Senior Construction Underwriter

Gravitas Recruitment Group Hong Kong; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Gravitas Recruitment Group Hong Kong is seeking a Senior Construction Underwriter to manage a profitable portfolio of construction risks across Asia. You will provide technical leadership, ensure underwriting discipline, and support sustainable growth across contractor’s all risks, erection all risks, and project delay/DSU risks.

You will evaluate, price, and negotiate risks, structure terms, and maintain strong relationships with brokers and clients.

Qualifications

• Significant construction underwriting experience in insurance or reinsurance, incl. complex, large-scale projects.
• Strong technical knowledge of CAR/EAR, DSU/ALOP, construction liability, and project risk factors.
• Proven broker management, negotiation, and profitable portfolio growth.
• Solid understanding of reinsurance structures, line setting, capacity deployment, and aggregation controls.
• Excellent analytical skills with attention to detail; proficient with underwriting/exposure tools.
• Clear written and verbal English; regional languages advantageous.
• Professional insurance qualifications (ACII/FCII or equivalent) preferred.
• Right to work in Hong Kong or ability to obtain work authorisation.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate, price, and negotiate construction insurance risks in line with underwriting authority and appetite.
• Assess submissions including contracts, method statements, schedules, soil reports, financing, and risk engineering data.
• Structure terms, conditions, warranties, and endorsements; ensure clear policy wordings.
• Develop and maintain relationships with brokers, clients, and internal stakeholders to drive retention and new business.
• Partner with risk engineering and claims teams to identify trends and support complex claims discussions.
• Monitor portfolio performance (loss ratios, rate adequacy, exposure management) and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, governance, sanctions controls, and audit standards.
• Mentor and develop junior underwriters and contribute to underwriting guidelines.

Skills

Construction underwriting

CAR/EAR knowledge

DSU/ALOP knowledge

Broker management

Risk assessment

Portfolio management

Regulatory compliance

English communication

Underwriting analytics

Education

ACII/FCII equivalent

Tools

Underwriting software

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a Senior Construction Underwriter to underwrite and manage a profitable portfolio of construction risks across Asia. You will provide technical leadership, deliver underwriting discipline, and support sustainable growth across contractor’s all risks, erection all risks, project delay/DSU, third party liability, and related construction classes.

Key Responsibilities

• Evaluate, price, and negotiate construction insurance risks in line with delegated underwriting authority and appetite.
• Assess submissions including contracts, method statements, schedules, soil reports, project financing, and risk engineering information.
• Structure terms, conditions, warranties, and endorsements; ensure clear policy wordings and documentation.
• Develop and maintain relationships with brokers, clients, and internal stakeholders to drive retention and new business.
• Partner with risk engineering and claims teams to identify trends, improve risk selection, and support complex claims discussions.
• Monitor portfolio performance (loss ratios, rate adequacy, accumulation, exposure management) and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, internal governance, sanctions/financial crime controls, and audit standards.
• Support mentoring and technical development of junior underwriters and contribute to underwriting guidelines.

Required Skills & Experience

• Significant construction underwriting experience within insurance or reinsurance markets, including complex and large-scale projects.
• Strong technical knowledge of CAR/EAR, DSU/ALOP, construction liability, and project risk factors (geotechnical, tunnelling, marine interfaces, height works, NAT CAT).
• Proven track record of broker management, negotiation, and profitable portfolio growth.
• Sound understanding of reinsurance structures, line setting, capacity deployment, and aggregation controls.
• Excellent analytical skills with confidence using underwriting and exposure tools; strong attention to detail.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills in English; additional regional languages are advantageous.
• Professional insurance qualifications (e.g., ACII/FCII or equivalent) preferred.
• Right to work in Hong Kong or ability to obtain appropriate work authorisation.

What You Will Bring

• Commercial judgement, integrity, and a disciplined approach to risk selection.
• Regional APAC market connections, particularly across Southeast Asia.
• Ability to operate autonomously while collaborating effectively across functions.
• Commitment to delivering excellent service to brokers and clients.