Head Of Underwriting

King Price Insurance; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading insurance company in Pretoria is seeking a Head of Underwriting to lead their commercial and agricultural insurance portfolios. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, excellent communication and negotiation skills, and have deep knowledge of the insurance markets. Responsibilities include assessing risks, driving process improvements, leading the underwriting team, and managing strategic decisions. A minimum of 8–10 years of underwriting experience, with at least 5 years in leadership, is necessary for this role.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8–10 years underwriting experience.
• At least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Deep knowledge of commercial and agricultural insurance.

Responsibilities

• Assess and underwrite commercial and agricultural risks.
• Collaborate with brokers to interpret contractual clauses.
• Drive continuous process improvement.
• Monitor global and local risk events.
• Lead, mentor, and develop underwriting team members.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Negotiation

Stakeholder Management

Analytical Skills

Problem Solving

MS Office proficiency

Education

NQF Level 5 qualification in insurance

RE5 (Representative Exam)

RE1 (Key Individual Exam)

Class of Business (COB) certification

Job description

Overview

Our Pretoria based client is seeking a visionary Head of Underwriting to lead Commercial and Agricultural Insurance portfolios. This is a unique opportunity to shape innovative risk solutions, drive sustainable growth, and set new standards of affordability and resilience in the underwriting space.

Responsibilities

• Assess and underwrite commercial and agricultural risks in line with guidelines and sound judgment.
• Collaborate with brokers, reinsurers, and legal advisers to interpret complex contractual clauses.
• Drive continuous process improvement through new procedures and systems development.
• Produce accurate management information to support strategic decisions.
• Monitor global and local risk events impacting Commercial and Agri portfolios.
• Ensure underwriting services meet agreed service standards across all channels.
• Maintain robust data recording and compliance processes.
• Lead, mentor, and develop underwriting team members.
• Oversee pricing, product development, and reinsurance arrangements.
• Manage departmental budgets and ensure procurement compliance.
• Translate business strategies into operational plans and drive change effectively.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong leadership with the ability to inspire and manage teams in high‑pressure environments.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Deep knowledge of commercial and agricultural insurance markets, regulations, and trends.
• Analytical and problem‑solving ability with proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Qualifications

• NQF Level 5 qualification in insurance or related field.
• RE5 (Representative Exam) and RE1 (Key Individual Exam).
• Class of Business (COB) certification for Commercial and Agricultural insurance.
• Minimum 8–10 years underwriting experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.