Senior Underwriter - Corporate Property

What will make you successful in this role?

Key Responsibilities:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.