Underwriting Director in London

About the company Steamship Mutual is a P&I insurance company, with 250 employees worldwide. We have offices in London, Bermuda, Brazil, Cyprus, Greece, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and New York.

Overall Job Purpose

Responsibility for underwriting performance of assigned team, staff management, motivation, and development. To provide underwriting, technical support, assist in the development and management of a profitable business according to the Company business plan.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsibility for underwriting Members in the United States and Canada.
• To liaise closely with existing Members, prospective targets, and the broking community in advancing the Company aims.
• To handle and assign underwriting tasks in line with company procedures.
• To review contract wordings to ensure the terms are covered by the IG Pooling Agreement or such other reinsurance as may be in place.
• To operate effective risk management and credit controls.
• To initiate loss prevention action where necessary.
• To manage the development of the business within assigned areas of responsibility and identify areas of additional service that will add value to the Member/Club relationship within agreed parameters of existing and potential business.
• To assist the Head of Underwriting in implementing underwriting strategy within the Syndicate, in forward planning operations and by making recommendations for future requirements.
• To provide effective communication of underwriting issues within the assigned underwriting team.
• To allocate monitoring and supervision of underwriting work to ensure that service levels are met.
• To ensure all members of the assigned underwriting team adhere to company wide operating procedures.
• To assist and help to develop team knowledge and skills – CPD.
• To conduct annual appraisals of direct reports (with Head of Underwriting for Syndicate).
• To produce Management Reports as required.
• To monitor and update underwriting procedures where necessary.
• To encourage and support an environment where a process of continuous improvement can flourish and foster the Company culture.
• To attend training and to develop relevant knowledge and skills.
• To travel as required.
• Representation at industry events and speaking requirements where necessary.
• To take on any responsibilities or tasks which are within the scope of personal skills and abilities whenever reasonably instructed.

Person Specification

• Proven Underwriting management experience gained from working at another P&I Club and/or marine insurer, marine insurance broker or shipowner.
• The ability to mentor and inspire team members, including the ability to develop underwriting expertise, training, and development.
• Outstanding communication skills, including negotiating, presenting, and reporting (written and verbal).
• You will be a thought leader with the ability to acquire new business, develop existing business relationships both internally and externally.
• Be aware of current market issues, well-connected and able to build relationships with brokers and Members.
• Proactive and able to use own initiative.

What you will get

Joining our collaborative, supportive and friendly working environment, you will enjoy a rewarding career with the opportunity to build on your existing skills and knowledge. We offer great work life balance initiatives, including competitive hybrid working policy. Clear and transparent career pathway – offering you continued support with enhancing your skills and creating employment development opportunities. We offer free educational access to the Protection & Indemnity Qualification, created by the International Group of P&I Clubs. An attractive benefits package which includes private healthcare. We also provide competitive health subsidy, and access to our comprehensive wellbeing and savings programme throughout the year, to create an environment that supports everyone’s mental and physical health.

Company Values

• Mutuality - ensuring fairness amongst Club Members.
• Integrity - upholding high ethical, legal, and regulatory standards.
• Safety and Sustainability - contributing to safety of life at sea and the preservation of the environment.
• Transparency - building strong relationships based on trust and open communication.
• Excellence - enabling our people to realise their full potential as team members, industry experts, leaders, and managers.
• Collaborative - embracing flexibility, diversity, and inclusivity.

Steamship Insurance Management Services Ltd is committed to providing a great service to all our members. We pride ourselves on offering a people-centred culture that provides mutual respect and support for all our staff, and we welcome and encourage you to apply.