Senior Underwriter: Prive

CAREER OPPORUNITY

Prive has a position available for a Prive Senior Underwriter

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Senior Underwriter - Prive  role at Santam is accountable for providing advanced technical underwriting leadership in support of the Head of Prive and Regional Managers. The role is positioned within SBS Commercial Underwriting (Prive) and requires deep technical expertise to guide underwriting decisions, ensure disciplined risk selection, and enable sustainable, profitable growth.

The incumbent will deliver specialist underwriting support across the Prive portfolio, partnering with Regional Managers and Relationship Managers nationally to strengthen broker engagement at both a strategic and operational level. This includes driving consistency in underwriting practices, enhancing decision quality, and ensuring alignment to Santam’s risk appetite and underwriting mandates.

The role further plays a critical part in optimising operational efficiency, improving turnaround times, and supporting the delivery of a differentiated broker and client experience. Through strong collaboration across Broker Services and Santam Commercial and Personal lines, the Senior Technical Manager will contribute to achieving growth objectives while maintaining underwriting discipline and portfolio profitability

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage underwriting authority and ensure compliance, balancing flexibility with Santam’s profitability and growth targets
• Manage technical underwriting operations, including the review of Specialist and/or Prive risks, and drive process improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy
• Provide technical underwriting expertise and advice across all classes of insurance, with specific expertise in property classes
• Prepare and review underwriting terms for existing business and new business in line with Santam underwriting guidelines and mandates
• Analyse the profitability of multi-claimants and renewal portfolios, and recommend corrective actions to Regional and Relationship Managers
• Balance growth and profitability in all underwriting decisions, aligned to divisional and broader business strategy.
• Monitor market trends, emerging risks, and industry developments to proactively adapt underwriting practices
• Support Relationship Managers by enabling flexibility and improved turnaround times when engaging with brokers
• Assist Relationship Managers in communicating complex underwriting principles and decisions to intermediaries and brokers
• Provide guidance on Risk Mitigation Opportunities (RMOs) from survey reports, and engage brokers to secure buy-in; escalate to Risk Engineering where necessary
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including Santam SBS Commercial Underwriting( CU), CU Technical to deliver optimal client and broker solutions
• Ensure all underwriting activities comply with regulatory requirements, company policies, and legal standards
• Lead a high-performing underwriting team, fostering technical excellence and managing talent through coaching, training, and knowledge sharing to support succession planning

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Grade 12 (Matric Certificate) qualification with acceptable pass mark
• Bachelor’s degree or relevant insurance related diploma – at least NQF level 6 ( Associateship)
• FAIS compliance is a business requirement.
• Regulatory Examinations (RE) with full qualification
• Ten years’ experience working in a commercial underwriting department assessing risks, determining pricing and terms across all classes of insurance (Property, Casualty and Motor)
• Thorough knowledge of corporate/ mid corporate underwriting of large to complex risks
• Computer literate (MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint – intermediated proficiency levels)
• Thorough technical, product and wording knowledge of Commercial and/or  AGRI insurance products
• Advance knowledge of Re-Insurance is a requirement
• Drivers licence (requirement)

SKILLS

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to assess risk, interpret data, and make informed decisions under pressure
• Working knowledge of Underwriting Systems and CRM systems ( advantageous)
• Sound understanding of insurance and underwriting principles
• Operational thinking, with the ability to implement policies that balance risk and profitability while supporting organisational objectives
• Commercially minded and profit-driven
• Ability to manage conflicting demands and effectively prioritise tasks
• Execution-focused and deadline-oriented
• Strong attention to detail
• Strong leadership and communication skills, including effective team management, mentoring, and clear communication with internal and external stakeholders
• Skilled in leading, coaching, and developing staff
• Strong teamwork and collaboration capability
• Proactive information-seeking mindset, with a drive to get to the root of issues
• Creativity and the ability to innovate and develop solutions to new challenges

COMPETENCIES

• Delivering results and meeting customer expectations
• Relating and networking
• Analysing
• Applying expertise and technology
• Achieving personal work goals and objectives
• Flexibility
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and networking skills
• Strong client service orientation
• Ability to work under pressure
• Self-confidence
• Problem solving
• MS Office package proficiency

ABOUT SANTAM

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!