Executive Director – Specialty
The opportunity:
The Executive Director - Specialty is responsible for setting the strategic direction of QBE Re's product portfolio, ensuring underwriting quality, and driving the performance of product lines across the entire organisation. At QBE our Specialty business covers Marine, Aviation, Energy, War, Terror, Political Violence, Contingency, Credit, Kidnap and Ransom, Fine Art, Accident & Health, Medical and Life. As a key member of the Reinsurance Executive Committee (ReDex), which provides strategic leadership for the reinsurance business, this role plays a pivotal part in shaping and executing the company’s reinsurance product strategies. Additionally, as the leader of the Global Product Committee, the Executive Director collaborates with a global network of product underwriters to implement these strategies and ensure alignment across all markets.
Your new role:
Leadership and relationship management
- A member of the QBE ReDex, leadership team responsible for setting and executing the strategic direction for QBE Re
- Product development and management – overseeing the Global Product Committee, which involves the development, management and innovation of specific product to meet strategic goals
- Collaboration and integration – facilitate collaboration across product underwriters in different regions to leverage Re’s global capabilities and expertise
- Establish and strengthen strong relationships with key stakeholders including cedants, brokers, industry bodies, business partners, retrocession Aires and colleagues, to maximize influence and achieve business objectives
- Network internally and externally to promote the interests of QBE Re and QBE EO
Business Planning and Strategy
- Create the annual business plans globally for Specialty
- Produce product strategies (including underwriting appetites, tolerances, and
- guidelines)
- Produce product plan narratives, in line with Group expectations.
- Discuss and consider new opportunities and ensure adherence to the New Product Protocol, as required
- Discuss regulatory environment and any required changes in products or related wordings.
- Co-ordinate cross-platform deployment of capacity. Determine which platform will be utilised by client and product type, in conjunction with the Global Head of Performance and Portfolio Analytics to ensure alignment with QBE Re platform strategy.
- Initiate new ideas and concepts to support the development and delivery of the business plan and strategic growth objectives
- Understand and comply with any Retrocession requirements to minimise risk and deliver to business plan objectives
Performance Monitoring and Management
- Establish and communicate appropriate Risk appetites for the product and ensuring that the Underwriting Business areas operate within those limits
- Monitor ongoing adherence to product strategy
- Review performance of product plan post each key renewal season and/or each quarter. Agree with relevant regional Executive Director, any corrective actions necessary to achieve or exceed plan
- Update on cedant, competitor and broker developments and ensure product strategies remain appropriate in the context of current market conditions, including appropriate engagement with Global Partnerships team.
- Proactively conduct Post Event Reviews (PERs) and comment on ‘lessons learned’ and any required response
- Manage all relevant actions arising from any peer and/or independent reviews, including Cell Reviews
- Review and approve materials in advance of submission to both the Performance Management Group (PMG) and Cell reviews
- Ensure awareness of any forthcoming Client / Broker meetings and Conference attendance
Exposure Management
- Ensure Global consistency for exposure tracking and RDS management
- Review all relevant accumulations on a quarterly basis against pre-agreed underwriting tolerances and agree required actions.
- Lloyds RDS methodology to be agreed by the Product Committees with support of exposure management team. Returns per scenario to be reviewed and approved quarterly
- Monitor and report on progress, identify deviations, recommend and implement remedial action, to achieve business objectives
Authorities and technical referrals
- Review large and complex referrals; making product specific underwriting decisions within QBE Re Underwriting Governance to ensure progress towards business plan objectives
- Act as a technical expert to support the identification of issues and opportunities within the product line to safeguard or enhance QBE Re’s market position; in event of loss use the Global Product Committee to delve into it and challenge, where possible
- Underwrite reinsurance deals in accordance with the business plan and personal authority; negotiating rates, terms and conditions for existing and new business, managing product and issue of contract certainty documentation, ensuring compliance with internal and external regulations and guidelines
About you:
- Relevant Reinsurance experience in at least one or several of the lines of business within specialty
- Excellent organisational, prioritisation and interpersonal skills
- Good negotiating skills
- Ability to analyse and use data for decision making
- People management – proven ability to engage and lead a team
- Use of risk profiling, pricing tools and loss models
- Commercial acumen
- Ability to articulate strategic visions of the portfolio
Why QBE? At My Best
At QBE, we want our people to feel rewarded and inspired to perform at their best, that’s why we have created “At My Best”. It’s our connection, our way of showing we have your back. We understand that one size doesn’t fit all and that priorities can change depending on your life stage. That is why our blend of wellbeing initiatives and benefits offer flexibility to suit what matters most to you. It’s in the culture of our business, our QBE DNA, to support our people. Everything we do is underpinned by our QBE DNA.
