UK Technical Underwriting Manager Risk Managed

Introduction

At Pen, we don’t just underwrite risk, we unlock possibility. We’re a dynamic underwriting and distribution business backed by the strength of Gallagher and powered by a belief that every challenge has a solution. With entrepreneurial energy, niche expertise, and a bold growth mindset, we’re transforming what it means to be an MGA in today’s insurance landscape. Whether you’re shaping new products, solving complex problems, or collaborating across teams, your ideas and initiative will help deliver smarter solutions for our clients—and move the industry forward.

Here, agility meets stability. Creativity meets execution. And your career meets real opportunity. At Pen, we champion innovation, value accountability, and thrive on building something better together. If you’re looking to join a team that’s rewriting the future of underwriting, we’d love to hear from you.

* Please note this role can be based out of any of our Pen Underwriting locations*

The Technical Underwriting Manager is responsible for providing technical leadership within the Risk Managed division. The role is accountable for delivering financial performance (GWP, revenue and profitability) alongside insurer performance targets (loss ratio), through effective management of underwriting standards and technical performance.

A key focus of the role is to design and embed a robust underwriting framework that enables the delivery of products under delegated authority from carrier partners. The role holder will own the product suite, ensuring ongoing value, competitiveness, and relevance for brokers, coverholders and end customers.

• Lead and influence the technical performance of the business unit, driving delivery of P&L objectives through proactive performance management, including target setting, monitoring and corrective action planning
• Identify emerging risks, trends, opportunities and challenges, responding with clear, actionable plans to protect and enhance performance
• Develop and maintain underwriting frameworks, guidelines and rating structures to support consistent, high-quality underwriting decisions within delegated authority
• Contribute to product development, innovation and continuous improvement of underwriting systems and processes
• Establish and maintain high standards of technical underwriting, professional conduct and ethical behaviour across the team
• Work closely with Risk & Governance to allocate underwriting authorities and implement structured audit processes to ensure compliance and consistency
• Support internal and external audit processes, including oversight of delegated authority arrangements
• Act as a key referral point for complex or high-value risks exceeding individual underwriting authorities
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders including brokers, insurers and coverholders
• Lead, coach and develop underwriting teams, ensuring capability and succession for future growth and market opportunities
• Ensure adherence to service standards and effective handling of complaints in line with company procedures
• Act as a role model for company values, professionalism and ethical conduct, ensuring compliance with the AJG Professional Standards Manual
• Ensure full compliance with all applicable legal, regulatory and governance requirements, taking ownership for identifying gaps and implementing remedial actions where required

• Strong understanding of insurance principles and the application of these in complex underwriting scenarios
• Advanced knowledge of underwriting disciplines, pricing and rating methodologies
• Awareness of when specialist input (e.g. surveys, engineering reports) is required for complex risks
• Good understanding of claims handling, reserving and its impact on loss ratio performance
• Strong knowledge of UK regulatory frameworks and legal considerations within insurance

• Proven underwriting leadership experience within a defined line of business
• Strong track record of delivering against financial targets and managing business performance
• Experience operating within delegated authority environments
• Demonstrated ability to…