Underwriting Manager - Personal Lines

Placements24; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance-based bonus

Medical aid plan & pension fund

Leadership training opportunities

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Placements24 is recruiting an experienced Underwriting Manager for its client in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. Based onsite, you will lead a team of personal lines underwriters, shaping underwriting policies and strategies to drive profitable growth while mitigating risk.

You will analyze market trends, set standards, review high-value cases, and collaborate across product development, marketing, and claims to align objectives. Strong leadership, negotiation, and analytical skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive experience in insurance underwriting, with at least 3 years in a supervisory or management role within personal lines.
• Demonstrated expertise in personal insurance products (e.g., household, travel, vehicle insurance).
• Strong leadership, team management, and coaching skills.
• Excellent analytical, decision-making, and strategic planning abilities.
• In-depth knowledge of underwriting principles, risk assessment techniques, and regulatory requirements.
• Proficiency in underwriting software and standard office productivity tools.
• A relevant tertiary qualification in Insurance, Business, or a related field is essential.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills, with the ability to influence effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of personal lines underwriters, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Develop, implement, and monitor underwriting policies, guidelines, and procedures to ensure profitable growth and risk mitigation.
• Analyze market trends, competitor activities, and performance data to identify opportunities and challenges within the personal lines segment.
• Set underwriting standards and authority levels, ensuring consistency and adherence across the team.
• Review and approve complex or high-value new business applications and renewals.
• Collaborate with product development, marketing, and claims departments to align underwriting strategies with overall business objectives.
• Monitor KPIs related to underwriting profitability, loss ratios, and operational efficiency.
• Conduct regular audits and reviews of underwriting files to ensure compliance and quality.
• Represent the underwriting department in senior management meetings and contribute to strategic planning for Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Negotiation

Communication skills

Decision-making

Strategic planning

Education

Tertiary qualification in Insurance or Business

Tools

Underwriting software

Office productivity tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a significant insurer operating in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, is actively seeking an experienced and authoritative Underwriting Manager to lead their Personal Lines division. This senior role is responsible for overseeing the underwriting operations, ensuring profitability, managing a team of underwriters, and developing effective underwriting strategies for personal insurance products. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of the personal insurance market, strong leadership capabilities, and a proven ability to drive performance in a competitive environment. You will be based in our Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape office, playing a critical role in shaping the future of our personal lines business.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of personal lines underwriters, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Develop, implement, and monitor underwriting policies, guidelines, and procedures to ensure profitable growth and risk mitigation.
• Analyze market trends, competitor activities, and performance data to identify opportunities and challenges within the personal lines segment.
• Set underwriting standards and authority levels, ensuring consistency and adherence across the team.
• Review and approve complex or high-value new business applications and renewals.
• Collaborate with product development, marketing, and claims departments to align underwriting strategies with overall business objectives.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to underwriting profitability, loss ratios, and operational efficiency.
• Conduct regular audits and reviews of underwriting files to ensure compliance and quality.
• Represent the underwriting department in senior management meetings and contribute to strategic planning for Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.

Requirements

• A minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in insurance underwriting, with at least 3 years in a supervisory or management role within personal lines.
• Demonstrated expertise in personal insurance products (e.g., household, travel, vehicle insurance).
• Strong leadership, team management, and coaching skills.
• Excellent analytical, decision-making, and strategic planning abilities.
• In-depth knowledge of underwriting principles, risk assessment techniques, and regulatory requirements.
• Proficiency in underwriting software and standard office productivity tools.
• A relevant tertiary qualification in Insurance, Business, or a related field is essential.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills, with the ability to influence effectively.
• Commitment to operating from our Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape office.

Benefits

• Attractive annual salary package, commensurate with leadership experience.
• Significant performance-based bonus structure.
• Executive-level medical aid plan and pension fund.
• Opportunities for advanced leadership training and career progression.
• Relocation assistance may be considered for exceptional candidates.
• A key leadership role within a well-established insurance company in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.