Development Underwriter - Property in London

HDI is a Corporate & Specialty Insurer part of the Talanx Group. With over 120 years of experience, HDI operates across five continents, around 40 countries and employs over 5,000 people worldwide.

The Development Underwriter will play a key role in driving profitable growth within HDI’s Retail Property portfolio. The role is focused on new business generation and proactive broker engagement — building high-quality relationships, identifying opportunities, and underwriting complex commercial property risks in line with our appetite, strategy and performance objectives. This position is ideal for an ambitious underwriter looking to step into a growth-oriented role with visibility, autonomy and direct impact on the UK Property strategy. The Retail Property portfolio is made up of Captives, Lead, Follow and Multinational business.

Key accountabilities

• New Business Growth: Proactively develop and underwrite new Retail Property business in line with HDI’s risk appetite, rate adequacy and profitability targets.
• Broker Relationships: Build and maintain strong trading relationships with key brokers, particularly in the London and regional markets, ensuring HDI is positioned as a leading partner of choice.
• Underwriting Discipline: Evaluate and price risks accurately, applying sound technical judgement and maintaining underwriting discipline in accordance with governance and authority frameworks.
• Pipeline Management: Own and manage a healthy new business pipeline through HDI’s CRM tools, ensuring transparency and accountability across key growth metrics.
• Collaboration: Work closely with colleagues across Property (Regional, London Market, Engineering, Claims and Reinsurance) to deliver a seamless, “One HDI” client experience.
• Market Insight: Monitor competitor activity and market trends to inform pricing, appetite and broker strategy.
• Portfolio Contribution: Contribute to portfolio reviews, performance analysis, and initiatives supporting sustainable growth and profitability.

Skills & experience

• Minimum 5 years’ Commercial Property underwriting experience, ideally with a strong focus on UK retail or mid-market risks.
• Demonstrated success in new business development and broker relationship management.
• Technical understanding of property underwriting principles, wordings and rating methodologies.
• Proven ability to balance commercial decision-making with underwriting discipline.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Strong organisational skills with ability to prioritise and manage multiple opportunities.
• Confident using underwriting, CRM and portfolio management tools.
• Entrepreneurial and proactive, with a genuine passion for developing business and relationships.
• Collaborative team player who thrives in a fast-moving, empowered environment.
• Analytical, commercially astute, and committed to high standards of underwriting quality.
• Ambitious and career-driven, with the potential to grow into a senior underwriting or leadership role.
• Candidates from an Underwriting and Broking background will be considered.

As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, recognising that a diverse and inclusive workplace is a creative and prosperous one.