First Line Manager: Underwriter: JG 9 / JG 10 - Management level at Sanlam Group

Job Purpose

The role of the first line manager is to manage, coach and develop the Underwriting team to enable them to effectively execute on the role responsibilities and to achieve the desired outputs and behaviours aligned with the SIL strategic objectives.

The team consists of 10 to 12 Underwriters (U/Ws) and the Underwriting Helpdesk. You will be part of a dynamic management team that consists of other First Line Managers, an Operations Manager and Chief Underwriter.

Output/Core Tasks

• Communicate business requirements clearly and accurately to the team.
• Effective communication to other role-players to ensure accurate and efficient processing of transactions requested by the client.
• Query handling with accuracy, urgency and swift conclusion.
• People and performance management within a productivity, quality and service orientated driven environment.
• Identify process shortcomings & discrepancies and resolve and communicate with relevant stakeholders.
• Ensure effective management of Service Level Agreements between New Business and other stakeholders, by means of effective capacity planning and absenteeism management.
• Making effective use of MIS to manage the effectiveness of the department
• Identify training and development needs via trend analysis and with input of Training & Development team.
• Effectively manage the budget of the department.

Reporting based on:

• The performance of the team
• Trends identified (with possible solutions)

Strategic Action plans:

• Identifying action plans along with the rest of the Management team for a specific year (up to 3 years), based on historic performance, inputs from our teams and possible enhancements to remain relevant.
• Conduct regular individual and team meetings with the team to maintain effective communication and a high focus on relationship building.
• Drive, embed and vest SIL Values and Culture within the business.
• In collaboration with the Chief UW, ensure that the development plan of the team is reviewed monthly, and progress communicated to team members. Ensuring team members remain fully informed about their progress.
• Building relationships with brokers and advisors to ensure adoption of operational processes and client centric outcomes.

Role Requirements

Environment necessitates overtime in peak periods (The amount of overtime hours depends on the business need in terms of the volumes received to conclude the inflow within the specific marketing month) – it is compulsory for the FLM to be available when team works overtime.

Qualifications

• Post Matric Qualification
• Relevant Management or Leadership development programmes

Knowledge And Experience

• At least 2 - 3 years’ experience of:
• Managing a production or specialist team in the insurance industry
• People management, development and/or coaching
• Performance management
• Extracting and interpretation of data from Management Information Systems
• Presentation skills
• The following would be beneficial:
• Underwriting experience
• Understanding of a New Business environment

Competencies

• Building and maintaining relationships
• Excellent communication skills
• Customer service and treating customers fairly
• Decision making
• Planning and organising
• Result driven
• Change Management
• Team Success