Chief Insurance Underwriting Officer

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 3,500,000 - 5,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive health benefits

Performance-based bonuses

Equity opportunities

Hybrid work arrangement

Executive coaching

Travel allowance

Leave allowance

State-of-the-art Sandton offices

Job summary

Our client, a prominent insurance group, based in Sandton, seeks a Chief Insurance Underwriting Officer to lead the underwriting division. This executive role sets the overall underwriting strategy, drives profitable growth, and manages risk appetite with a hybrid on-site and remote leadership model.

You will guide underwriting teams, collaborate with senior leadership, and foster innovation to enhance efficiency and maintain competitive positioning in Gauteng and beyond.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in senior underwriting leadership roles.
• MBA or equivalent preferred.
• Strong strategic and financial acumen.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement the underwriting strategy and philosophy.
• Oversee risk appetite framework and regulatory compliance.
• Drive profitable growth through portfolio management.
• Lead and develop a high-performing underwriting team.
• Collaborate with executives to align underwriting with business objectives.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic thinking

Financial modeling

Negotiation

Education

MBA or equivalent

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent and innovative insurance group, is seeking a strategic and visionary Chief Insurance Underwriting Officer to lead their underwriting division based in Sandton . This executive role is responsible for setting the overall underwriting strategy, ensuring profitable growth, managing risk appetite, and fostering a culture of excellence and innovation within the underwriting function. The position is offered on a hybrid basis, requiring a balance of on-site leadership presence and remote operational oversight. You will be instrumental in shaping the company's risk-taking approach and ensuring its competitive positioning in the Gauteng market and beyond. We are committed to driving strategic growth through astute risk management and operational efficiency. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in senior underwriting leadership, a deep understanding of global insurance markets, and exceptional strategic planning and execution capabilities. Your leadership will guide the underwriting teams in navigating complex market dynamics and achieving ambitious business objectives. This is a career-defining opportunity to hold a key leadership position within a leading insurance enterprise.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and implement the company's overall underwriting strategy and philosophy.
• Establish and manage the organization's risk appetite framework.
• Oversee all aspects of the underwriting function, including underwriting policy, guidelines, and procedures.
• Drive profitable growth by optimizing underwriting performance and portfolio management.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with brokers, reinsurers, and other strategic partners.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of underwriting professionals.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and internal controls.
• Monitor market trends, competitor strategies, and emerging risks to inform strategic decisions.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to align underwriting strategy with overall business objectives.
• Drive innovation in underwriting practices and leverage technology to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Requirements

• Extensive experience (10+ years) in senior leadership roles within insurance underwriting.
• Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Risk Management, or a related field; MBA or equivalent preferred.
• Proven track record of successfully managing complex underwriting operations and achieving financial targets.
• Deep knowledge of various insurance lines, market dynamics, and risk management principles.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, leadership, and decision-making abilities.
• Strong understanding of financial modeling, pricing, and reserving techniques.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to drive change and innovation.
• Experience in a hybrid work environment and managing distributed teams.
• Familiarity with regulatory landscapes across different jurisdictions.

Benefits

• Executive-level annual compensation package up to R .
• Hybrid work arrangement offering strategic flexibility.
• Comprehensive executive health benefits, life insurance, and robust retirement plan.
• Significant performance-based bonuses and equity opportunities.
• Leadership development programs and executive coaching.
• Opportunity to shape the strategic direction of a major insurance player.
• Generous leave allowance.
• Executive travel allowance.
• Access to premium corporate wellness programs.
• Lead from our state-of-the-art offices in Sandton .