About the Position

Location: London, United Kingdom

Job type: Full-Time

Work mode: Hybrid

Job level: Professional

Job ID: 14654

Company: Munich Re

Employment type: Regular

Area of expertise: Claims & Underwriting

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Together, we engage with everything we have and are, to help humankind act braver and better.

About the Role

The Senior Underwriter is a trusted technical and client-facing specialist supporting Life, Critical Illness and Disability business in the UK and Irish markets. The role combines independent assessment of complex referrals with high-quality client advice, underwriting audits, technical development and practical improvements to client and internal processes.

Working collaboratively across the Protection Division, the postholder will apply sound medical, financial and occupational underwriting judgement while balancing risk, commercial considerations and client outcomes. The role contributes to Munich Re’s Ambition 2030 by strengthening underwriting quality, client confidence, operational effectiveness and our reputation as a strategic partner of choice.

Responsibilities

Own the assessment of large, unusual and complex Life, Critical Illness and Disability referrals within agreed authority limits; make timely, evidence-based decisions and explain recommendations clearly, including where a case cannot be supported.
Apply rigorous medical, financial, occupational and lifestyle risk assessment, using relevant evidence, underwriting philosophy and treaty or facultative requirements; identify emerging risk considerations and escalate appropriately.
Provide pragmatic, commercially aware advice that considers risk selection, client needs, customer outcomes and the implications for reinsurance exposure, without compromising underwriting standards.
Plan and undertake client underwriting audits, quality reviews and process assessments; produce clear findings, proportionate recommendations and follow-up actions, and monitor agreed improvements through to completion.
Build credible relationships with designated clients through proactive engagement, on-site or virtual meetings, case discussions and tailored technical training; understand decision-makers, operational pressures and reinsurance arrangements.
Support client underwriting philosophies, guidelines, administration arrangements and referral processes, identifying opportunities to improve consistency, efficiency, governance and service.
Contribute technical underwriting insight to tenders, product or proposition development, portfolio discussions and other commercial initiatives where requested, partnering with pricing, claims, actuarial and client management colleagues.
Identify, test and help implement practical improvements using data, automation and emerging technology, including AI-enabled underwriting solutions where appropriate and subject to governance and validation.
Share expertise, provide constructive peer review, coach less-experienced colleagues and contribute to technical training and knowledge management across the branch.
Lead or participate in agreed projects and cross-functional initiatives; take ownership of defined deliverables, communicate progress, manage dependencies and raise risks early.
Represent Munich Re professionally in client forums and relevant industry events, contributing to market insight and a strong external reputation.

Requirements

Essential

Substantial experience in UK Life and protection underwriting, with proven capability in complex Life, Critical Illness and Disability risk assessment; strong experience in at least two product lines and the ability to develop across the others.
Sound understanding of medical, financial, occupational and non-medical underwriting principles, evidence requirements and risk classification.
Ability to exercise independent technical judgement, articulate difficult decisions and balance service, risk and commercial considerations.
Experience of working with insurers, reinsurers or other external stakeholders and establishing credible professional relationships.
Excellent written communication, structured analysis, presentation and training skills, with confidence to challenge senior technical stakeholders.
Strong organisation and prioritisation skills, a commitment to timely delivery and proficiency with relevant underwriting and Microsoft 365 systems.

Desirable

Experience in a life reinsurer or a senior insurer-facing technical role, including facultative casework or treaty-related underwriting.
Experience conducting underwriting audits, quality assurance reviews or underwriting philosophy and process reviews.
Exposure to underwriting rules engines, automated underwriting, data-led improvement or AI-enabled decision support.
Participation in client tenders, product development, industry forums or cross-functional change projects.

Qualifications and Educational Requirements

Relevant professional underwriting qualification, such as CII qualifications, or equivalent demonstrable technical experience.
Evidence of ongoing continuing professional development and maintenance of current medical, market and regulatory knowledge.
Additional medical, insurance, risk or related qualifications are advantageous but not essential.

We Offer

Competitive salary
25 days annual leave with the option to purchase more
Private medical insurance
Employers' contributory pension of 10%
Fully paid 6 months family leave
Great compensation package, on target bonus

About the Company

You will work in an environment where we think big: Change and culture are continuously role-modelled. We create and articulate a compelling and ambitious shared purpose, vision and direction. We pave the way towards success and see failure as learning.

We are empathetic. We know when to lead and know when to let others lead. We attract, grow and coach future leaders.

We communicate in a clear & authentic way: We interact with a positive and humble spirit. We solicit feedback, ask and listen, learn and unlearn.

You will grow with your clients: Whatever our role, we support business, in an efficient and effective way, to create value for our clients. We embrace new ways of working using digitalisation to deliver solutions.

We have a passion for winning and growing as a team. We inspire people to be capable of joint performance. We create an inclusive environment where different thoughts, generations, cultures and experiences are valued and encouraged.

At Munich Re, embracing the power of differences is at the core of who we are. We believe diversity fosters resilience and innovation and enables us to act on our purpose of helping humankind act braver and better. We recognise diversity can be multi-dimensional, intersectional, and complex, so we want to build a diverse workforce that includes a wide range of racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender identities; economic and geographic backgrounds; physical abilities; ages; life, school, and career experiences; and political, religious, and personal beliefs. Additionally, we are committed to building an equitable and inclusive work environment where this diversity is celebrated, valued, and has equitable opportunities to succeed.

If you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with everything outlined, or you don’t meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might just be the candidate we are looking for!

Senior Underwriter

Job description