Personal Lines Underwriting Manager

Lawes Insurance Recruitment; York and North Yorkshire; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance recruitment agency is seeking a Personal Lines Underwriting Manager to lead Regional Underwriters in South West England or North Yorkshire. This role offers hybrid working, allowing for a balance of office and home working. The successful candidate will provide technical leadership, manage key account performance, and support strategic objectives in a transformative environment. Strong experience in Personal Lines underwriting and leadership skills are essential for this role.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in a senior Underwriter or underwriting management role within a Personal Lines specialism.
• Expertise in handling complaints, escalations, and complex referrals, including high-value exposures.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and people management skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and expertise to Regional Underwriters across Personal Lines.
• Shape and deliver the Personal Lines underwriting strategy at a regional level.
• Lead a team of Senior Technical Underwriters, enhancing their technical capability.

Skills

Experience in Personal Lines underwriting

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Leadership and mentoring

Commercial awareness

Job description

Job Title: Personal Lines Underwriting Manager

Location: South West England or North Yorkshire

Full/Part Time: Full Time

Hybrid working arrangements – be based out of their York or Bristol offices 40% of your week, with up to 60% home working on offer!

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

In this role, you will provide technical leadership and expertise to Regional Underwriters across the Personal Lines product range (Motor & Personal – M&P). The business is continuing to evolve in this area, with a strong focus on delivering a compelling customer proposition and exceptional experience. This is an exciting opportunity to join during a period of significant transformation, including the implementation of a large-scale digital change programme.

You will play a key role in shaping and delivering the Personal Lines underwriting strategy at a regional level, taking responsibility for local implementation, monitoring key account performance metrics, and setting technical standards. Working closely with Head Office teams and tied Agents, you will act as the primary referral point for the most complex risks, holding the highest underwriting authority within the Regional Team. You will also provide insight into market trends and analysis to support proactive business responses, alongside contributing technical expertise to policy wordings and product development to ensure continued competitiveness.

Leading a team of Senior Technical Underwriters, you will focus on developing and enhancing the technical capability of Regional Underwriters, encouraging intuitive decision-making and maximising their contribution to overall business objectives.

EXPERIENCE

You will bring a well-established background in Personal Lines underwriting, with a demonstrable and in-depth understanding of the market. This will include experience managing complaints, escalations, and complex referrals, alongside a strong awareness of current industry developments and regulatory requirements. Highly analytical and technically focused, you will be able to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including non-technical audiences, and possess the credibility and confidence to challenge existing practices and influence decision-making.

As a collaborative and people-focused leader, you will have a proven track record of coaching and mentoring others, developing talent, and driving high levels of performance within your team. You will combine strong technical expertise with commercial awareness, ensuring underwriting decisions support business objectives, deliver positive customer outcomes, and contribute to long-term success.

Key criteria to highlight on your CV include:

• Demonstrable experience in a senior Underwriter or underwriting management role within a Personal Lines specialism
• Expertise in handling complaints, escalations, and complex referrals, including Home and Motor, Reinsurance, Flood Re, and high-value sum insured exposures (£5m+)
• Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing capabilities
• Experience delivering against KPIs, projects, and strategic objectives
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and people management skills

If you have the relevant experience or know someone who does, please contact us now on 07458162850 or email us at [e-mail].