Manager, Specialty Risks Underwriting & Portfolio Growth

Yellosa; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Great benefits

Competitive package

Job summary

Yellosa in Johannesburg, South Africa, seeks a Manager for Specialty Risks to steer portfolio growth and profitability. The role requires guiding underwriters through complex, high-value risks, developing strategies, and ensuring alignment with regulatory and governance standards.

You will lead and develop a technical underwriting team, collaborate with brokers and reinsurers, and drive performance and risk controls across the portfolio.

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in Insurance (CII) or Degree in Risk Management, Engineering, or related field.
• 7–10 years' experience in Specialty Risks underwriting within General Insurance.
• 3–5 years in a supervisory or managerial role.
• Strong technical expertise in one or more specialty lines (engineering, marine, liability).
• Proven ability to underwrite complex and non-standard risks.
• Strong commercial acumen with disciplined risk and profitability focus.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow the Specialty Risks portfolio.
• Underwrite complex and high-value risks in line with guidelines and authorities.
• Develop underwriting strategies, pricing approaches, and portfolio management plans.
• Assess risk exposures, coverage structures, and reinsurance requirements with partners.
• Support business development with technical underwriting input and tailored solutions.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with brokers, reinsurers, surveyors, and stakeholders.
• Monitor portfolio performance, loss trends, accumulation exposures, and risk concentration.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and risk governance frameworks.
• Lead, mentor, and develop technical underwriting teams.

Skills

Underwriting

Leadership

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Risk assessment

Education

CII qualification or Risk Mgmt/Engineering degree

Job description

Yellosa in Johannesburg, South Africa, seeks a Manager for Specialty Risks to steer portfolio growth and profitability. The role requires guiding underwriters through complex, high-value risks, developing strategies, and ensuring alignment with regulatory and governance standards.

You will lead and develop a technical underwriting team, collaborate with brokers and reinsurers, and drive performance and risk controls across the portfolio.