Senior Commercial Underwriter: Namibia at Santam Insurance

What will you do?

Commercial Underwriting within the Underwriting Services team has a permanent position available for a Senior Commercial Underwriter:  Namibia based in Gauteng, reporting to the Underwriting Manager: Segment Solutions and Bespoke wordings. 

What will make you successful in this role?

• To manage Santam’s Namibia’s Commercial portfolio with regards to risk appetite and underwriting mandate adherence to support and ensure achievement of C&P’s profitable growth targets.
• Ensure all commercial risks on this portfolio adhere to Santam’s risk appetite and are written in accordance with our underwriting rules. This specifically includes all reinsurance and fronting arrangement entered into by the Namibian business unit, with regards to Commercial insurance
• Ensure that all Underwriting governance required for these portfolios is in place with appropriate reporting and resultant action steps
• Assist in maintaining and creating policy wordings for this portfolio, as needed.
• Assist in determining business specifications for the design and development of this portfolio’s offerings in Policy Centre, as needed
• Maintain and provide input and guidance on these portfolios to ensure market competitiveness & retain relevance
• Support underwriting managers in coming up with new solutions and innovations (including the use of Artificial Intelligence to automate underwriting decisions) that allow Santam to remain the market leader in Commercial insurance
• Work with Actuaries to determine appropriate rating structures for these portfolios 
• Develop rating tools/solutions for these portfolios for use by external business partners as needed
• Meet with brokers to discuss reasons for decisions taken and negotiate differentiated terms
• Handle all Namibian referrals of a complex nature and make underwriting decisions which requires logical balancing of profit and growth considerations within your mandate and in accordance with the underwriting rules determined by the underwriting managers for Property, Motor and Liability
• Assist in mandate setting, including associated curriculum for Namibian Commercial Underwriting.
• Responsible for policy wordings, policy guidelines and implementation of any regulatory underwriting requirements, e.g. PPR for this portfolio.
• Assist Commercial Underwriting in reaching its objectives. This may include getting involved in initiatives not listed here.
• Develop talent and help grow the new generation of Santam Underwriters.

Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or relevant insurance related diploma: AIISA or FIISA or similar 
• Recommendation: Management or Leadership qualification 
• Must qualify for Santam’s Underwriting Level 1 mandate, as per our assessment methodology and criteria (this will form part of the interview process)
• Proven track record of at least 15 years’ experience within an Underwriting environment, preferably with substantial commercial experience
• Of which at least 10 years’ management of a Specialist Underwriting team 
• Advance Computer literacy (MS Word, Excel & PowerPoint)

Knowledge

• Specialist Property or Casualty Technical Underwriting expertise
• Thorough knowledge of Santam’s Commercial products is peferable
• Knowledge of (and understanding of the impact of) the relevant legislation on the business e.g. Building regulation

Skills

• Commercial Underwriting skills
• Advanced Excel
• All policy administration and quoting systems of Santam Commercial Management experience in Commercial Underwriting
• Excellent English communication & report-writing skills
• Presentation skills
• Establish interpersonal relationship, negotiating and networking skills
• Ability to influence
• Ability to work under pressure with appropriate prioritisation skills
• Good analytical skills and problem-solving abilities
• Attention to detail and meticulous
• Skilled in leading and coaching staff
• Able to organise own and others workloads to achieve priorities and objectives
• Demonstrate capability to think of the organisation holistically
• Management of employees: 
• Establish focus and manage performance
• Provide Motivational support
• Fostering teamwork 
• Empowering others
• Managing change 
• Build and lead a team and ensure Santam remains market leader in Commercial Property & Casualty risks
• Coaching and development 
• Performing under pressure 
• Problem solving 
• Negotiating and Influencing others 
• Erudite (oral and written communication)
• Forward and Logical Thinker 
• Working with complex information
• Consistents etc.