The Senior Underwriter role offers the opportunity to play a key leadership role within one of the leading Hull & War teams in the London market. Acting as a key deputy to the Head of Hull and War, supporting leadership of the function and contributing to the delivery of the Hull and War business plans. The role combines senior underwriting responsibility across Hull and War portfolios with oversight of performance metrics, portfolio management, and the development of new business opportunities.

In addition, the role has responsibility for managing underwriting assistants, driving cultural and process improvements, and supporting strategic initiatives, including project work, presentations, and annual planning.

We’re all about people | We win together | We strive for better | We enjoy the everyday | We think further

Who we are:

Business Unit overview:

Markel's M&E team is dedicated to providing innovative and tailored insurance solutions to meet the diverse needs of our clients. The Marine and Energy Division is part of a Wholesale group offering services for various specialty lines such as Equine and Livestock, Marine and Energy Liability, Trade Credit, Political Risk, and Surety (TCPRS). Our underwriting teams are known for their expertise in underwriting complex risks and delivering exceptional service. The Energy team focuses on underwriting a wide range of energy risks, including upstream, midstream & downstream energy, Power & Sustainable Energy and Marine liabilities, whilst the Marine short tail team specialises in Cargo, Specie, Hull & War lines. Our team of experienced underwriters is dedicated to providing comprehensive coverage and exceptional service to our clients. The division is led by industry experts who are committed to driving sustainable, profitable growth and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders.

The team writes a diverse portfolio on a worldwide basis with particular focus on North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Products can be tailored to meet requirements of clients, from smaller local / domestic companies to global operations. Markel is a recognised leader of Hull & War business with a successful history in the class. The underwriting team is supported by our experienced, in-house claims team.

Part of Markel Group (NYSE – MKL) a Fortune 500 company with over 60 offices in 20+ countries, is a holding company for insurance, reinsurance, specialist advisory, and investment operations around the world.

What you’ll be doing:

• Underwrite Hull and War risks in line with the agreed underwriting strategy, authority levels and business plans, demonstrating strong underwriting rigor and judgement
• Support the Head of Hull and War with strategy development, annual planning, portfolio oversight and senior‑level presentations
• Monitor, analyse and report on portfolio performance, key performance indicators and emerging areas of concern, providing regular insight and recommendations to the Head of Hull and War
• Peer review underwriting decisions to support consistent decision‑making, effective risk management and adherence to underwriting guidelines
• Manage and support underwriting assistants, encouraging development, inclusive behaviours and a strong performance culture
• Drive the successful adoption of new processes and actively lead change initiatives across the team
• Build and maintain positive relationships with brokers, clients and coverholders, including oversight and effective management of coverholder relationships
• Identify, develop and pursue new business opportunities across Hull and War in line with the agreed business plan
• Support and deliver project work aligned to Hull and War and wider Marine & Energy objectives
• Work collaboratively with the Head of Hull and War, wider underwriting team, actuarial, finance, claims, IPA and other stakeholders to implement underwriting strategy and monitor progress
• Champion continuous improvement, working with the team to enhance end‑to‑end processes, data quality and ways of working
• Attend regular broker and client meetings and travel as required to represent Markel and strengthen market relationships
• Apply appropriate underwriting and risk management practices, including authority, guideline and aggregation controls

Key Skills:

• Demonstrable experience as a Hull and War underwriter within the London market
• Exposure to portfolio management and performance monitoring
• Strong analytical capability with the ability to interpret data, assess portfolio performance and find opportunities for optimisation
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective broker and client relationships
• A growth‑oriented attitude, with the confidence to lead change and continuous improvement
• Have a network of London and international distribution channels
• Strong data literacy and ability to interpret portfolio and performance data
• Confident communicator, able to influence brokers, peers and senior stakeholders

Desirable

• Experience supporting or mentoring junior team members or assistants

What’s in it for you?

• A great starting salary plus annual bonus & strong benefits package…
• Up to 16% company pension scheme,
• Private medical and dental cover, Menopause plan, emergency care benefit (children/Pets/dependants)
• Income protection, Life assurance, electric car scheme, travel insurance
• 25 days paid holiday plus Bank Holidays, with the opportunity to buy/sell extra leave
• As well as other great benefits on offer there are countless opportunities to learn new skills and develop in your career!

Are you ready to play your part?

If you’re looking for a place where you can make a meaningful difference, you’ve found it. The work we do at Markel gives people the confidence to move forward, reach their full potential and seize opportunities. You’ll find your fit amongst our diverse global community of optimists and problem-solvers. We’re always pushing each other to think further because we believe that when we strive for better and realise our potential, we can help others reach theirs.

Join us and play your part in something special!

Choose ‘Apply Now’ to fill out our short application, so that we can find out more about you.

At Markel we are all about the people, celebrating the value of a diverse workforce that brings experience and expertise from a wide variety of backgrounds and life circumstances. Whatever your background, if you feel you meet the requirements of this role then we want to hear from you. We are also happy to consider candidates who are looking for flexible working patterns.

We will ensure that individuals are provided with any reasonable accommodations to be able to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions if successful. Please contact us via email at [email protected] or call us at 0161 507 5827 to request any accommodations or adjustments that may be needed, including alternative formats of documents or information on how to apply offline.

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