Senior Underwriting Manager - Life Insurance

Placements24; Polokwane; Hybrid; ZAR 1.200.000 - 1.800.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Medical aid

Pension fund

Professional development

Zusammenfassung

Placements24 in Polokwane, Limpopo, seeks a Senior Underwriting Manager to lead underwriting operations. You set standards, manage a team of underwriters, and drive profitability while maintaining service levels in a hybrid work arrangement.

The role requires a Bachelor's in Business/Finance, advanced underwriting qualifications, and 10+ years in life underwriting with 5+ in management. You will collaborate with actuarial, product, and claims teams and ensure SA regulatory compliance.

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance or related discipline.
• FLMI or similar professional underwriting qualification desirable.
• Minimum 10 years in life underwriting with 5+ in management.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Knowledge of SA regulations and compliance.

Aufgaben

• Lead, manage, and mentor the underwriting team with clear objectives.
• Develop, implement, and enforce underwriting policies and procedures.
• Ensure accurate assessment of life insurance risks per standards.
• Monitor metrics, identify trends, and drive profitability improvements.
• Collaborate with actuarial, product, and claims teams for alignment.
• Manage relationships with reinsurers and medical providers.
• Stay updated on regulatory changes impacting underwriting.
• Contribute to strategic planning and business development.
• Oversee quality assurance of underwriting decisions.

Kenntnisse

Leadership

Risk assessment

Analytics

Stakeholder mgmt

Analytical thinking

Communication

Ausbildung

Bachelor's degree in Business/Finance

FLMI / Fellow of the Academy of Life Underwriting

Tools

Underwriting systems

Jobbeschreibung

About the Role

Our client, a highly respected leader in the South African life insurance market, is seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Underwriting Manager to oversee their underwriting operations in Polokwane, Limpopo. This senior leadership position requires a comprehensive understanding of life insurance underwriting principles, risk assessment, and operational management. You will be responsible for setting underwriting standards, managing a team of underwriters, and ensuring the efficient and accurate assessment of life insurance applications. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership qualities, a commitment to excellence, and a proven ability to drive profitability while maintaining high service levels. This is a significant opportunity to shape the future of underwriting within a reputable organisation, with the flexibility of a hybrid work arrangement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and mentor the underwriting team, setting performance objectives and fostering professional development.
• Develop, implement, and enforce robust underwriting policies, guidelines, and procedures for life insurance products.
• Ensure accurate and consistent assessment of life insurance risks, adhering to company standards and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor underwriting performance metrics, identifying trends and implementing corrective actions to improve efficiency and profitability.
• Collaborate with product development, actuarial, and claims departments to ensure alignment and effective risk management.
• Manage relationships with reinsurers and external medical providers.
• Stay abreast of industry best practices, emerging risks, and regulatory changes impacting life insurance underwriting.
• Contribute to strategic planning and business development initiatives.
• Oversee the quality assurance of underwriting decisions and processes.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and ethical conduct within the underwriting function.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Business, Finance, or a related discipline.
• Professional underwriting qualifications (e.g., FLMI, Fellow of the Academy of Life Underwriting) are highly desirable.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in life insurance underwriting, with at least 5 years in a management or supervisory role.
• Extensive knowledge of life insurance products, underwriting risk factors (medical, financial, lifestyle), and mortality/morbidity tables.
• Demonstrated leadership and people management skills.
• Strong understanding of South African insurance regulations and compliance frameworks.
• Excellent analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency in underwriting systems and relevant software.
• Strategic thinking and the ability to contribute to business growth.
• Commitment to maintaining high ethical standards and customer service.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary, a generous bonus structure, and comprehensive benefits including medical aid, a pension fund, and opportunities for continuous professional development.
• This hybrid role offers a balance of working from our modern Polokwane office and remote flexibility.

We are committed to fostering a supportive and dynamic work environment that encourages career advancement and personal growth. Join a leading organisation where your expertise in underwriting will be highly valued and contribute significantly to our ongoing success.