Job Description

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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