Senior Underwriting Manager

Johannesburg

You will report directly to the CEO, sit on MANCO, and take full functional ownership of a 20-person underwriting unit for a South African brokerage with close to R1 billion in Gross Written Premium.

This role is designed for a senior technical specialist who wants operational control rather than a pure maintenance job. The business is currently in a high-pressure phase, meaning the initial priority is getting hands-on with systems, streamlining processes, and establishing clear output accountability. 

Once that foundation is set, you have the autonomy to manage and run the department your way.

What Is In It For You:
Direct Executive Access: You report directly to the CEO, present to EXCO, and sit on MANCO. You deal straight with decision-makers without middle-management buffers.

Full Functional Ownership: You get end-to-end control over onboarding and off-boarding, risk oversight, query escalations, private lines, and the tender function.

Operational Autonomy: Put in the work up front to stabilise operations, and you get complete authority to run your 20-person team your way.

High-Level Technical Work: You will personally structure placements for massive property and asset portfolios, manage complex reinsurance and self-insurance arrangements, and present to boards of state-owned enterprises, unions, and central banks.

Guaranteed Basic Package: R90,000 to R110,000 per month basic package. Performance incentive structures and additional perks are currently being reworked by executive leadership to align with the scope of this division.

What You Will Own
Team Leadership & Outputs: Manage, structure, and hold accountable a 20-person team spanning underwriting, private lines, and tenders.

Tender Function: Take direct ownership of the tender submission and delivery process from start to finish.

Placement Strategy: Design market placement strategies for large-scale property accounts with client engagement cycles lasting up to 12 months.

Systems & Compliance: Establish clear operational controls, maintain strict FAIS compliance, and drive systematic efficiency across the unit.

What You Need To Bring
Brokerage Track Record: Proven experience building, scaling, or restructuring a technical underwriting or broking unit inside a commercial brokerage.

Technical Expertise: Deep commercial short-term insurance knowledge, specifically in large-scale property, asset risks, reinsurance, self-insurance, and aggregate funds.

Regulatory Credentials: Valid RE5 certification is mandatory. Strong FAIS compliance and systems management experience are essential.

Leadership Resilience: The ability to handle high-pressure environments, hold team members accountable, and lead tough client negotiations.

An RE1 certification and a relevant degree or advanced insurance diploma are highly advantageous.

Location & Setup
This position is primarily office-based in Johannesburg, with travel required for key client negotiations and board presentations.

If you have the technical depth and leadership spine for this, send us your CV