Lead Trader - Social Housing

AXA UK; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

AXA is expanding its Social Housing Real Estate business for Mid-Corporate and Corporate clients in the UK. The role focuses on underwriting risks, maximising income opportunities, and building partnerships with specialist brokers.

You will drive growth, deliver expert risk assessment, and help AXA achieve strategic objectives in this sector. You will lead meetings, train Underwriters, and manage portfolio quality while navigating regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Social housing property underwriting experience is essential.
• Strong negotiation, sales, and relationship-building skills, with a proven ability to establish and maintain networks with key stakeholders in the Social Housing sector.
• Extensive experience managing Social Housing cases and portfolios, including direct client exposure and understanding of legislative and regulatory insurance requirements.
• High technical product knowledge for real estate classes and familiarity with key Social Housing stakeholders.
• Motivated and target-driven, with excellent time management, prioritisation, and the ability to identify and convert new business opportunities.
• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, capable of building positive relationships internally and externally across all levels.
• Proven track record of performance management, including monthly oversight of intermediary performance using MI/business tools, with the agility to adjust strategies to meet financial KPIs.
• CII qualifications are desirable, demonstrating a solid foundation of insurance knowledge and professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Underwrite new and existing Social Housing business profitably in line with underwriting practices.
• Develop strong trading relationships with specialist brokers and generate profitable business.
• Build a robust pipeline of new opportunities and ensure broker/client engagement.
• Lead meetings, presentations and tender responses to portray AXA capabilities.
• Coach Underwriters to improve technical and trading capability.
• Act as referral point for Underwriters to improve decision quality.

Skills

Social housing underwriting

Negotiation

Relationship building

Portfolio management

Time management

Communication

Performance management

CII qualifications desirable

Education

CII qualifications (desirable)

Job description

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 passionate about the Real Estate sector and eager to drive growth in a dynamic, environment? We’re seeking a dedicated professional to lead the expansion of our Social Housing Real Estate business for Mid-Corporate and Corporate clients. In this role, you’ll be responsible for underwriting risks within your authority, maximising income opportunities, and building strong relationships with specialist brokers. Join us and contribute to our strategic objectives by delivering expert risk assessment and fostering impactful partnerships in the Social Housing real estate market.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure trading teams underwrite new and existing business profitably, accurately, consistently and in line with established underwriting practices, using the full range of appetite and tools available.


• Proactively lead the development of strong trading relationships with specialist brokers, taking full ownership for the generation of profitable business.


• 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 and end customers to portray AXA capabilities and secure new Social Housing business opportunities.


• Coach, train and develop Underwriters to continually improve their technical and trading capability from a multinational perspective.


• Act as the referral point for Underwriters within your team, providing technical and trading input to improve the quality of decisions within their empowerment.

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, visiting clients or attending industry events. We’re also happy to consider flexible working arrangements, which you can discuss with Talent Acquisition.

Your Skills & Experience

• Social housing property underwriting experience is essential.


• Strong negotiation, sales, and relationship-building skills, with a proven ability to establish and maintain networks with key stakeholders in the Social Housing sector.


• Extensive experience managing Social Housing cases and portfolios, including direct client exposure and understanding of legislative and regulatory insurance requirements.


• High technical product knowledge for real estate classes and familiarity with key Social Housing stakeholders.


• Motivated and target-driven, with excellent time management, prioritisation, and the ability to identify and convert new business opportunities.


• Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, capable of building positive relationships internally and externally across all levels.


• Proven track record of performance management, including monthly oversight of intermediary performance using MI/business tools, with the agility to adjust strategies to meet financial KPIs.


• CII qualifications are desirable, demonstrating a solid foundation of insurance knowledge and professionalism.

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. For our support, please send an email to [e-mail].