Director, Physical Risk

Who are we?

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 Title – Director, Physical Risk

Location - London

Who are we?

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. We're experts helping clients adapt and thrive in a changing 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 24,000 employees and spanning 56 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 we’re looking for

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.

What you’ll be doing

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.

What qualifications we’re looking for

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 do 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, and 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.

What do we offer in return?

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

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.

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