Senior Underwriter – General Property Cologne/Frankfurt/Hamburg/Munich, Germany

Overview

A strategic and trusted insurance partner, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) provides a broad range of commercial property, casualty, and specialty insurance coverages, together with outstanding service, to customers and brokers around the world. As part of Berkshire Hathaway’s insurance operations, we bring solutions to market backed by our stellar brand, top-rated balance sheet, and the expertise of our global team of professionals, recognized for both exceptional capabilities and strong character.

We are a values-based organization where respect, integrity, excellence, collaboration, and passion define who we are and how we do business. We value diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all teammates can contribute, grow, and succeed. We are one team, united by a shared commitment to build the finest property, casualty, and specialty insurance company in the world.

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) offers an exciting opportunity for a Senior Underwriter – General Property to join our German Property team, based in Cologne (Headquarters), Frankfurt, Munich, or Hamburg.

We are seeking an experienced, technically strong, and market-facing underwriting professional with a proven track record in general property underwriting. This role offers significant responsibility and autonomy, with direct impact on portfolio performance, broker relationships, and underwriting strategy across the German market.

In this role, you will take ownership of underwriting complex new and renewal business, analyze property risk exposures, and make independent, sound underwriting decisions within BHSI’s risk appetite. You will play a key role in profitably growing and shaping the portfolio, while actively contributing to market strategy and broker engagement.

You will collaborate closely with brokers, customers, internal stakeholders across BHSI product lines, and the Risk Engineering team, acting as a senior reference point for technical underwriting expertise and disciplined risk selection.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead the sourcing, evaluation, and underwriting of new and renewal general property business, including primary and excess layers, multi-year policies, and bespoke structured placements.
• Take ownership of underwriting decisions for complex risks, ensuring alignment with BHSI’s risk appetite and underwriting standards.
• Drive profitable portfolio growth through targeted business development, production planning, and strategic broker engagement.
• Develop and execute market strategies, delivering tailored underwriting solutions to meet broker and customer needs.
• Build, maintain, and expand senior-level broker and client relationships, acting as a trusted underwriting partner.
• Collaborate closely with other BHSI product lines and the Risk Engineering team to deliver integrated and technically robust solutions.
• Analyze and interpret technical information, including catastrophe modeling, risk engineering reports, and valuation documentation.
• Review, negotiate, and approve policy terms and conditions to ensure technical accuracy, contract certainty, and risk clarity.
• Operate effectively in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities while maintaining underwriting discipline, integrity, and sound judgment.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• 8–10+ years of relevant experience in commercial property insurance underwriting
• Demonstrated success in developing and managing a profitable general property portfolio
• Established and strong broker and client relationships within the market
• Proven underwriting judgment with the ability to independently assess and structure complex risks
• Solid understanding of catastrophe peril modeling and pricing methodologies
• In-depth knowledge of policy forms and wordings, including broker manuscript policies
• Strong strategic mindset with the ability to contribute to market and portfolio strategy
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, including senior-level stakeholder engagement and presentations
• Strong collaboration skills and a team-oriented mindset
• Willingness to travel as required
• University degree or equivalent education, and/or strong professional insurance qualifications preferred
• Fluency in German and English

BHSI Offers

• A competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, combined with attractive professional growth and development opportunities
• A dynamic, fast-moving, and purpose-driven environment focused on doing the right thing for our customers, teammates, and stakeholders
• A deliberately non-bureaucratic culture that values simplicity over complexity and encourages individual excellence within a collaborative team framework

To apply

To apply, please submit your CV along with a cover letter outlining why this role is the right fit for you to hr.europe@bhspecialty.com

Note: Compensation will be commensurate with experience. This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Team members may perform other related duties as needed to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.