Director of Underwriting, Elders Insurance

• Location: Sydney or other QBE office locations nationally 

• Type: Permanent, full time 

• Hybrid role: Happy to talk flexible working, moderate travel required  

The opportunity 

• Major new leadership opportunity for Elders’ national insurance business 

• Shape underwriting strategy, performance and culture across different products and services 

• Leverage your large-scale insurance experience in a growing business supporting Australia’s regional economy 

About QBE  
 
At QBE, we get to the heart of what matters for our customers. And we do it all with a human touch.  
 
We’re an international insurer with more than 13,000 people working across 26 countries – which means we’re big enough for your ambitions, yet small enough for you to make a real impact. It’s an exciting time. We’re building momentum towards our vision to become the most consistent and innovative risk partner. 
 
What if you could have a positive impact – at work and in the world? As part of the QBE team, you’ll get to spend every day working with people who are passionate, talented and kind. 

Your new role 

As Head of Underwriting for Elders Insurance, you will lead multiproduct underwriting teams across a large national portfolio, with accountability for underwriting quality, performance and profitability. This is a newly created role influencing how underwriting, process and automation come together to deliver profitable growth and drive forward continuous improvement. 

Reporting to QBE’s General Manager for Elders, in this key senior role you will execute underwriting strategy aligned to business plans and risk appetite, supported by experienced technical underwriters, while providing decisive leadership focused on customer outcomes. 

Key accountabilities include: 

• Join the Elders leadership team, defining and delivering long-term strategies for sustained performance and profitable growth. 

• Championing the specific needs of Elders, ensuring products, processes, and communications are accessible, fair, and supportive of positive customer outcomes. 

• Accountability for overall financial performance of multiple functions and the achievement of associated revenue and expense budgets. 

• Analysing underwriting performance data, identify trends, and implementing improvements to maximise efficiency and profitability. 

• Driving the integrity of the underwriting process by adhering to standards and regulatory requirements. 

• Being an inclusive, empathic leader, mentoring and managing a team of talented underwriters.  

• Foster a high-performance culture, providing ongoing training, and supporting professional development. 

About you 

This is an opportunity for an experienced insurance leader with a commercial mindset who thrives in scale and complexity. With strong exposure to underwriting within major complex insurers, you will be comfortable leading a geographically dispersed team driving underwriting for Elders across Australia. 

Other ideal experience and skills: 

• Proven leadership of high volume, commodity insurance portfolios with significant GWP accountability. 

• A pragmatic, commercially minded approach to decision-making at scale. 

• Comfortable leading through technical specialists, setting direction, appetite and governance. 

• Demonstrable experience in complex underwriting environments. 

• Inclusive, engaging leadership capability across distributed and virtual teams.  

• Capability to lead through change and drive performance and improvement in line with Elders’ strategic priorities. 

Benefits  
 
We offer a range of benefits to help provide holistic support for your work life, whatever your circumstances. As a QBE employee you will have access to and benefit from: 
 
‘Hybrid Working’ – a mix of working from home and in the office to enhance your work/life balance  

• Free holistic wellbeing coaching, nutritional, confidential counselling, financial and legal advice  

• 18 weeks’ gender-equal flexible leave for all new parents, including paid super  
   

To learn more about benefits of working with us, click here. 
 

Awards & Recognition  

We value our employee’s experience with us and are proud to have been recognised for the following awards:  

• 2025 Winner of Excellence in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award at the Insurance Business Australia Awards for our Respect@QBE program  

• 2023 Most Inclusive Workplace at the Australian HR Institute (AHRI) Awards 

• Ranked in the top ten in the AAGE Top Graduate Employers 2025 for medium sized program as voted by graduates  
   
   

To learn more about our achievements, click here. 
 
 

How To Apply 
 
If you’re looking for a career that combines your expertise and your empathy, click Apply today. Successful applicants will need to complete work rights, police and credit checks through our online provider as a condition of employment. 
 
QBE recognises the value of diverse perspectives and experience. We are committed to an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected for who they are. If we can provide support with access requirements or alternative work arrangements please contact us at [email protected].