Senior Life Science Underwriter

Ips Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Ips Group is seeking a Senior Underwriter to join its Life Science team in Manchester. The role goes beyond day-to-day underwriting, acting as the deputy to the Team Manager and shaping the technical direction of the portfolio.

You will own some of the portfolio’s largest renewal accounts and underwrite across pharmaceuticals, biotech, medical devices, clinical trials, cosmetics, vitamins & supplements, and research and development organisations.

Qualifications

Responsibilities

• Owns and manages some of the portfolio's largest and most complex renewal accounts across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, clinical trials, cosmetics, vitamins & supplements, and R&D organisations.
• Underwrites risks with a focus on profitability, negotiates terms, and assesses complex exposures.
• Acts as a technical referral point for colleagues, supports development of junior team members, and contributes to portfolio growth.
• Decks trading discussions, supports strategic decision-making, and deputises for the Team Manager when required.

Job description

IPS Group are supporting a leading insurer in the search for an experienced Senior Underwriter to join its established Life Science team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced underwriter to step into a role that offers far more than day-to-day underwriting responsibilities. Acting as the Team Manager's trusted deputy, you'll play a key role in the continued growth and development of a highly respected Life Science portfolio while helping to shape the technical direction of the team.

You'll take ownership of some of the portfolio's largest and most complex renewal accounts, underwriting risks across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, clinical trials, cosmetics, vitamins & supplements, and research & development organisations. Typically working on accounts averaging around £50,000 premium, with larger cases significantly exceeding this, you'll be responsible for negotiating terms, assessing complex exposures and maintaining underwriting profitability.

In addition to underwriting responsibilities, you'll act as a technical referral point for colleagues, supporting the development of junior team members and helping to raise capability across the wider team. You'll also contribute to trading discussions, support strategic decision-making and deputise for the Team Manager when required.

We're keen to speak with candidates who have strong underwriting experience within Life Science, Property & Casualty or Commercial Combined business. Whilst previous Life Science experience would be highly desirable, applications are equally welcomed from technically strong Property & Casualty and Commercial Combined Underwriters looking to specialise within the Life Science market.

The successful individual will combine strong technical underwriting ability with commercial awareness, leadership potential and excellent relationship-building skills. You'll be a confident decision maker who enjoys mentoring others, engaging with brokers and contributing to portfolio growth.

Having recently invested in an enhanced Life Science proposition with broader coverage and additional value-added services, the business is entering an exciting phase of growth. As a result, this role offers genuine visibility with senior leadership and excellent long-term progression opportunities within leadership, people management or product development.

For underwriters looking to combine technical complexity, strategic influence and leadership responsibility within one of the most specialist areas of commercial insurance, this represents an outstanding career opportunity.

For further information or a confidential discussion, please contact Richard Coleman at the IPS Group.