Head of Business Development

Hiscox; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading specialty insurer is seeking a Head of Business Development based in Manchester. This role involves leading the development of new products, building strong relationships, and driving innovation. The ideal candidate should have a robust background in product creation and excellent stakeholder management skills. This position offers a hybrid work model and encourages creativity and entrepreneurship in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Hybrid working model

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Opportunity for innovation and creativity

Qualifications

• Proven track record in developing innovative products.
• Ability to establish strong relationships with various stakeholders.
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial mindset and ability to execute quickly.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development of new insurance propositions.
• Identify and analyze customer needs through market research.
• Collaborate with marketing and distribution to launch new products.

Skills

Relationship management

Commercial acumen

Innovation

Stakeholder management

Market analysis

Job description

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Head of Business Development, Manchester

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Client:

Hiscox

Location:

Manchester, United Kingdom

Job Category:

Other

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EU work permit required:

Yes

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Job Reference:

c03986f0f4cd

Job Views:

7

Posted:

12.08.2025

Expiry Date:

26.09.2025

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Job Description:

Job Type: Permanent

Build a brilliant future with Hiscox

Head of Proposition Development

I-HUB (Innovation Hub)

Reporting to the Global Head of Propositions

The I-HUB is a newly created Centre of Excellence delivering new products and propositions across our Business Units, strategically positioning us at the forefront of the market. Our ambition is to maximise the leverage of our existing footprint, expand our appetite and product range, and anticipate the future needs of our current and potential customers. By 2030, the appetite expansion and product development delivered by the I-HUB will contribute more than $1bn in annual revenue.

The role

As the Head of Proposition Development, you will play a critical role in driving the growth and success of new product and propositions by identifying opportunities through your keen insight into customer needs. You will bring creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurialism to the proposition development process and constantly challenge conventional wisdom. You will be responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships with value-add service providers to broaden the Hiscox proposition beyond the core indemnity cover. You will also identify and manage other carriers to underwrite covers that we can embed alongside our own with the goal of increasing our relevance to our customers and meeting more of their insurance needs. Finally, where new products require new forms of distribution, you will collaborate with BU and Group colleagues to identify appropriate channels and partners.

You will demonstrate excellent relationship and stakeholder management skills, exemplary commercial acumen, and the ability to execute at pace. You’ll enjoy sitting at the intersection of innovation, commercial development, and strategic partnerships, helping to take new ideas to market and scale them. You will also be comfortable in a global working environment with colleagues across different cultures and contexts.

Role responsibilities:

• Lead the end-to-end development of new general insurance propositions, from initial concept through to market launch
• Identify unmet customer needs through research, data analysis, and customer feedback
• Champion a customer-first culture across product design and development
• Work closely with marketing, underwriting, and distribution colleagues to shape compelling go-to-market plans for new propositions
• Identify and manage service providers to enhance the value of our propositions beyond the core insurance cover
• Identify and manage new third-party capacity providers to broaden the range of cover offered to Hiscox customers
• In conjunction with Distribution colleagues across the Group, identify preferred distribution channels for newly developed I-HUB products across multiple markets
• Stay close to the market to identify customer needs, competitor activity, and regulatory trends that will help inform product and proposition development
• Evaluate and manage the performance of the current product suite, recommend enhancements or retirements to optimize commercial value and customer experience

Candidate profile

The successful candidate will have a track record of delivering innovative, entrepreneurial products and propositions either within or outside financial services. They will have an unwavering focus on the needs of customers and the commercial acumen to translate those needs into business value. The ideal candidate will help bring a clear ‘outside in’ view of the market and challenge the Group and Business Unit management teams. They will be able to think and execute with the mindset of a start-up but in the context of working for a large, complex business.

Experience

• Significant experience creating new products and propositions
• Ability to build broad and deep relationships at multiple levels both internally and externally
• Highly entrepreneurial mindset with ability to identify and structure new business opportunities
• Able to scale successes at pace, generating enthusiasm and commitment across multiple stakeholders
• Well organized with a focus on execution and the ability to establish repeatable processes to facilitate information sharing and decision making
• Ability to speak confidently about Hiscox in a strategic and consultative manner at the most senior levels
• Ability to navigate complex matrixed organizations with persistence and tenacity

Key Results

• Pipeline of qualified, viable proposition opportunities of at least $200m ICWP per annum from 2026
• Value-add service income of $5m per annum from 2026 onwards
• 12 new products/propositions launched per annum

About Hiscox

As an international specialist insurer, we are far removed from the world of mass-market insurance products. Instead, we are selective and focus on our key areas of expertise and strength— all of which is underpinned by a culture that encourages us to challenge convention and always look for a better way of doing things.

We insure the unique and the interesting. And we search for the same when it comes to talented people. Hiscox is full of smart, reliable human beings that look out for customers and each other. We believe in doing the right thing, making good, and rebuilding when things go wrong. Everyone is encouraged to think creatively, challenge the status quo, and look for solutions.

Scratch beneath the surface and you will find a business that is solid, but slightly contrary. We like to do things differently and constantly seek to evolve. We might have been around for a long time (our roots go back to 1901), but we are young in many ways, ambitious, and going places.

Some people might say insurance is dull, but life at Hiscox is anything but. If that sounds good to you, get in touch.

Diversity and Hybrid working

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 have also learned over the past few years that working life doesn’t always have to be in the office, and now it is safe to do so, we have introduced hybrid working to encourage a healthy work-life balance.

This hybrid working model is set by the team rather than the business to enable you to manage your own personal 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.

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Work with amazing people and be part of a unique culture