Lead Construction Trading Underwriter

AXA UK; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

AXA UK in Birmingham seeks a Lead Construction Underwriter to drive profitable growth within the Mid-Market and corporate construction segments. You will underwrite risks within authority levels and build proactive broker relationships aligned with our objectives.

You’ll lead meetings, tender responses, and coach other underwriters, leveraging data and trading tools to shape underwriting strategy and deliver exceptional results.

Qualifications

• Strong trading capability, negotiation skills, and established relationships with brokers and construction stakeholders.
• High-level technical product knowledge for construction classes and regulatory insurance requirements.
• Experience with monthly performance management using MI/business tools to meet financial KPIs.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Time management and prioritisation in a target-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of strong trading relationships with a panel of brokers, taking full ownership for the generation of profitable business from nominated panel.
• Develop a robust pipeline of appropriate new business opportunities and ensure that long-term pipeline is realised by ensuring broker / client engagement.
• Lead meetings, presentations and tender responses with brokers / end customers to portray AXA capabilities and secure new business opportunities.
• Coach, train and develop underwriters to continually improve their technical and trading capability from a new and existing business perspective.
• Act as the referral point for Underwriters within our teams, providing technical and trading input to improve the quality of decisions within their empowerment.
• Effectively promote and deploy AXA’s strategy, product range, propositions and key differentiators to leverage commercial opportunities.

Skills

Trading capability

Negotiation skills

Broker relationships

Construction knowledge

MI/business tools

Communication

Time management

Job description

About AXA:

AXA is a global leader in insurance and financial services, dedicated to helping customers protect what matters most to them. As the sixth-largest insurance company in the world, we provide a wide range of services, including health, car, home, and business insurance. We support millions of customers worldwide, helping them navigate life's uncertainties with confidence.

AXA Commercial protects businesses, from multinationals to micro start-ups, giving them the confidence to thrive.

Job overview:

Are you a seasoned Construction Underwriter eager to make a strategic impact? Our Birmingham commercial team seeks a dynamic Lead Construction Underwriter to drive profitable growth within the Mid-Market and corporate construction segments. In this role, you’ll underwrite risks within agreed authority levels to maximise income while building strong, proactive relationships with brokers aligned with our company objectives. You’ll help transform our broker partnerships through collaborative, flexible approaches, leveraging your technical and trading expertise supported by data and mobile decision tools. If you're passionate about shaping underwriting strategies and delivering exceptional results, we want to hear from you.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the development of strong trading relationships with a panel of brokers, taking full ownership for the generation of profitable business from nominated panel.
• Develop a robust pipeline of appropriate new business opportunities and ensure that long-term pipeline is realised by ensuring broker / client engagement.
• Lead meetings, presentations and tender responses with brokers / end customers to portray AXA capabilities and secure new business opportunities.
• Coach, train and develop underwriters to continually improve their technical and trading capability from a new and existing business perspective.
• Act as the referral point for Underwriters within our teams, providing technical and trading input to improve the quality of decisions within their empowerment.
• Effectively promote and deploy AXA’s strategy, product range, propositions and key differentiators to leverage commercial opportunities.

Work arrangements:

At AXA we work smart, empowering our people to balance their time between home and the office in a way that works best for them, their team and our customers. You'll work at least three days a week (60%) away from home. Away from home means attending the office in Birmingham, visiting clients or attending industry events.

Your skills & experience:

• Strong trading capability, negotiation skills, and established relationships with brokers and construction stakeholders.
• High-level technical product knowledge for construction classes and a sound understanding of legislative and regulatory insurance requirements.
• Capable of identifying, converting, and managing business opportunities, with proven experience in monthly performance management using MI/business tools to meet financial KPIs.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills at all levels, both internally and externally, demonstrating strong communication and networking abilities.
• Time management and prioritisation skills with the ability to succeed in a target-driven environment.

As a precondition of employment for this role, you must be eligible and authorised to work in the United Kingdom.

This position has been defined as an Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) role under the IDD regime which means that in addition to pre-employment screening checks, the successful candidate will be subject to background screening every 4 years with an annual declaration in interim years.

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer and don’t discriminate against employees or potential employees based on protected characteristics.

If you have a long-term condition or disability and require adjustments during the application or interview process, we’re proud to offer access to the AXA Accessibility Concierge.