Underwriting Manager

Lawes Consulting Group; England; Hybrid; GBP 95,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-related bonus

Job summary

Lawes Consulting Group is seeking an experienced Underwriting Manager to lead a Mid-Market team of underwriters and drive profitable growth. The role combines hands-on underwriting with people management and portfolio oversight, requiring strong relationships with brokers and collaboration with pricing, actuarial and claims teams.

The ideal candidate has proven Mid-Market underwriting experience, leadership capability, and ACII qualifications or progress.

Qualifications

• Proven underwriting experience across Mid-Market commercial lines.
• Experience managing, mentoring or leading an underwriting team.
• Strong technical underwriting judgement with profitable portfolio management.
• Established broker relationships and negotiation skills.
• Good understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of underwriters, setting clear performance expectations.
• Hold personal underwriting authority for Mid-Market lines, referring and reviewing risks above team members' authority levels.
• Own portfolio performance for the Mid-Market book, monitoring GWP, loss ratios, retention, and new business growth against target.
• Set and maintain underwriting philosophy, risk appetite, and referral guidelines in line with strategy.
• Build and maintain broker relationships, supporting the team on complex placements and renewals.
• Partner with pricing, actuarial, and claims teams to ensure decisions are data-driven.
• Monitor market conditions and competitor activity, adjusting appetite and pricing strategy.
• Ensure the team's compliance with regulatory requirements, governance and audit standards.
• Contribute to product development and policy wordings for Mid-Market.
• Report on portfolio performance and team output to senior underwriting leadership.

Skills

Underwriting leadership

People management

Portfolio management

Negotiation

Communication

Team coaching

Education

ACII qualified or working towards

Job description

Underwriting Manager – Mid-Market Insurance

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Underwriting Manager to lead and develop a team of underwriters focused on Mid-Market commercial lines. This is a pivotal role for a technically strong underwriting leader who combines hands-on underwriting expertise with people management and portfolio oversight, driving profitable growth across a diverse book of business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of underwriters, setting clear performance expectations and supporting technical and professional development
• Hold personal underwriting authority for Mid-Market lines, referring and reviewing risks above team members' authority levels
• Own portfolio performance for the Mid-Market book, monitoring GWP, loss ratios, retention, and new business growth against target
• Set and maintain underwriting philosophy, risk appetite, and referral guidelines in line with the wider underwriting strategy
• Build and maintain strong relationships with broker partners, supporting the team on complex placements and renewals
• Partner with pricing, actuarial, and claims teams to ensure underwriting decisions are informed by accurate data and emerging trends
• Monitor market conditions and competitor activity, adjusting appetite and pricing strategy as needed
• Ensure the team's compliance with regulatory requirements, internal governance, and audit standards
• Contribute to product development and the evolution of policy wordings for Mid-Market lines
• Report on portfolio performance and team output to senior underwriting leadership

About You

• Proven underwriting experience across Mid-Market commercial lines (e.g. Commercial Combined, Property, Casualty, or similar)
• Prior experience managing, mentoring, or leading an underwriting team
• Strong technical underwriting judgement with a track record of profitable portfolio management
• Confident communicator with established broker relationships and strong negotiation skills
• ACII qualified or working towards, with a strong understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements
• Commercially astute, with the ability to balance growth ambitions against risk and profitability
• Comfortable operating in a hybrid environment, with regular time in the London office

What's on Offer

• Salary of £95,000 – £100,000, dependent on experience
• Performance-related bonus
• The opportunity to shape underwriting strategy and grow a high-performing team within a Mid-Market portfolio