Chief Underwriting Officer

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Job Description

Job Summary Job Title: Head of Technical Underwriting
Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of underwriting strategy, standards, and governance practices.
  • Oversee and enhance underwriting philosophy across products including wordings, endorsements, proposal forms, mandates, pricing, and audits.
  • Drive and manage reinsurance strategy (treaty and facultative), ensuring alignment and compliance across teams.
  • Establish and uphold risk management practices across underwriting and claims functions.
  • Ensure governance and compliance with all internal policies, audit requirements, and regulatory frameworks.
  • Provide strategic support to product development and enhancement initiatives.
  • Lead risk selection oversight, identifying areas for improvement and training across underwriting teams.
  • Conduct and oversee internal audits related to underwriting and claims; implement findings and maintain robust audit plans.
  • Deliver insightful reports and recommendations to leadership, highlighting underwriting trends and market intelligence.
  • Provide technical underwriting support and guidance on complex cases.
  • Develop training materials and facilitate technical development across teams.
  • Represent underwriting in cross-functional executive and committee meetings.
  • Support compliance with POPIA and promote a Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) culture.
Minimum Requirements:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Risk Management, Commerce, or a relevant business qualification.
  • Minimum 10 years' experience in short-term/special risk insurance, including:
  • Technical underwriting
  • Claims handling
  • Risk management
  • Reinsurance (facultative and treaty)
  • Governance, audit, and compliance
  • Product development
  • Deep legal knowledge of insurance-related Acts and regulatory requirements (e.g., Insurance Act, FAIS, and Prescription Act).
  • Proven experience in leading and developing technical underwriting functions and managing multidisciplinary teams.
Key Skills and Competencies:
  • Strong analytical, investigative, and strategic thinking ability.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills; confident report writer and presenter.
  • High level of self-management, initiative, and accountability.
  • Strong relationship management and stakeholder engagement.
  • Skilled in negotiation, risk identification, and decision-making.
  • Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
  • Well-networked within the insurance ecosystem (reinsurers, brokers, legal experts, and industry bodies).
If you're a technically strong, commercially aware, and governance-minded insurance professional looking to step into a key leadership role, then this opportunity is for you.
Please send your CV to .
Should you not hear from us within two weeks, please consider your application unsuccessful.
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Job Detail

  • Job Id
    JD1444847
  • Industry
    Not mentioned
  • Total Positions
    1
  • Job Type:
    Full Time
  • Salary:
    Not mentioned
  • Employment Status
    Permanent
  • Job Location
    Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
  • Education
    Not mentioned