Senior Underwriting Manager

Placements24; Centurion; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Executive benefits

Performance incentives

Leadership training

Flexible schedule

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Underwriting Manager to lead underwriting operations in a fully remote capacity. You will guide risk assessment, policy development, and portfolio growth while mentoring a remote team and driving innovation across underwriting processes.

The role requires extensive underwriting leadership, expertise across insurance lines, and strong risk management and analytics capabilities.

Qualifications

• Extensive underwriting experience with leadership background.
• Knowledge of property, casualty, life, health lines.
• Strong risk management, financial analysis, and market insights.
• Excellent leadership, strategic thinking, and decision-making skills.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Proficient with underwriting support systems and data analytics tools.
• Ability to lead and motivate a remote team.
• ACII or CPCU qualifications desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the underwriting team to foster excellence.
• Develop and implement underwriting policies and procedures to manage risk.
• Analyze market trends and financial data to identify opportunities and threats.
• Set underwriting authority limits within risk appetite guidelines.
• Collaborate with sales, product development, and actuarial teams.
• Monitor portfolio performance and implement improvements.
• Oversee complex and high-value risk underwriting.
• Contribute to development and enhancement of products.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and industry standards.
• Drive digital transformation within underwriting for efficiency.

Skills

Underwriting leadership

Risk management

Insurance underwriting

Stakeholder management

Data analytics tools

Remote team leadership

ACII/CPCU desirable

Tools

Underwriting software

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a distinguished name in the insurance sector, is actively seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Underwriting Manager to lead their underwriting operations. This is a key leadership role, offered on a fully remote basis, empowering you to shape underwriting strategy and policy from anywhere. You will be responsible for overseeing the underwriting team, developing risk assessment frameworks, and ensuring profitable growth of the business portfolio. This position demands a forward-thinking leader with a deep understanding of risk management and a passion for driving innovation in a remote-first environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and mentor the underwriting team, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
• Develop and implement robust underwriting policies, guidelines, and procedures to manage risk effectively.
• Analyze market trends, competitor activities, and financial data to identify opportunities and potential threats.
• Set underwriting authority limits and ensure adherence to risk appetite guidelines.
• Collaborate with sales, product development, and actuarial teams to align underwriting strategies with business objectives.
• Monitor portfolio performance, identify areas for improvement, and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Oversee the underwriting of complex and high-value risks, providing expert guidance.
• Contribute to the development of new insurance products and the enhancement of existing ones.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Drive digital transformation initiatives within the underwriting function to enhance efficiency and accuracy.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in insurance underwriting, with a significant portion in a managerial or leadership capacity.
• Proven track record of successfully managing underwriting teams and portfolios.
• In-depth knowledge of various insurance lines (e.g., property, casualty, life, health).
• Strong understanding of risk management principles, financial analysis, and market dynamics.
• Excellent leadership, strategic thinking, and decision-making skills.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Proficiency in underwriting support systems and data analytics tools.
• Ability to lead and motivate a remote team effectively, promoting collaboration and productivity.
• Relevant professional qualifications (e.g., ACII, CPCU) are highly desirable.

Benefits

• Significant remuneration package reflecting the seniority of the role.
• Comprehensive executive benefits package including medical, retirement, and life insurance.
• Substantial performance-based incentives and bonuses.
• Opportunities for executive development and leadership training.
• Fully remote work arrangement, offering unparalleled flexibility and autonomy.
• Be a key contributor to a forward-thinking and innovative insurance organization.
• Influence the strategic direction of underwriting within the company.
• A dynamic and challenging role with significant growth potential.