Life Products Underwriter

Gen Re Group; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

General Reinsurance's Cape Town Branch is seeking a Life Products Underwriter to service the Canadian market from our Cape Town office. You will underwrite Canadian life and health facultative risks, ensuring timely turnaround and adherence to service standards.

Reporting to the Chief Underwriting Officer in Canada, you will collaborate with the Canadian underwriting team and stakeholders across markets to maintain high-quality service and contribute to our international footprint.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 6 years underwriting experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in health or allied health sciences, business, finance, economics.
• Experience evaluating complex underwriting cases.
• Proven track record in underwriting and client relationships with high service standards.
• Strong written and verbal communication to stakeholders.
• Self-sufficient, time management, and prioritisation in high-volume environment.
• Technology affinity and strong software skills.

Responsibilities

• Underwrite Canadian facultative life and health risks.
• Ensure timely case turnaround in line with SLAs.
• Provide high-quality service to Canadian clients.
• Collaborate with colleagues across markets.
• Engage with Canadian clients and senior internal stakeholders.
• Support actuarial, administrative, and marketing teams.
• Participate in cross-functional projects.

Skills

Underwriting expertise

Client relationship management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Self-motivation

Education

Bachelor's degree in health or allied health sciences, business, finance, economics

Job description

Key Responsibilities

This role focuses on servicing the Canadian market while being based in our Cape Town office.

Reporting directly to the Chief Underwriting Officer in Canada, and working as part of the Canadian underwriting team, the successful candidate will:

• Take sole responsibility for underwriting Canadian facultative applications
• Provide a consistently high-quality service experience to Canadian clients
• Collaborate with colleagues across markets to uphold excellence in underwriting standards
• This position offers the chance to work in an international environment, combining local presence with global impact

General Reinsurance, Cape Town Branch (a subsidiary of General Reinsurance AG) is offering an opportunity for Life Products Underwriter in our Life Australia, UK, SA, Canada division. The Life Products Underwriter will apply sound underwriting judgement in the assessment of facultative risks referred by client companies. A key requirement of the role is the ability to ensure timely turnaround of cases in line with agreed service standards, while maintaining the highest levels of accuracy and quality.

• Underwrite facultative life and health risks for the Canadian market
• Ensure efficient case turnaround times aligned to client service level agreements
• Apply strong technical expertise and sound judgement in complex risk assessments
• Engage effectively with Canadian clients and internal stakeholders at a senior level
• Contribute to enhancing the company’s service offering and market presence in Canada
• Provide support to Actuarial, Administrative, and Marketing teams
• Participate in ad hoc cross-functional and strategic projects

Qualifications & Experience

We are seeking high-caliber candidates who are experienced, detail-oriented underwriters with strong technical expertise.

• A minimum of 6 years’ underwriting experience
• A qualification in health or allied health sciences, business, finance, economics, or a related bachelor’s degree
• Significant experience in evaluating and resolving complex and non-standard underwriting cases
• Proven track record in managing both underwriting and client relationship responsibilities effectively, consistently delivering a high standard of professional service
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts in a clear, concise, and structured manner to both internal and external stakeholders
• A self-sufficient and resourceful professional who demonstrates flexibility, strong time management, and the ability to prioritise effectively in a high-volume environment
• An affinity for technology and innovation, supported by strong software skills
• Ability to work effectively within a collaborative team environment
• A strong commitment to adhering to internal procedures and policies, with a focus on maintaining quality standards and contributing to overall business performance and shareholder value

The ideal candidate will:

• Demonstrate the ability to work independently with a high level of accountability
• Possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Be self-motivated, proactive, and performance-driven
• Communicate with confidence and credibility at senior levels
• Thrive in an entrepreneurial and fast-paced environment
• Show the potential and ambition to take on more strategic responsibilities over time