We’re an international insurer that’s building momentum towards realising our vision of becoming the most consistent and innovative risk partner. We can never really predict what’s around the corner, but at QBE we’re asking the right questions to enable a more resilient future – helping those around us build strength and embrace change to their advantage.
QBE aims to build a workplace that is fair and inclusive because we want to attract and retain the best people to do the job, we have adopted flexible working across the company and welcome this conversation (https://qbeeurope.com/careers/flex-qbe/).
With more than more than 13,000 people working across 27 countries, we’re big enough to make a real impact, but small enough to provide a friendly workplace, where people are down-to-earth, passionate, and kind.
To find out more about why you should work for QBE, visit our careers website.
At My Best - QBE Benefits
You are more than your work – and QBE is more than a workplace, which is why we provide you with the benefits, support and flexibility to help you concentrate on living your best life personally and professionally. FOR UK ONLY: As well as the benefits below we also offer an extensive choice of other options to suit you!
30 days holiday a year with the option to buy up to 2 additional days.
Flexible working - balancing work and life is important so our flexible working opportunities are open to all, this can include part-time, job share and compressed hours.
Pension – you are automatically enrolled into the QBE pension plan, which entitles you to receive employer contributions of 10% of your basic salary.
Private medical insurance – we fund fully comprehensive private medical cover for you and all the family.
Family friendly policies – we offer 26 weeks leave at full pay regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation or how you become a parent.
Short term remote work abroad - you can request up to 20 days per year to work remotely from certain locations abroad.
Sustainable investing - we believe sustainable integration is important for long term financial, environmental, and social outcomes. Our pension strategy supports our net-zero goal to achieve year-on-year reductions in carbon footprint, by investing more in green businesses than the broader market, so your savings are looking after the planet's future, as well as your own.
Cycle-to-Work – benefit from regular exercise whilst making your commute greener and cheaper, select and bike and/or accessories up to the value of £5,000.
To find out more visit our Reward Page
QBE Awards
Some of the award’s QBE are proud to have won, been a finalist for, and shortlisted for include;
AXCO Global Insurance Awards 2024 Winner: Network Management of the Year
Insurance Business UK 5-Star Cyber Awards 2024: QBE rated as a 5-Star Cyber Insurer
UK IT Industry Awards 2023 Winner: Green Technology Innovation of the Year
Working Dads Employer Awards 2023 Winner: Parental Policies Award
Insurance Post British Insurance Awards 2023: QBE rated as a 5-Star Employee
You can view all our awards here
Inclusion of Diversity
We are striving to create a workplace culture where all our people feel included, and we are committed to building a diverse workforce that is reflective of the communities we operate in. We are proud to have partnerships with organisations such as Stonewall and Working Families, and our commitment to the Women in Finance Charter, the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles and Race at Work charter helps keep us accountable and transparent. For more information on our strategy targets please take a look at our Careers Page
Accessibility
Here at QBE, we are promoting an accessible workplace for all, which includes supporting candidates to perform at their best during their recruitment process. If you require any accommodations, please make your Talent Acquisition contact aware.
ESG & Sustainability
At QBE, we believe that integrating sustainability into our business helps us deliver on our purpose of enabling a more resilient future. Our three key focus areas include fostering an orderly and inclusive transition to a net-zero economy, enabling a sustainable and resilient workforce, and partnering for growth through innovative, sustainable, and impactful solutions. For further information regarding QBE’s sustainability targets, including our net-zero pledges and inclusion of diversity targets, and our award-winning impact investment initiative ‘Premiums4Good’, please visit our Sustainability homepage and read our latest Sustainability Report
What next?
If you have a passion to contribute to QBE’s vision of enabling a more resilient future for our customers and the community, we encourage you to apply! Simply click the “apply” button to submit your CV and other relevant documents, and a member of our friendly Talent Acquisition team will be in contact to discuss your interest further if you meet the requirements of the role.
We believe this is our moment – what if it was yours too?
APPLY NOW and let’s make it happen!
Skills:
Analytical Thinking, Coaching for success, Cost Management, Critical Thinking, Customer Service, Decision Making, Influencing, Intentional collaboration, Managing performance, Navigating ambiguity, Problem Solving, Regulatory Compliance, Reinsurance, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management
How to Apply:
To submit your application, click "Apply" and follow the step by step process.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
QBE is an equal opportunity employer and is required to comply with equal employment opportunity legislation in each jurisdiction it operates.
