Lead Underwriting & Risk Strategy Architect

RMB Nigeria Limited; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstRand Group's FNB Life seeks an exceptional Chief Underwriter to lead underwriting governance, risk assessment and sustainable growth. You will shape policy, drive excellence, and partner with reinsurers, actuaries and distribution teams to support profitable expansion.

You will mentor leaders, deliver insightful analytics, ensure regulatory compliance, and evolve underwriting capabilities across the organization.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years' life insurance underwriting experience including leading Underwriting teams.
• Experience in medical underwriting and risk assessment.
• Proven leadership within a senior underwriting environment.
• Experience engaging with reinsurers and managing underwriting governance frameworks.
• Ability to influence business strategy and support organisational growth objectives.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for underwriting philosophy, governance, and risk selection practices across the business.
• Lead and develop a high-performing underwriting function delivering customer and business outcomes.
• Drive underwriting innovation and modernisation to improve efficiency and risk management.
• Partner with business, actuarial, medical, reinsurance, product, and distribution teams to support profitable growth.
• Represent the organisation in engagements with reinsurers and industry bodies.
• Provide expert oversight on complex underwriting decisions and emerging trends.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and governance frameworks.
• Develop future underwriting capability through mentorship and technical leadership.
• Deliver insightful management information and underwriting analytics for executive decisions.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and customer-centricity.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Underwriting governance

Risk assessment

People management

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Postgraduate qualification (advantageous)

Tools

Underwriting systems

Reinsurance governance tools

Job description

FirstRand Group's FNB Life seeks an exceptional Chief Underwriter to lead underwriting governance, risk assessment and sustainable growth. You will shape policy, drive excellence, and partner with reinsurers, actuaries and distribution teams to support profitable expansion.

You will mentor leaders, deliver insightful analytics, ensure regulatory compliance, and evolve underwriting capabilities across the organization.