Senior Risk Surveyor at Santam Insurance

What will you do?

This career opportunity is available at Santam Commercial Underwriting, Survey Department for a Senior Surveyor to be based in Durban. The Senior Risk Surveyor is tasked with assessing risk while applying technical knowledge. Surveyors conduct detailed risk assessments on the risk, as well as provide an in-depth view to underwriters assisting them to underwrite the risk appropriately, more specifically:

• Conducting desk top and physical surveys.

What will make you successful in this role?

• The role of a surveyors is to understand all types of risks and its exposures that we write and provide a view on whether continued business is viable.  This required risk surveyors to be highly technically skilled.
• The risk information provided by the surveyors allows the organisation to determine whether the risk will be treated, tolerated, terminated or transferred. This function is at the core of capabilities provided by the risk surveying team. The role of the risk surveyors translates Santam’s aspiration of being a risk management partner into action.
• The surveying role is a critical function within risk services. Surveyors conduct site inspections and evaluate risks based on information provided by clients, and by desktop reviews of previous surveys and information and photographs provided by clients and brokers.
• This role allows for a surveyor to work independently and to assess risks according to Santam’s and National standards.  This position may have a supervisory function in that it may need to oversee the surveyors in the risk survey setting, and provide on the job training, and do quality reviews of the work submitted.  The surveyor will work within the prescribed parameters of the role and the relevant Head surveyor.
• This role may have a consulting function where the surveyor will be called upon to consult on risks and to provide advice to Surveyors, Underwriters, Relationship managers, Technical managers, Brokers and Clients regarding the risk and alternatives to the risk reduction requirements.

Leadership/People Management:

• Mentor Surveyors to provide improved survey reports and upskilling staff in the understanding of the various risks and legislation and standards.
• Closely collaborate with Property Underwriting Specialist to continuously improve Santam’s surveying capability.
• Ensure service excellence in all survey interactions for all team members

Survey delivery requirements:

• Conduct surveys within the required SLA
• Achieve the agreed productivity levels
• Provide feedback and corrections to supervised surveys
• Provide feedback on all queries received
• Provide the appropriate advice to clients, Brokers and internal staff as required
• Review external survey report and provide feedback
• Understanding all the legislative requirements/Bylaws
• Understanding the area of operations and hazards (Geographical areas and risks associated) (Process in respect of production and the function and safety of the machinery)
• Interact with various stakeholders (distribution, operations, underwriting and intermediaries) to ensure delivery of our world class surveying competency.
• Provide feedback and comment on rational designs.

Stakeholders 

• Engage with internal and external stake holders (Broker Distribution, Operations etc.) to get buy-in and understanding of our need to survey risks and ensure effective execution of survey processes.
• Provide surveying guidance and support to all Santam Group companies including MiWay, SEM, Namibia and Specialist business as required.
• Engage with external stakeholders (brokers) to educate/ inform, where relevant, and explain survey processes or risk reduction requirements

General

• Conduct Quality assessment and provide feedback to surveyors.

Qualifications and Experience

• 7+years  of risk surveying or related experience
• Matric and ideally Fire Service Qualification, Technical Engineering Degree or Diploma, or relevant qualification, Minimum NQF level 4   
• Valid driver’s licence                                                                                                    
• Computer literate on Excel, Word, Presentations, etc.    
• Competency at previous level and proven competence at risk surveying with experience in retention class and exposure stipulated above.
• FPA advanced courses, risk prevention strategies and technical training for related risks e.g. advanced level - High hazard risks, thatch, etc.
• Mentorship and coaching ability

Skills and Knowledge

• Ability to learn and research
• Ability to manage own work environment
• Good analytical and problem solving skills and abilities
• Communication Skills
• Understanding of basic fire hazards, firefighting, risk identification
• Basic report writing
• Use of MS Office Products
• Use of policy information systems
• Work in other regions
• Capacity to operate under pressure
• Self-starter
• Knowledge of Underwriting and underwriting processes
• Knowledge of the policy wording
• Mentorship and coaching

Competencies

• Collaboration
• Client focus 
• Drives results  
• Flexibility and adaptability 
• Cultivates innovation 
• Relating and networking
• Analysing and attention to detail
• Applying expertise and technology
• Learning and researching
• Time management Planning and organising
• Writing and reporting