Senior Underwriter - Corporate Property at Santam Insurance

What will you do?

• To provide senior-level underwriting expertise within Santam Corporate Property, taking accountability for a complex portfolio of corporate property risks, while driving profitability, technical excellence, and strategic facultative reinsurance placement.
• The role is responsible for leading complex underwriting assessments, structuring reinsurance solutions, influencing underwriting strategy, and strengthening relationships with brokers, reinsurers, and internal stakeholders. The successful candidate is expected to operate as a technical authority within the team and contribute to portfolio performance, governance, and market positioning.

What will make you successful in this role?

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Underwriting & Portfolio Ownership

• Underwrite complex new and renewal corporate property risks, including high-value and technically challenging exposures.
• Take ownership of a defined portfolio, ensuring sustained profitability, growth, and alignment to risk appetite.
• Conduct advanced risk assessments incorporating:
  • Loss trends and exposure modelling
  • Industry-specific risk dynamics
  • Macro-economic and market considerations
• Drive underwriting strategy within allocated portfolio segments.
• Provide expert technical input into pricing, structure, and terms.
• Monitor portfolio performance and proactively identify areas for corrective action or optimization.
• Lead the structuring, negotiation, and placement of complex facultative reinsurance arrangements for large and non-standard risks.
• Develop optimal reinsurance solutions balancing:
  • Coverage adequacy
  • Cost efficiency
  • Risk transfer effectiveness
• Prepare and present high-quality facultative submissions to local and international reinsurers.
• Negotiate directly with reinsurers and reinsurance brokers on:
  • Pricing
  • Capacity
  • Terms and conditions
• Oversee the quality assurance of reinsurance placements, including:
  • Slip validation
  • Policy alignment
  • Accuracy of exposure information
• Contribute to the development and refinement of Santam’s facultative reinsurance strategy and market engagement approach.
• Maintain and deepen strategic relationships with reinsurers and reinsurance brokers.

Technical Authority & Governance

• Act as a subject matter expert in property underwriting and facultative reinsurance.
• Lead technical discussions on policy wording, coverage design, and risk structuring.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior underwriters within the team.
• Review and sign off on complex underwriting decisions within mandated authority levels.
• Ensure adherence to:
  • Underwriting guidelines
  • Mandates and authority levels
  • Regulatory and compliance frameworks
• Provide technical input into claims involving complex or disputed property losses.

Stakeholder & Market Engagement

• Build and sustain senior-level relationships with:
  • Key brokers
  • Reinsurance brokers
  • Corporate clients
• Represent Santam Corporate Property in industry forums and market engagements.
• Lead broker engagements on complex risks and strategic accounts.
• Support business development initiatives and new business acquisition.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 8–12 years’ experience in the corporate property market
• Extensive experience working with:
  • Large Corporate Brokers
• Proven track record in complex facultative reinsurance placements and negotiations
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex portfolios and high-value risks
• Experience providing technical leadership or mentorship
• Matric (Grade 12) – essential
• Relevant Degree in Business, Insurance, Risk Management, or similar
• IISA qualification or equivalent professional certification
• RE (Regulatory Examination) 

Competencies & Skills

• Senior corporate property underwriting capability
• Advanced facultative reinsurance structuring and negotiation
• Understanding of policy wordings and contract design
• Analytical Thinking
• Problem Solving & Risk Judgement
• Systems & Interdependency Thinking
• Technical Advisory & Stakeholder Engagement
• Professional Report Writing
• Collaboration & Relationship Management
• Attention to Detail
• Professional Credibility & Integrity
• Accountability
• Resilience & Adaptability
• Client & Business Focus