Underwriting Manager in Bexhill-on-Sea

Welcome to Hastings Direct. We’re a digital insurance provider with ambitious plans to become the best and biggest in the UK market. We’ve made huge investments in our pricing and data capabilities over the past few years, along with nurturing our 4Cs culture. We provide insurance for over four million customers, but we know there’s even bigger opportunity out there – our Pricing, Data and Analytics community value curiosity, collaboration and constructive challenge.

Great pricing is built on trust, innovation and precision, so our aim is to ensure customers receive a fair and accurate price based on their individual risk, supporting fair outcomes, while delivering sustainable and profitable growth for our company. Pricing is more than just a number – it’s a strategic capability. At the heart of Hastings is deep risk insight – continually improving how we assess, segment and price risk through data and analytics.

We are entering a period where cars will develop faster in the next 10 years than they have in the past 50 years. This goes beyond their propulsion methods (EV development) and includes wider design, construction and technology developments. All of which has wide implications for the risk motor insurers are covering. This is a new role, in a relatively new team focused on building Hastings' knowledge and understanding of these developments, and how they are interpreted into vehicle risk selection and the terms applied.

The Underwriting Manager role is critical to delivering the business’s objectives of growth, profitability, and good customer outcomes. This role will use our expanding data capability to deepen our understanding of vehicle risk — and how that risk interacts with people, geography, evolving vehicle technology, and changing driving behaviours. By doing so, the Underwriting Manager will help shape smarter underwriting decisions and enable the business to stay ahead in a rapidly changing risk landscape. A real opportunity to make this role your own, whilst making a difference in a fast-paced, flexible and delivery focused environment.

What we’re looking for:

• Curious, creative and experienced UW Manager to help shape the future of our vehicle underwriting risk selection capability.
• High-impact role focused on identifying opportunities to grow market share in low-conversion segments.
• Strengthening how we use data in our decision-making.
• Developing smarter prediction models and risk-pricing overlays.
• Collaborative mindset, working effectively with colleagues across multiple teams and business areas.

Key Skills:

• Strong background in motor general insurance (highly preferable).
• Excellent numerical ability with strong problem-solving skills.
• Solid analytical and coding experience — Python preferred, though experience in other programming languages is welcome, and training can be provided.
• Comfortable working with numerical and statistical datasets to generate insights and inform decisions.
• Appetite to learn new tools and skills, especially in data and modelling.
• A genuine drive to create positive change and improve underwriting capability.
• Inquisitive and curious mindset, always exploring the “why” behind outcomes.
• End-to-end thinker who understands how decisions affect the full customer and commercial value chain.
• Strong critical evaluation skills, able to interpret information and challenge assumptions.
• Enthusiastic and positive attitude, even when facing complex problems.

Interview Process:

• Recruiter screening call
• 1st Round – Intro call with Hiring manager
• 2nd Round – Case study round

As a Disability Confident employer, we’re committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are fully inclusive. We also welcome applications through the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS). For more information on the DCS, please visit our inclusive business page on our careers website.

What we offer:

• Attractive salary based on experience + car allowance (pay reviews also completed each year).
• Flexible Working - We champion a flexible and hybrid working approach.
• Competitive Bonus Scheme - All colleagues are eligible for our annual 4Cs performance bonus.
• Private medical Insurance (PMI) for flexibility and convenience.
• Life assurance cover and income protection at no extra cost, pension contribution match up to 10%.
• Award-winning package including discounts and cashback at everyday retailers.
• Mental Wellbeing programme with various support options.
• 27 days annual leave + bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell one of your contracted weeks.

Hastings Group is an equal opportunities employer which means we treat people fairly. We welcome applications from all suitably skilled persons regardless of their gender, age, race, disability, ethnic background, religion/belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or marital/family status. We’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.