At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape underwriting strategy and drive portfolio performance in a key leadership role.
- Company: Join QBE, an international insurer with a collaborative culture and a human touch.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days holiday, flexible working, and a generous pension plan.
- Other info: Be part of a winning team recognised for diversity and inclusion initiatives.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while developing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in Facilities/DUA, leadership skills, and strategic thinking required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Role Highlights
- London with hybrid working
- Shape underwriting strategy and drive portfolio performance.
The Opportunity
We’re looking for a Country Underwriting Manager to join our team in a key leadership role, shaping underwriting strategy and driving portfolio performance. This is an opportunity to influence the direction of our business, ensuring alignment with QBE’s overall product and segment strategy while delivering sustainable growth. Working closely with Product and Distribution teams, you’ll play a central role in driving business performance and leading high-performing underwriting teams. With a strong focus on collaboration, leadership, and strategic decision-making, you’ll support the continued development of our people while ensuring underwriting practices are consistent, effective, and aligned with our broader objectives. In addition to managing the P&L for the country, this role will also help and enable us to develop expertise and be our single point of contact for all DUAs and facilities in Europe.
About QBE
At QBE, we get to the heart of what matters for our customers. And we do it all with a human touch. We’re an international insurer with more than 13,000 people working across 26 countries – which means we’re big enough for your ambitions, yet small enough for you to make a real impact. It’s an exciting time. We’re building momentum towards our vision to become the most consistent and innovative risk partner. What if you could have a positive impact – at work and in the world? As part of the QBE team, you’ll get to spend every day working with people who are passionate, talented and kind.
Your new role
- Strategy & Planning
- Develop and deliver country underwriting strategies aligned to business objectives, product strategy, and regulatory requirements
- Partner with Product and European leadership to shape and execute the business plan
- Provide underwriting and portfolio insights to support strategic decision-making
- Ensure alignment across underwriting frameworks, pricing, and product development
- Portfolio & Underwriting Management
- Oversee portfolio performance, ensuring effective monitoring, reporting, and actions to optimise profitability
- Maintain underwriting discipline in line with authorities, risk appetite, and regulatory standards
- Ensure accuracy and integrity of data used in underwriting and portfolio analysis
- Lead portfolio reviews and recommend strategies for growth or remediation
- Drive continuous improvement in underwriting processes, including automation and innovation
- Customer & Market Focus
- Build and maintain strong relationships with brokers, customers, and key stakeholders
- Work with Distribution and Product teams to refine underwriting guidelines and propositions
- Incorporate market insights and broker feedback into underwriting and product strategies
- Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing underwriting team
- Set clear objectives, provide regular feedback, and support professional growth
- Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture with strong cross-functional alignment
- Ensure team understanding of business plans to support effective decision-making
Having the right to work in the UK is a requirement for this role. QBE may consider sponsorship at its discretion.
About you
- A relevant background in Facilities / DUA to include leadership and Team Management
- The ability to lead a diverse team, fostering collaboration and high performance.
- Strategic Thinking - Ability to develop and implement effective underwriting and portfolio strategies
- Analytical skills - Ability to analyse and interpret data to guide business decisions and improve performance
- Sales Oriented - Focus on market and support sales and product offerings
- Data Integrity - Strong focus on ensuring the accuracy and integrity of data used in underwriting and portfolio management to support informed decision making.
Benefits
We offer a range of benefits to help provide holistic support for your work life, whatever your circumstances. As a QBE employee you will have access to and benefit from:
- 30 days holiday a year with the option to buy up to 2 additional days.
- Flexible working - balancing work and life is important so our flexible working opportunities are open to all, this can include part-time, job share and compressed hours.
- Pension – you are automatically enrolled into the QBE pension plan, which entitles you to receive employer contributions of 10% of your basic salary.
Awards & Recognition
We value our employee’s experience with us and are proud to have been recognised for the following awards:
- Insurance Post British Insurance Awards 2025: Winner: Commercial Lines Insurer of the Year
- Winner: ESG, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative of the Year
- Working Dads Employer Awards 2023 Winner: Parental Policies Award
If you’re looking for a career that combines your expertise and your empathy, click Apply today. Your career. At the heart of it.
Skills: Analytical Thinking, Coaching for success, Critical Thinking, Customer Service, Influencing, Insurance Underwriting, Intentional collaboration, Managing performance, Navigating ambiguity, Negotiation, Portfolio Management, Process Improvements, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Management
Country Underwriting Manager - European Insurance employer: QBE Insurance Group
QBE is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in London with hybrid working options that promote a healthy work-life balance. Employees benefit from generous holiday allowances, a robust pension plan, and a strong focus on professional development within a collaborative culture that values diversity and innovation. Join us to make a meaningful impact while advancing your career in a supportive and forward-thinking organisation.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Country Underwriting Manager - European Insurance
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their underwriting strategies and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. Show them you’re not just another candidate!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be clear about your achievements and how they relate to the role of Country Underwriting Manager. Confidence is key, so rehearse until you can deliver it smoothly.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Country Underwriting Manager - European Insurance
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Country Underwriting Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in underwriting strategy and team leadership, showing us how you align with our goals at QBE.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:We want to see your ability to analyse data and make informed decisions. Include examples of how you've used data to drive portfolio performance or improve underwriting processes in your previous roles.
Emphasise Collaboration:This role is all about teamwork! Share instances where you've successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams or built strong relationships with stakeholders. We love seeing how you can foster a high-performance culture.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at QBE.
How to prepare for a job interview at QBE Insurance Group
✨Know Your Underwriting Strategies
Before the interview, brush up on the latest underwriting strategies and trends in the European insurance market. Be ready to discuss how you would align these strategies with the company's objectives and how your past experiences can contribute to shaping their approach.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Country Underwriting Manager, you'll need to lead a diverse team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, focusing on collaboration and high performance. Highlight specific instances where your leadership made a tangible impact on team dynamics or business outcomes.
✨Demonstrate Analytical Prowess
The role requires strong analytical skills. Be prepared to discuss how you've used data to inform decision-making in previous roles. Bring examples of how you've monitored portfolio performance and implemented changes based on your analysis to optimise profitability.
✨Build Relationships with Stakeholders
Emphasise your ability to build and maintain relationships with brokers, customers, and key stakeholders. Share stories that illustrate your customer-focused approach and how you've incorporated feedback into underwriting strategies to drive business success.
