Underwriting Governance Manager

Leeds (preferred) | Manchester | Birmingham Hybrid Working - 3 days in the office, 2 days from home

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join a leading specialist insurer within an established Underwriting Enablement Team.

This is a newly created role that has evolved beyond a traditional governance position. The successful candidate will combine technical underwriting expertise with governance oversight, team leadership and continuous improvement activity, working closely with senior underwriting stakeholders across the business.

The role offers the opportunity to help shape a new function, lead a small team and influence underwriting governance and operational standards across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Underwriting & Governance

Maintain underwriting governance standards across the business.

Review and approve non-standard endorsements.

Support underwriting controls, delegated authority and governance processes.

Monitor adherence to underwriting guidelines and protocols.

Support the implementation of legal and regulatory changes.

Analyse underwriting data and produce governance reporting.

Act as a key point of contact for governance-related queries and technical underwriting support.

Support governance, reinsurance and operational projects.

Team Leadership

Lead, coach and develop the Underwriting Enablement Team.

Allocate and prioritise workloads across the team.

Support the ongoing development of team processes and ways of working.

Help establish a high-performing function that supports underwriting teams across the business.

Stakeholder Management & Continuous Improvement

Build strong relationships with Product, Pricing and Underwriting teams.

Drive process improvements and operational efficiencies.

Support strategic underwriting initiatives and business priorities.

Promote knowledge sharing and technical best practice across the underwriting community.

Skills & Experience

Candidates may come from a range of backgrounds including underwriting, underwriting governance, delegated authority, underwriting operations or technical broking.

You will ideally have

Significant experience within an insurance underwriting environment.

Strong technical underwriting knowledge.

Experience working with underwriting controls, governance or regulatory requirements.

Previous experience leading, mentoring or coaching others.

Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

Excellent analytical and organisational skills.

A proactive approach and a focus on continuous improvement.

Experience within Financial Lines, Liability or Commercial insurance would be advantageous, although strong technical underwriting capability and leadership potential are the key requirements.