, and develop strategies for sustained branch growth.
• Strategic planning and implementation: ability to develop and execute underwriting strategies aligned with company objectives, market trends, and regulatory requirements.
• Risk assessment and decision-making: ability to demonstrate advanced expertise in underwriting principles, risk analysis, and sound judgement for complex cases.
• Team leadership and people management: ability to inspire, mentor, and develop team members to achieve high performance and support professional growth.
• Collaboration and teamwork: ability to foster a culture of collaboration and shared success within the underwriting team and across departments.
• Accountability for objectives and results: ability to take full responsibility for branch performance, underwriting results, and the achievement of business goals.
• Customer-centric mindset: ability to ensure customer needs are at the forefront of underwriting decisions and service delivery.
• Communication and negotiation skills: ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• CII qualifications preferred

Experience

Over 10 years of experience in the insurance industry in a management or leadership position.

Proven track record of stakeholder and broker relationship management.

14101 Arch Europe Insurance Services Ltd