Senior Underwriter – Construction Risks
Manchester, Leeds or Birmingham (Flexible / Hybrid Working)
Play your part in underwriting complex risks that keep the UK building!
At Markel, we do more than underwrite insurance – we give people the confidence to move forward. From specialist construction projects to complex contractual risks, our underwriters are trusted partners to brokers and clients alike.
We’re now looking to hire an experienced Senior Construction Underwriter to support the continued growth of our UK Construction portfolio. This role can be based in Manchester, Leeds or Birmingham, making it ideal for experienced underwriters in the Northern & Midlands markets seeking a visible, high impact role with real autonomy.
The opportunity:
Reporting to the UK Head of Construction Sector Sales, you’ll play a key role in underwriting new business, shaping broker relationships, and helping drive profitable growth across a specialist construction portfolio.
You’ll combine technical underwriting expertise with strong broker engagement, operating in a market where quality decision making, service, and relationships truly matter.
What you’ll be doing:
• Underwriting construction new business risks, demonstrating strong technical judgement within delegated authority
• Reviewing and negotiating broker generated quotes, clearly articulating Markel’s product strengths to win business
• Building and developing strong broker relationships across your regional panel, supported by Sector Sales and Business Development
• Managing the full lifecycle of risks from enquiry to outcome using Markel’s underwriting platforms
• Proactively identifying and pursuing new business opportunities through CRM and pipeline management
• Acting as a technical point of reference, sharing knowledge and coaching colleagues within the wider team
What you’ll bring:
• Proven experience in Construction underwriting, including policies, portfolios and/or binders
• Experience working with a specialist broker panel (preferred)
• Strong communication skills, confident engaging brokers by phone, email and in meetings
• The ability to manage your own workflow effectively while working collaboratively within a team
• A commercial mindset with an appetite to contribute to regional and national growth ambitions
Why Markel?
Markel Group (NYSE: MKL) is a Fortune 500 company with over 60 offices globally. Despite our scale, we remain proudly people first, giving underwriters genuine influence and the freedom to underwrite intelligently.
Our values guide how we work every day:
• We’re all about people
• We win together
• We strive for better
• We enjoy the everyday
• We think further
What’s in it for you?
• Competitive basic salary plus generous bonus
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, with buy/sell options
• Excellent pension, private medical & dental cover, life assurance and income protection
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• A culture that values expertise, collaboration and long term career development
Ready to play your part?
If you’re an experienced construction underwriter looking to step into a role with visibility, autonomy and momentum in the Manchester, Leeds or Birmingham market, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply now and discover how you can build something special with Markel.
Markel celebrates the value of a diverse workforce that brings experience and expertise from a wide variety of backgrounds and life circumstances. Whatever your background, if you feel you meet the requirements of this role then we want to hear from you. We are also happy to consider candidates who are looking for flexible working patterns.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with all reasonable accommodations to be able to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions if successful. Please contact us via email at rec@markel.com or call us at 0161 507 5827 to request any accommodations that may be needed. This includes any alternative formats of any documents or information on how to apply offline.
#LI-PC1
The opportunity:
Reporting to the UK Head of Construction Sector Sales, you’ll play a key role in underwriting new business, shaping broker relationships, and helping drive profitable growth across a specialist construction portfolio.
You’ll combine technical underwriting expertise with strong broker engagement, operating in a market where quality decision‑making, service, and relationships truly matter.
What you’ll be doing:
Underwriting construction new business risks, demonstrating strong technical judgement within delegated authority
Reviewing and negotiating broker‑generated quotes, clearly articulating Markel’s product strengths to win business
Building and developing strong broker relationships across your regional panel, supported by Sector Sales and Business Development
Managing the full lifecycle of risks from enquiry to outcome using Markel’s underwriting platforms
Proactively identifying and pursuing new business opportunities through CRM and pipeline management
Acting as a technical point of reference, sharing knowledge and coaching colleagues within the wider team
What you’ll bring:
Proven experience in Construction underwriting, including policies, portfolios and/or binders
Experience working with a specialist broker panel (preferred)
Strong communication skills, confident engaging brokers by phone, email and in meetings
The ability to manage your own workflow effectively while working collaboratively within a team
A commercial mindset with an appetite to contribute to regional and national growth ambitions
Why Markel?
Markel Group (NYSE: MKL) is a Fortune 500 company with over 60 offices globally. Despite our scale, we remain proudly people‑first, giving underwriters genuine influence and the freedom to underwrite intelligently.
Our values guide how we work every day:
We’re all about people
We win together
We strive for better
We enjoy the everyday
We think further
What’s in it for you?
Competitive basic salary plus generous bonus
25 days holiday plus bank holidays, with buy/sell options
Excellent pension, private medical & dental cover, life assurance and income protection
Hybrid and flexible working options
A culture that values expertise, collaboration and long‑term career development
Ready to play your part?
If you’re an experienced construction underwriter looking to step into a role with visibility, autonomy and momentum in the Manchester, Leeds or Birmingham market, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply now and discover how you can build something special with Markel.
Markel celebrates the value of a diverse workforce that brings experience and expertise from a wide variety of backgrounds and life circumstances. Whatever your background, if you feel you meet the requirements of this role then we want to hear from you. We are also happy to consider candidates who are looking for flexible working patterns.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with all reasonable accommodations to be able to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions if successful. Please contact us via email at rec@markel.com or call us at 0161 507 5827 to request any accommodations that may be needed. This includes any alternative formats of any documents or information on how to apply offline.
#LI-PC1
#LI-Hybrid #PlayYourPartUK