Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.
People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.
Role: Broker, Casualty
Location: Hybrid out of Chicago, IL
Who are we?
Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mind-set, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 20,000 employees spanning over 100 countries.
Our people are our biggest asset as well as our largest shareholder group and are everything that makes us unique; our inclusive culture, the quality service we offer our clients, and our continued growth, all come from our people-first approach. There’s no such thing as individual success. We all need to play our part, contributing our skills and experience to make a true difference. That’s Howden.
Why work at Howden?
We have always been employee-owned and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. Right from the beginning, we've focused on employing talented individuals and empowering them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers at the same time. Simply put, we hire talented specialists and give them what they need to make a difference for clients.
Always have, always will.
People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down disappointed head- hunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.
What is the role?
The Broker plays a key role in supporting and independently managing portions of Casualty insurance placements for large, national accounts. This role bridges analytical execution and client-facing advisory work, contributing to renewal strategy, and new business development. Brokers work in close partnership with producers and account executives, while actively mentoring junior colleagues and play a key role in driving excellence across the practice.
This is an ideal opportunity for professionals with 3–5 years of experience who are ready to take on more ownership of placements, client deliverables, and market negotiations.
What will you be doing?
Handle the placement and servicing of Casualty insurance programs across multiple lines of coverage
Review client exposures, loss history, and industry specific risks to help structure tailored insurance solutions.
Prepare and manage market submissions, ensuring coverage requests are complete, accurate, and reflective of client needs.
Liaise directly with underwriters to collect terms, negotiate coverage enhancements, and support smooth execution of placements.
Analyze carrier quotes and develop clear, professional side by side comparisons outlining coverage differences, pricing, and key considerations.
Participate in renewal strategy meetings and assist in developing client-facing presentations, proposals, and benchmarking analyses.
Manage the binding process, ensuring placements reflect negotiated terms and conditions.
Review policies for accuracy and coordinate corrections, endorsements, or revisions with carriers.
Support Casualty transactions by conducting program reviews, pro forma budgeting, and market insight.
Develop tailored insurance structures for clients, including loss sensitive and guaranteed cost programs.
Contribute to the development of innovative insurance structures, including loss sensitive and guaranteed cost programs.
Run analytical tools, benchmarking reports, loss analyses, and renewal metrics to support pricing discussions and strategy development.
Collaborate closely with senior brokers, producers, and account executives to ensure exceptional client service and successful deal execution.
What are we looking for?
Qualifications:
3–5 years of experience in commercial insurance brokerage, underwriting, finance, consulting, or a related analytical field.
Growing expertise in Casualty lines
Ability to analyze client exposures and support the design of tailored insurance solutions.
Strong understanding of Casualty market dynamics, carrier appetite, and coverage structures.
Proficient in Excel, PowerPoint, and data-driven tools; ability to produce polished, client-ready materials.
Active commercial insurance license
Highly organized with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deadlines.
Clear, professional, written, and verbal communication skills.
Ability to collaborate effectively across broker, underwriting, and client service teams.
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, deal-driven environment.
A team-first mindset with a willingness to mentor junior colleagues and contribute to a collaborative culture.
Compensation and Benefits
We offer a competitive salary range and comprehensive compensation package. The actual base salary will be determined by factors such as a candidate’s experience and work location.
In addition to a competitive base salary, employees are eligible to receive a discretionary bonus. Howden also offers a variety of benefits and programs, subject to eligibility, including:
Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including healthcare savings and reimbursement accounts
401(k) retirement plan
Flexible Paid Time Off and paid parental leave
Life and Disability insurance
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.
A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden 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'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.
Permanent