Manager: Underwriting Administration and Retention

Sanlam; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Santam Specialist Solutions in South Africa seeks a Manager - Commercial Underwriting Administration to lead policy administration for new business, endorsements, and terms on existing policies. You will manage a team, drive performance, and ensure adherence to SOPs.

The role requires extensive underwriting experience, leadership ability, and strong knowledge of insurance regulations. Based at Wanderers Office Park, with a focus on collaboration and process improvement.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years in insurance underwriting.
• Preferably 10 years in short-term engineering insurance.
• Experience leading an underwriting team.
• Quoting and approval experience beneficial.
• First Level Regulatory Examination and FAIS compliance.
• Relevant degree or diploma; computer literacy in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.

Responsibilities

• Oversee policy administration and underwriting for new business and endorsements.
• Provide terms on existing policies and address finance queries.
• Liaise with brokers and other departments.
• Lead the underwriting administration team to meet targets and SOP.
• Manage team performance and deadlines.
• Handle incoming/outgoing mail and ensure process compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Underwriting

Insurance regulations

Attention to detail

Communication

Analytical thinking

Insurance systems

Education

Relevant Degree/Diploma

First Level Regulatory Examination

FAIS Compliant

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Manager: Underwriting Administration and Retention

Job Description Manager: Underwriting Administration and Retention Posting Start Date: 30/10/2026 Job Location: South Africa

What will you do?

Santam Specialist Solutions has a career opportunity for a Manager - Commercial Underwriting Administrationinthe Construction and Engineering business areawhich will be based in Wanderers Office Park.

The primary purpose of this position is Policy Underwriting Administration with reference to new business, endorsements (providing terms on existing policies), finance queries, and dealing with Brokers and other departments, and ensuring the Policy administration team achieves targets and SOP.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES?

Policy Administration and managing a team of Underwriting Administrators as it relates to:

• Conversions of quotes into Policies
• Endorsements
• Provide terms on existing policies
• Understand Insurance Principles and Business Retention on existing policies
• Dealing with other areas within the company / liaising with brokers.
• Manage / monitor incoming / outgoing mail
• Must be able to adhere to deadlines and operating standard and requirements
• Manage team performance

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Must have a minimum of 15 years of insurance experience within an underwriting capacity
• Preferably 10 years of short-term engineering insurance experience
• Previous experience in managing an underwriting team
• Quoting and Approval experience will be beneficial
• First Level Regulatory Examination
• Relevant Degree / Diploma
• FAIS Compliant
• Computer Literacy: Microsoft Office - proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Outlook

COMPETENCIES

• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Excellent knowledge of underwriting processes and insurance regulations.
• High attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proficiency in relevant insurance systems and tools.

ADDITIONAL COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS

• Proactive and results-driven.
• Collaborative and supportive leadership style.
• Committed to continuous improvement and professional development.
• High integrity and ethical standards.

Build a successful career with us

We’re all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future – your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping our employees to realise their worth. Through its five business clusters – Sanlam Fintech, Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Allianz, Santam, as well as MiWay and the Group Office – the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.

Turnaround time

The shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The time taken to complete this process will depend on how far you progress and the availability of managers.

WHO ARE WE?

Santam is the market leader in the general insurance industry in Southern Africa. We are a large, diversified, expanding and transforming company and whilst based in South Africa, we are rapidly moving into a number of emerging markets, both in Africa and Asia.

Our success is rooted in our passion for our clients and everything we do is centered on providing clients freedom from worry. We’re about people. People drive our business so it follows that we want to recruit the best people possible whether they work for us permanently or for a short time as temporary employees.

At Santam we are committed to transformation and embracing diversity. This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse workplace with employment equity as a key goal to create an inclusive workforce, representative of the demographics of our society. In achieving our employment equity goals we give preference to applicants from the designated groups in alignment with the Divisions Employment Equity targets.