Director, Physical Risk
Location: London
Role Overview
We are seeking a highly experienced Physical Risk Consultant to lead strategic engagements at the intersection of climate science, natural catastrophe, insurance, and corporate risk advisory. This role is ideal for a seasoned expert with deep technical knowledge of climate science, a strong grasp of insurance risk frameworks, risk engineering and a proven ability to advise multinational corporates on resilience and adaptation strategies.
This role combines technical expertise in climate and natural catastrophe modelling with strong interpersonal skills, a passion for innovation and the ability to translate climate science into actionable insights for clients navigating the challenges of natural hazards, extreme weather events, climate change, extreme weather, and long‑term environmental shifts.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the development and delivery of tailored solutions to help clients identify, assess, and manage their physical climate risks, translating climate data and risk insights into practical, decision‑ready actions.
* Lead and support tailored physical risk assessments and scenario analyses using nat cat/insurance models, climate models and geospatial analytics to evaluate exposure across global asset portfolios and single‑asset deep dives. Oversee the use of climate models (CMIP6, downscaling techniques, etc.), hazard mapping, and geospatial analytics to support risk quantification.
* Translate scientific insights into commercial implications for insurers, reinsurers, and corporate clients across sectors such as energy, finance, infrastructure, and manufacturing. Translate technical findings into strategic recommendations aligned with client objectives.
* Advise on regulatory and disclosure frameworks including TCFD, ISSB, CSRD, and emerging climate stress testing requirements and climate scenario analysis.
* Design and implement climate risk strategies that integrate with enterprise risk management, insurance placement, and sustainability goals.
* Serve as a subject matter expert on nat cat and climate science to the rest of the Physical Risk Advisory team. Stay abreast of emerging nat cat and climate science, regulatory trends, and technological advancements.
* Engage with senior stakeholders to shape climate resilience roadmaps, investment decisions, and risk transfer strategies.
* Collaborate with internal teams across actuarial, ESG, engineering, and data science to deliver integrated solutions.
* Business Development: support proposal development, pitch strategy, and client relationship building.
* Identify market opportunities and contribute to the growth of climate services across industries.
* Represent the team in external forums, regulatory consultations, industry working groups and thought leadership initiatives.
* Lead the CRR Physical Risk team and mentor mid and junior consultants and contribute to capability development across the climate risk practice.
Qualifications and Experience
* 15+ years of experience in nat cat and climate risk, insurance, or corporate advisory consulting, with a focus on physical risks.
* Advanced degree (PhD or MSc) in climate science, meteorology, environmental engineering, or related discipline.
* Deep expertise in nat cat and climate science and hazard and loss modelling (e.g., flood, wildfire, heat stress, windstorm) and their financial impacts.
* Strong understanding of insurance risk frameworks, risk engineering, catastrophe modelling, and exposure management.
* Proven track record of advising corporates on climate risk, resilience, and regulatory alignment.
* Exceptional communication skills with experience presenting to boards, regulators, and investor groups.
* Strategic mindset with the ability to bridge science, finance, and action.
What we offer in return
A career that you define. Our business succeeds by allowing our people to make a mark in the areas they care about most: personal development, volunteering, fundraising for charity, or creating new insurance products that address society’s greatest challenges.
And we know that separate home and work lives don't really exist. If you're happy and healthy at home, you're more likely to be happy and fulfilled at work – and vice versa. That's why we do our best to support our people in every aspect of their lives.
Diversity and Inclusion
At Howden we value diversity – there is no one Howden ‘personality type’. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:
* Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new.
* We support each other, in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges.
* We are determined to make a positive difference, at work and beyond.
We consider our people our chief competitive advantage and as such we treat colleagues, candidates, clients, and business partners with equality, fairness, and respect – regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or family circumstances.
Reasonable adjustments
We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.
If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.
*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.
Our sustainability promise
We’re on a life‑long journey to become an ever‑more sustainable group. It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can. Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world.
You can read more about our sustainability work here.
Position Type: Permanent
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