Focus Group Leader - US Miscellaneous Medical and Life Sciences

About the role

To direct and manage the US Miscellaneous Medical & Life Sciences (US MMLS) team within Healthcare. To deliver and execute the annual business plan, set and direct forecasts. Provide counsel and advice on Underwriting and market conditions. Contribute technical expertise in this business area and maintain and improve market reputation of the Beazley brand.

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage the US MMLS team including business planning and underwriting.

• Develop and implement business strategies for the team in agreement with the head of the Healthcare team.

• Plan, direct, co-ordinate and maintain the team to achieve business objectives and target profitability.

• Monitor the portfolio and take corrective measures if necessary to ensure long-term profitability.

• Ensure that own and team activities comply with all relevant company, regulatory and legal requirements.

• Deliver team responsibilities as delegated by the head of the Healthcare team.

• Provide proactive oversight of all US MMLS underwriting and related functions within the Healthcare Underwriting.

• Develop and underwrite a profitable portfolio of HML business as part of the Healthcare team.

• Structure tailor-made solutions by considering the team underwriting parameters and underwriting policy and using underwriting knowledge and experience to win new business and retain existing.

• Monitor premiums, costs and claims ratios per contract and take corrective measures if necessary to ensure long term profitability at account level.

• Evaluate appropriate risk premium by considering the risk costs, reinsurance cessions, capital exposure as well as the underwriting and general administration costs to ensure profitability, using rating models as applicable.

• Monitor peer underwriters in their daily work to ensure profitability as well as efficient and cost effective administration of the HML accounts.

• Monitor and supervise assistants in their daily work to ensure compliance with underwriting philosophy and policy and consistency within the team and Specialty Risks.

• Comply with Beazley’s underwriting control standards for business written through Lloyd’s, Beazley Insurance Company Inc or Beazley’s internal MGAs.

• Advise, assist and service clients on insurance and risk matters to ensure clients’ satisfaction.

• Foster positive relationships with clients to get a mutual understanding of both their and Beazley’s needs.

• Maintain awareness of overall Beazley product range and take advantages of opportunities to introduce other Beazley products to clients.

• Provide leadership, direction and support to the team.

• Foster a spirit of inclusion, teamwork and unity that reflects Beazley’s overall workplace culture, values and appreciation of the benefits of diversity.

• Act as a manager, mentor and coach to direct reports to enable them to fulfil their potential and ensure continuous development of them and their wider team.

• Ensure direct reports are supported in contributing to the delivery and achievement of the overall team and business objectives.

• Provide effective performance feedback on a regular basis, ensuring employees are recognised and rewarded for their contribution.

• Conversely, providing timely feedback to address poor performance, taking disciplinary action as appropriate.

• Maintain transparent and effective communication through department meetings, one-to-one meetings, email etc.

• Encourage knowledge sharing and effective delegation to minimise key person dependencies.

• Work with other team managers ensuring team resources overall are effectively utilised and people are appropriately challenged.

• Encourage direct reports to think proactively about their careers, signposting development and stretch opportunities for strong performers where possible.

• Work with Culture & People as appropriate to escalate performance concerns ensuring set objectives are clear and measurable and progress is tracked accordingly.

• Leverage networking opportunities within the business to develop standardised underwriting policy and best practice within Beazley.

• Develop best practice and disseminate business and class knowledge within the US MMLS, Healthcare and Specialty Risks team.

• Work with peers within Healthcare and Specialty Risks to maximise business opportunities and profitability within the department.

• Share and gather knowledge within the Beazley Group to ensure dissemination of best practice and maximise business opportunities and profitability across the Group.

• Production of presentations and marketing literature as required.

• Production of business plans/research documents for the HML account as required.

Qualifications

General commercial and financial knowledge
Extensive experience in the insurance industry
Extensive experience of Healthcare underwriting
Thorough knowledge of underwriting policy, philosophy and practice
Advanced knowledge of underwriting processes and systems
Client service experience
Aptitude & Disposition
Result focused, self-motivated, flexible and enthusiastic
Professional approach to interact successfully with managers/colleagues/external suppliers
Team worker as well as able to work on own initiative
Customer focused, with a strong ethic of service and fairness to the customer

Skills

• Proficient underwriting skills
• Accurate and numerate
• Computer skills – good working knowledge of MS Office, advanced Excel skills
• Strong analytical skills with attention to detail
• Able to communicate effectively with others, both verbally and in writing
• Able to manage time, meet deadlines and prioritise
• Motivational skills