National Marine Cargo and Carriers Underwriting Manager

Job Description

Lead a specialist marine underwriting portfolio, drive sustainable growth, and develop high-performing underwriting capability.
NM Insurance is a market-leading distributor of insurance products and services across recreational and commercial insurance sectors, including pleasure craft, motorcycle, caravan, and marine insurance.
Operating across Australia and New Zealand, NM Insurance is a full-service underwriting agency with dedicated underwriting, claims, product, actuarial, finance, legal, and compliance teams supporting our customers, broker partners, and stakeholders. Our products are distributed through licensed insurance brokers, distribution partners, and direct channels across both markets.
As we continue to strengthen and grow our Commercial Lines business, we are seeking an experienced and commercially astute National Marine Cargo and Carriers Underwriting Manager to lead our specialist Marine Cargo and Carriers portfolio.
Reporting to the Senior Portfolio, Underwriting and Product Manager, this senior leadership position is responsible for delivering sustainable portfolio performance through effective underwriting strategy, risk selection, pricing discipline, stakeholder engagement, and team leadership. The role will oversee the end-to-end underwriting function, ensuring growth, retention, profitability, and loss ratio objectives are achieved while maintaining compliance with regulatory obligations and delegated authority frameworks.
You will provide technical leadership across complex marine cargo and carriers risks, leveraging portfolio insights and market intelligence to drive informed underwriting decisions and continuous improvement initiatives. Working closely with Product, Pricing, Actuarial, Claims, Risk, Legal, and Compliance teams, you will contribute to strategic portfolio development and support the ongoing evolution of NM Insurance's marine offerings.
As a people leader, you will be responsible for developing underwriting capability, fostering a high-performance culture, and providing coaching and mentorship to support individual and team success. Strong broker and stakeholder relationship management skills will be essential, as will the ability to negotiate commercially sound outcomes aligned with NM Insurance's risk appetite and customer needs.
This position is advertised for North Sydney; however, we welcome applications from exceptional candidates based in Moorabbin, Melbourne or Woolloongabba, Brisbane.

Job Requirements

• Extensive insurance industry experience, including significant experience in Marine Cargo and/or Carriers underwriting.
• Proven experience managing or contributing to portfolio performance, including growth, retention, profitability, and loss ratio outcomes.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including coaching, mentoring, and developing underwriting team members.
• Strong underwriting expertise with the ability to assess complex risks and make sound commercial decisions.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with brokers, partners, and internal teams.
• Strong analytical capability, with experience interpreting portfolio data and performance metrics to support underwriting and business decisions.
• Experience applying underwriting guidelines, delegated authorities, governance frameworks, and escalation processes consistently.
• Sound understanding of Australian and/or New Zealand regulatory requirements, including Product Design and Distribution Obligations (PDDO) and delegated authority arrangements.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and influencing skills, with the ability to engage effectively across a range of stakeholders.
• High level of attention to detail, accuracy, and commitment to quality outcomes.
• Commercially focused with a balanced approach to risk management, customer outcomes, and portfolio performance.
• Tertiary qualifications in Business, Finance, Law, Actuarial Science, or a related discipline (desirable).
• ANZIIF or equivalent industry qualification (desirable).
• Commitment to continuous learning, professional development, and continuous improvement.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead the Marine Cargo and Carriers underwriting function, ensuring alignment with NM Insurance's strategy, risk appetite, and portfolio objectives.
• Drive portfolio performance through the achievement of growth, retention, profitability, and loss ratio targets.
• Oversee underwriting decisions and provide technical leadership for complex risks and referrals.
• Monitor portfolio performance, emerging risks, and market trends, implementing actions to optimise outcomes.
• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop underwriting team capability, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with brokers, partners, and key stakeholders to support growth and retention objectives.
• Collaborate with Product, Pricing, Actuarial, Claims, Legal, Compliance, and Risk teams to deliver commercially sound underwriting outcomes.
• Contribute to portfolio strategy, product development, pricing initiatives, and continuous improvement activities.
• Ensure consistent application of underwriting guidelines, delegated authorities, governance frameworks, and risk management principles.
• Act as an escalation point for complex underwriting and compliance matters, ensuring appropriate assessment, documentation, and resolution.
• Ensure compliance with Australian and New Zealand regulatory obligations, internal policies, and delegated authority requirements.
• Maintain accurate documentation, reporting, and audit-ready underwriting practices.
• Provide portfolio insights and performance reporting to support strategic decision-making and business objectives.
• Promote collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement across underwriting practices, processes, and customer outcomes.

Employee Benefits

At NM Insurance Pty Ltd, our values guide every decision we make. We prioritise our customers, act with integrity, encourage continuous learning, strive for excellence, and work together as one team.

As an NM Insurance Employee you will have access to and benefit from:

• The ability to maximise retirement savings through voluntary superannuation contributions in addition to company contributions Group Life Insurance Policies
• Travel Insurance Discounts on: Motor Vehicle purchases, Car Hire & Health

We value our employee’s experience with us and are proud of our Values and Behaviours:

• Customer First
• Doing What is Right
• Results Driven
• One Team Learn and Grow