Ref: 44471

Director – Compliance & Underwriting 

Location: Western Europe (Flexible) Ideally Netherlands 
Experience: 5-10+ years
Employment Type: Full-time

Role Overview

An established international insurance organisation is seeking a senior-level Director – Compliance & Underwriting to oversee product governance, regulatory compliance, and underwriting performance across its European operations.

This position requires a commercially minded leader with deep expertise in insurance product development, regulatory oversight, insurer engagement, and underwriting analytics. The successful candidate must be a registered insurance intermediary and possess strong working knowledge of European insurance regulations. Fluency in English (written and spoken) is essential.

Key Responsibilities

1. Product Design & Development

• Lead the design and structuring of insurance products in partnership with commercial teams and distribution partners.
• Coordinate quotation processes and negotiate terms with insurers.
• Develop and maintain full policy documentation, including terms, summaries, and customer disclosures.
• Engage with insurers to review and secure approval of product wording and structure.
• Conduct end?to?end product testing, including scenario analysis prior to launch or major product changes.

2. Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure ongoing compliance with relevant insurance distribution and regulatory frameworks across European jurisdictions.
• Review and monitor contractual arrangements, sales processes, customer journeys, marketing materials, and distribution activities.
• Prepare regulatory submissions and coordinate responses to regulator and insurer due?diligence requests.
• Manage annual oversight reviews and audits from insurer partners.
• Oversee complaint reporting and ensure timely delivery of required management information and compliance reporting.

3. Underwriting & Portfolio Performance

• Monitor underwriting performance across all programs, including loss ratios, severity, frequency, and portfolio trends.
• Conduct regular assessments to ensure program sustainability and recommend corrective actions as needed.
• Provide underwriting insights to support strategic, commercial, and product-level decision-making.
• Lead quarterly performance reviews with insurers, covering underwriting outcomes, compliance, and overall program health.

4. Sales Process & Distribution Governance

• Design and oversee the governance framework supporting sales models and distribution strategies.
• Monitor and periodically review all products to ensure they meet customer needs and remain aligned with distribution objectives.

5. Partner Management & Onboarding

• Lead the onboarding of new partners in accordance with internal governance and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee sub?delegated activities and claims involvement where relevant.
• Support negotiations with new partners from both an insurance and regulatory perspective.

Candidate Profile

• Minimum 10+ years’ experience in insurance underwriting, compliance, product governance, or a related field.
• Registered insurance intermediary (mandatory requirement).
• Strong understanding of European insurance regulation and distribution requirements.
• Proven background in insurance product development and insurer negotiations.
• Strong analytical capability with experience evaluating underwriting performance metrics.
• Demonstrated experience in regulatory submissions, compliance reporting, and insurer audit processes.
• Excellent communication skills in English (written and verbal).
• Strategic thinker with strong stakeholder and relationship?management skills.

Bruin recognises the positive value of diversity, and aims to promote equality and challenge unfair discrimination. As a champion of equal opportunity employment we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons – men and women, people of all ages, sexual orientations, nationalities, religions and beliefs. We particularly encourage applications from women, disabled, and Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as these groups are underrepresented throughout the financial services industry. Our clients work with us because they value a diverse workforce, and subscribe to our shared principle that all appointments are made on merit and that ability to perform the job will be the primary consideration.