Working hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday
Duration: Permanent
Location: Gloucester
Job Ref: 204890
Head of Underwriting Direct
Ecclesiastical Insurance, part of Benefact Group, is looking for a Head of Underwriting Direct to join our Gloucester office.
Are you ready to shape strategy, inspire people, and elevate performance at the heart of a unique and meaningful market?
We’re looking for an experienced Head of Underwriting Direct to lead underwriting strategy, quality, and financial performance across our Direct portfolio. You’ll be the figurehead for technical excellence and owner of portfolio outcomes, proactively managing key accounts and coaching our Underwriting talent to deliver sustainable, profitable growth and exceptional retention.
In this influential leadership role within the Direct Team, you’ll set direction and pace driving portfolio results, shaping pricing at both portfolio and key account level, and driving the team to turn underwriting strategy into day‑to‑day delivery balancing commercial goals with good customer outcomes.
Why join us? A collaborative and inclusive culture committed to making a difference and building a more sustainable future. Ranked amongst the UK's 15 Best Big Companies to Work For in 2025, we offer fantastic career and development opportunities within a rapidly growing, innovative Group—where all profits go to charity and good causes.
What You'll Be Doing
Own portfolio performance across GWP, New Business, Retention, Rate Movement, and Profitability - balancing commercial targets with good customer outcomes.
Shape pricing strategies at both portfolio and key account level.
Act as a lead contributor to planning, bringing incisive analysis and constructive challenge.
Underwriting Excellence
Set and maintain underwriting standards; actively engage with UK Underwriting Risk Appetite to ensure alignment and adherence.
Use your own authority to best effect; cascade authority appropriately and govern it rigorously.
Translate UW strategy into day‑to‑day practice, challenging where needed to support customer needs and the business plan.
Lead the quality framework; meet audit and quality metrics or challenge and improve them where they are not fit for purpose.
Drive the underwriting competency framework, building capability and succession; create and deliver technical training where relevant.
Act as the senior referral point, disseminate expertise, and keep your own technical edge sharp.
Champion smarter underwriting processes and tools that optimise accuracy, speed, and underwriting quality.
Leadership & Impact
Coach, mentor, and stretch colleagues at all levels; set clear expectations and celebrate high performance.
Collaborate and partner closely within own area and across UK business teams to optimise performance.
Represent underwriting matters confidently with internal stakeholders, key clients and market stakeholders.
Balance portfolio outcomes and customer in your decision making, operate within the regulatory framework.
What You'll Need to Have
ACII (or equivalent) and a proven track record in a senior underwriting role.
Strong portfolio management expertise and commercial fluency.
What Makes You Stand Out
Confident, influential communicator – credible at all levels internally and externally.
Demonstrable coaching capability and a passion for developing others.
The ability to apply critical thinking beyond standard guidelines and frame pragmatic, risk‑aware solutions.
How Success Will Be Measured
Delivery against GWP, retention, rate, and profitability targets.
Evidenced improvements in quality/audit outcomes and referral turnaround.
Capability uplift and succession depth against the competency framework.
Stakeholder feedback from key accounts and internal partners.
What We Offer
A competitive salary – let’s discuss it
Hybrid working
Group Personal Pension – up to 12% employer contribution
Generous annual bonus scheme: on‑target bonus between 10% and 40%
28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, and a holiday buy and sell scheme
An array of health and wellbeing benefits, including private healthcare, income protection and life assurance
£200 annual personal grant to a charity of your choice
Encouraged to take at least one volunteering day per year
Employee Assistance Programme
Full study support to gain professional qualifications
Access to virtual GP
Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
We welcome applications from everyone.
If you need any additional support during the recruitment process, then please let us know.
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