Retentions Consultant

What will you do?

The Retention Consultant is responsible for preventing policy cancellations and minimising portfolio attrition by engaging clients or intermediaries at risk of leaving. The role requires advanced negotiation skills, strong product knowledge in Personal Lines insurance, and the ability to balance commercial outcomes, underwriting discipline, and Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) principles.

 
The consultant acts as the final point of intervention, using insight-led negotiation to retain profitable business while ensuring compliance with underwriting, pricing, and conduct standards. 

What will make you successful in this role?

• Proactively engage clients or intermediaries on cancellation, non-renewal, discount requests, and unpaid premium cases;
• Apply high level negotiation techniques to retain policies through: Premium restructuring, Cover optimisation & Excess adjustments;
• Value based selling and benefit articulation;
• Identify the true reason for cancellation and tailor retention strategies accordingly;
• Negotiate within authorised mandates and escalate exceptions appropriately;
• Identifying re-insurance and appropriate action where applicable;
• Providing quality and correct feedback on high level technical queries;
• Working within higher level mandates;
• A good understanding of contact centre processes and SLA;
• Strong retention focus;
• Responsible for Risk evaluation and management;
• Handling of online broker related telephonic requests, Provide expert advice across Personal Lines products, including motor, household, and additional covers;
• Assess risk profiles, claims history, policy tenure, and pricing structures when formulating retention solutions;
• Ensure that retained policies remain technically sound and commercially viable;
• Actively manage a pipeline of at-risk policies to achieve retention, save rate, and premium preservation targets;
• Identify recurring cancellation drivers and provide feedback to improve upstream processes;
• Contribute to portfolio stability by focusing on quality retention rather than short-term saves;
• Ensure full adherence to TCF, underwriting guidelines, and internal retention SOPs;
• Maintain accurate system notes reflecting negotiation outcomes and decisions;
• Protect the organisation from anti-selection and inappropriate discounting practices;
• Build strong working relationships with brokers, service consultants, underwriting teams, and finance;
• Handle difficult conversations professionally and confidently, even in high-pressure scenarios;
• Act as a trusted advisor rather than a transactional call handler.

Qualifications and Experience

• Grade 12;
• Short term insurance related qualification (min NQF lev 4); or similar;
• FAIS requirement: 150 credits with regards to Personal Lines Underwriting (NQF level 4) or equivalent;
• Computer literate (MS Office package) and Internet;
• At least 3 years current experience with regards to Personal Lines Short term insurance;
• RE Qualification (Advantageous);
• Clear track record in terms of adherence to Quality standard and Compliance. 

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) 

• Retention / Save Rate;
• Net Written Premium preserved;
• Quality of retained business (post-retention lapse and claims experience);
• Compliance and audit outcomes;
• Customer or broker satisfaction scores.

Personal Attributes

• Decision quality;
• Persuades;
• Action orientated;
• Business insight;
• Detail orientated. 

Knowledge and Skills

• Profitable underwriting;
• Customer service/Complaints;
• Queries;
• Investigation;
• Advice;
• Quality management.  

Our commitment to transformation

Santam is the market leader in the general insurance industry in Southern Africa. As a large, diversified, and expanding company, we are committed to transformation and growth. While our headquarters are in South Africa, we are rapidly extending our presence into emerging markets across Africa and Asia.

 
With a client base of over 1 million policyholders, Santam serves individuals, commercial enterprises, specialist business owners, and institutions—including 80 of the Top 100 companies listed on the JSE. Our commitment to Insurance, Good and Proper goes beyond just providing cover—we offer peace of mind, ensuring our clients can focus on living in the moment, not worrying about the unexpected. Because at Santam, we believe the freedom to seize every day is worth protecting.  

People drive our business, and we are committed to attracting the best talent, whether for permanent roles or short-term opportunities.

 
Santam is committed to diversity, inclusion, and belonging. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including persons with disabilities. We are dedicated to neuro-inclusivity and fostering a workplace where everyone can thrive.

 
Take the next step in your career—apply now and be part of a company that’s shaping the future of insurance. This is Freedom!