Underwriter (Senior)

Discovery Limited; Durban; On-site; ZAR 1,315,000 - 1,972,000; Full time

Job summary

Discovery Limited seeks an experienced Senior Underwriter to support Vitality Life, a UK-based life insurer. You will underwrite cases, assess medical and financial risks, and collaborate with brokers and internal teams to ensure rapid, accurate decisions.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years in life underwriting, with UK experience preferred, Matric, a medical diploma as an asset, and strong analytical and communication skills in a high-volume environment.

Qualifications

• Matric/Grade 12 is essential (Mathematics, Biology/Life Sciences and English).
• Medical Diploma advantageous.
• Insurance/Underwriting/Risk Management qualification advantageous.
• Minimum of 5 years underwriting experience in life insurance essential.
• Underwriting experience in the United Kingdom may be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Build effective relationships with brokers, franchises and internal systems teams.
• Make effective underwriting decisions by applying knowledge to risks.
• Ensure the underwriting system runs efficiently by reporting system difficulties.
• Underwrite a high volume of cases daily to meet SLAs.
• Set underwriting requirements within SLA and meet objectives.
• Make Level 1 and Level 2 underwriting decisions for complex cases.
• Handle underwriting queries from brokers and franchises for service delivery.
• Manage underwriting production for first pass and Level 1 work, ensuring SLA compliance.

Skills

Decision making / Independent thinking

Analysis of information

Expertise and Technology

Principles and Values

Nimble Learning

Communicating effectively

Customer focus

Decision Quality

Collaborating

Self-development

Education

Matric/Grade 12

Medical Diploma advantageous

Insurance/Underwriting/Risk Management qualification advantageous

5+ years underwriting experience essential

UK underwriting experience advantageous

Tools

MS Word

Excel

AI tools

Job description

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Business Unit: Discovery Health

Date: 22 Aug 2026

Discovery Health

Underwriter (Senior) – Vitality Life

About Discovery

Discovery’s core purpose is to make people healthier and to enhance and protect our lives. We seek out and invest in exceptional individuals who understand and support our core purpose, and whose own values align with those of Discovery. Our fast-paced and dynamic environment enables smart, self-driven people to be their best. As global thought leaders, Discovery is passionate about innovating in order to not only achieve financial success, but to ignite positive and meaningful change within our society.

About the Vitality Life Underwriting Team

A dynamic team with a wealth of knowledge which we eagerly share. We strive to be the best in the market, living the Discovery values. Our motto is best terms first – right decision…first time…on time…every time.

Key Purpose

To underwrite all cases for VitalityLife, our UK based Life Insurance company, within authority limits and all benefits taking into account medical, financial, territorial and vocational risks of new and existing business. To support dedicated Key Distribution partners and advisors through various communication channels. To underwrite more complex cases which could include medical reports, aviation questionnaires, etc.

Key outputs

The successful applicant will be responsible for but not limited to the following job functions:

Building effective relationships with brokers, franchises and our internal system department to ensure successful execution of our deliverables and targets.

Make effective decisions by applying underwriting knowledge and experience to ensure that the risks involved have been weighed up.

Ensuring that the Underwriting system is efficient and effective by reporting systems difficulties to the relevant systems team.

Demonstrate a bias for speed and execution in assessing and underwriting a minimum of 50 cases per day to ensure outcomes are delivered.

Conduct accurate underwriting requirement setting within SLA in order to meet objectives

Make Underwriting decisions on Level 1 and Level 2 cases for effective problem solving.

Deal with underwriting related queries on the broker and franchises for better service delivery.

Managing the underwriting production for the first pass and level 1 (Path) work and to make sure SLAs are met in order to ensure a smooth flow in the system.

Competencies and Skills

Following instruction and procedures (Self-development)

Analysing (Managing Complexity)

Applying Expertise and Technology

Adhering to Principles and Values

Learning and Researching (Nimble Learning)

Presenting and communicating information (Communicating effectively)

Delivering results and meeting customer expectations (Customer focus)

Deciding and initiating action (Decision Quality)

Working with people (Collaborating)

Writing and reporting (Communicating effectively)

Knowledge

Understanding VitalityLife Products – Advanced

Financial Principles and Interpretation – Intermediate

UK Specific Insurance Legislation – Intermediate

Medical conditions – Intermediate

Understanding of Risk Management & assessment - Intermediate

Skills

Computer literacy (MS word, Excel, AI tools) – Intermediate

Decision making / Independent thinking – Advanced

Analysis of information - Advanced

Personal Attribute and Skills:

Customer Centric

Able to work during international business hours (UK Time zone)

Education and Experience

Education:

Matric/Grade 12 is essential (Mathematics, Biology/Life Sciences and English)

Medical Diploma advantageous

Insurance/Underwriting/Risk Management qualification is advantageous

Experience

Medical or Insurance experience is advantageous

A minimum of 5 years working experience in an underwriting environment in the life insurance industry is essential.

Underwriting experience in United Kingdom may be advantageous.

EMPLOYMENT EQUITY

The Company’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process.

As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.