Howden
Associate Director - International Property Claims
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Who are we?
Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. We're experts helping clients adapt and thrive in a changing world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mind-set, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 23,000 employees and spanning 56 countries.
Our people are our biggest asset as well as our largest shareholder group and are everything that makes us unique; our inclusive culture, the quality service we offer our clients, and our continued growth, all come from our people-first approach. There’s no such thing as individual success. We all need to play our part, contributing our skills and experience to make a true difference. That’s Howden.
Why work at Howden?
We have always been employee-owned and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. Right from the beginning, we've focused on employing talented individuals and empowering them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers at the same time. Simply put, we hire talented specialists and give them what they need to make a difference for clients. Always have, always will.
People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down disappointed head-hunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.
The Role
Management of high and low value International Property claims (and other assigned claims), alongside day-to-day oversight of Claims team members, delivering a high-quality, efficient and client-focused claims service.
The role contributes to the delivery of the department’s operating plan, supporting the implementation of claims strategy, operational best practice and service standards. The role also supports senior leadership through technical input, client engagement and continuous improvement initiatives across people, process and technology.
What you'll do
Delivery, Planning and Performance
- Deliver high-quality, practical and commercially focused claims advice within area of expertise.
- Contribute to departmental operating plans and support delivery of agreed business objectives.
- Support implementation of claims strategies, operating principles and service standards within the International Property Claims team.
- Provide accurate and timely management information to support performance monitoring and decision-making.
- Participate in projects and operational initiatives, particularly those relating to process improvement, data quality and technology adoption.
Technical Claims Handling and Oversight
- Manage a portfolio of claims, including larger or more complex matters, ensuring timely, effective and client-focused resolution.
- Act as a technical referral and escalation point for the team on complex or sensitive claims.
- Provide guidance on claims strategy, coverage issues, insurer negotiations and resolution approaches.
- Prepare and review claims documentation, ensuring accuracy, completeness and appropriate presentation to markets.
- Maintain strong oversight of claims progress, ensuring adherence to agreed service levels and quality standards.
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Client, Market and Stakeholder Engagement
- Manage relationships with clients, brokers, insurers and other stakeholders on assigned accounts.
- Support client service delivery through proactive communication, claims updates and issue resolution.
- Develop and maintain market relationships, negotiating to achieve optimal outcomes for clients.
- Contribute to client meetings, renewals, reviews and tender activity where appropriate.
- Share client and market feedback to support broader business and placement strategies.
Operational Excellence, Process and Governance
- Ensure claims are handled in line with internal policies, procedures and regulatory requirements.
- Monitor workflows and administrative processes to ensure compliance with service standards and controls.
- Support the consistent application of claims processes, escalation routes and file quality standards.
- Maintain accurate, complete and up-to-date records across claims systems.
- Identify process improvements and support implementation of changes to enhance efficiency and service quality.
Data, Insight and Continuous Improvement
- Contribute to the use of claims data and management information to identify trends and support decision-making.
- Share insights on claims patterns, insurer behaviour and emerging risks with colleagues and stakeholders.
- Support initiatives to improve data quality, reporting and operational visibility.
- Contribute to knowledge sharing and the development of best practice across the team.
People Management and Team Development
- Manage and support the performance and development of direct reports.
- Provide coaching, technical guidance and oversight to junior team members.
- Review and sign off work where appropriate, ensuring quality and consistency.
- Contribute to recruitment, onboarding and capability development within the team.
- Promote a collaborative, high-performing and professional team environment.
Collaboration and Business Integration
- Work closely with brokers, placing teams and other functions to ensure alignment of claims and client strategy.
- Contribute to cross-team initiatives, sharing knowledge and best practice.
- Support broader claims and divisional objectives through collaboration and information sharing.
Regulatory and Compliance
- Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory and internal requirements.
- Maintain appropriate authorisations, records and documentation standards.
- Operate in a professional, ethical and client-focused manner at all times.
- Complete all required regulatory training and maintain competence in role.
Who we're looking for
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of the insurance sector, both in retail and wholesale.
- Experience of working as a Claims specialist within the Lloyd’s, UK and international (re)insurance markets.
- Experience managing complex or high-value claims.
- Good understanding of insurance markets, claims processes and client service expectations.
- Experience supporting team leadership, coaching or supervision of others.
- Awareness of regulatory requirements and compliant claims handling practices.
- Strong technical claims capability with sound judgement.
- Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Commercially focused with a client-first mindset.
- Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
- Analytical, organised and able to manage competing priorities.
- Collaborative and supportive, with a focus on team development.
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What do we offer in return?
A career that you define.
Our business succeeds by allowing our people to make a mark in the areas they care about most: personal development, volunteering, and fundraising for charity, or creating new insurance products that address society’s greatest challenges.
And we know that separate home and work lives don't really exist. If you're happy and healthy at home, you're more likely to be happy and fulfilled at work – and vice versa. That's why we do our best to support our people in every aspect of their lives.
Diversity and Inclusion
At Howden we value diversity - there is no one Howden ‘personality type’. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:
- Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new.
- We support each other, in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges.
- We are determined to make a positive difference, at work and beyond.
- We consider our people our chief competitive advantage and as such we treat colleagues, candidates, clients, and business partners with equality, fairness, and respect – regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or family circumstances.
Reasonable adjustments
We're committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours* or hybrid working*.
If you're excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.
*Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Reach out to your Recruitment Partner if you want to know more.
Our sustainability promise
We’re on a life-long journey to become an ever-more sustainable group. It's a commitment to taking care of our people and the world we live in, to doing good business, and to making a positive impact wherever we can. Our governance processes, company policies, and review systems are all geared towards our goal of making a positive impact in the world. You can read more about our sustainability work here.
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