Head: Marine at Old Mutual

Job Description

• Manages the underwriting business with a team of Marine underwriters. Develops the Marine underwriting policy, procedures, and practices. Evaluates risks with high insured amounts, coverage complexity, and those in excess of field approval limits.
• Provides counsel to underwriters regarding risk evaluation and rating. Grow and develop the overall Marine portfolio. Understand Marine Treaty and the capacity guardrails/limits.

Underwriting Insurance Cases 

• Review and authorize complex, high-value, and/or unusual underwriting proposals from within the team to ensure that these proposals are constructed within acceptable commercial and risk parameters, leading on decisions relating to the highest-value and most complex or unusual risks.

Underwriting Automation

• Guide the development and continuous improvement of automated underwriting processes and systems for a product or line of business, specifying process and system functionalities that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of underwriting.

Organizational Risk Management

• Manage a significant portion of the organization's risk management and/or risk control processes. This includes contributing to the development and implementation of risk management policies and procedures.

Regulatory and Compliance Management

• Monitor and manage a wide range of activities of a significant team, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements by liaising with all internal risk management functions while supporting the development and implementation of the organization's compliance policy.

Leadership and Direction

• Communicate the actions needed to implement the function's strategy and business plan within the team; explain the relationship to the broader organization's mission, vision, and values; motivate people to commit to these and to do extraordinary things to achieve local business goals.

Performance Management

• Manage and report on the performance of a substantial, diverse team; set appropriate performance objectives for direct reports or project/account team members and hold individuals accountable for achieving them; take appropriate corrective action where necessary to ensure the achievement of team/personal objectives.
• Develop and/or deliver budget plans with guidance from senior colleagues.

Document Preparation

• Write and edit material for various target populations, tailoring the tone and content to match the needs and expectations of each audience.

Financial Policies, Guidelines, and Protocols

• Create a plan to deliver and review financial policies, guidelines, and protocols to ensure the company complies with regulations and good financial practice.

Organizational Capability Building

• Use the organization's formal development framework to identify the team's individual development needs. Plan and implement actions, including continuing professional development specified by professional or regulatory institutions, to build their professional capabilities. Provide informal training or coaching to others throughout the organization in own area of expertise to enable others to improve performance and fulfill personal potential.

Experience Knowledge & Skills Required:

• NQF Level 9 – Masters
• 10 – 15 years’ experience in technical underwriting or product development.
• 6 - 10 years’ experience leading a team of specialist underwriters and / or portfolio managers.

Skills

• Accounting, Budget Management, Change Management, Data Compilation, Executing Plans, Financial Acumen, Legal Practices, Management Reporting, Numerical Aptitude, Policies & Procedures, Presenting Solutions, Professional Presentation, Risk Management, Servant Leadership, Underwriting Management

Competencies

• Balances Stakeholders
• Builds Effective Teams
• Business Insight
• Communicates Effectively
• Ensures Accountability
• Financial Acumen
• Instills Trust
• Manages Ambiguity

Education

• NQF Level 9 – Masters

Closing Date

• 24 November 2025