Head of Technical Underwriting

Recruiter:

Network Recruitment

Job Ref:

NFP015885/LLR

Date posted:

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Location:

Johannesburg, South Africa

Salary:

Market related

SUMMARY:
Job Title: Head of Technical Underwriting
A leading player in the short-term insurance sector is seeking a highly experienced and strategic professional to join their team as Head of Technical Underwriting. This is a senior leadership role reporting directly to the Chief Underwriting Officer (CUO), responsible for driving underwriting excellence, risk management, and product oversight across the business.

POSITION INFO:

Key Responsibilities:

Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of underwriting strategy, standards, and governance practices.
Oversee and enhance underwriting philosophy across products including wordings, endorsements, proposal forms, mandates, pricing, and audits.
Drive and manage reinsurance strategy (treaty and facultative), ensuring alignment and compliance across teams.
Establish and uphold risk management practices across underwriting and claims functions.
Ensure governance and compliance with all internal policies, audit requirements, and regulatory frameworks.
Provide strategic support to product development and enhancement initiatives.
Lead risk selection oversight, identifying areas for improvement and training across underwriting teams.
Conduct and oversee internal audits related to underwriting and claims; implement findings and maintain robust audit plans.
Deliver insightful reports and recommendations to leadership, highlighting underwriting trends and market intelligence.
Provide technical underwriting support and guidance on complex cases.
Develop training materials and facilitate technical development across teams.
Represent underwriting in cross-functional executive and committee meetings.
Support compliance with POPIA and promote a Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) culture.

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Risk Management, Commerce, or a relevant business qualification.
Minimum 10 years’ experience in short-term/special risk insurance, including:
Technical underwriting
Claims handling
Risk management
Reinsurance (facultative and treaty)
Governance, audit, and compliance
Product development
Deep legal knowledge of insurance-related acts and regulatory requirements (e.g., Insurance Act, FAIS, Prescription Act).
Proven experience in leading and developing technical underwriting functions and managing multidisciplinary teams.

Key Skills and Competencies:

Strong analytical, investigative, and strategic thinking ability.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; confident report writer and presenter.
High level of self-management, initiative, and accountability.
Strong relationship management and stakeholder engagement.
Skilled in negotiation, risk identification, and decision-making.
Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
Well-networked within the insurance ecosystem (reinsurers, brokers, legal experts, industry bodies).

If you're a technically strong, commercially aware, and governance-minded insurance professional looking to step into a key leadership role—this opportunity is for you.
Please send your CV to
Should you not hear from us within two weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful

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