Technical Manager

Job Description

The position calls for a person who will provide technical underwriting expertise to assist the Regional Manager and Relationship Managers in managing their broker relationships at both a strategic and operational level with a clear focus on growth, profitability and efficiency in line with the Broker Services and Santam Commercial and Personal objectives.
The Technical Manager provides technical underwriting support for the Relationship managers and enables quicker decision-making when engaging with our intermediaries for new business quotes on large risks, renewals and other technical queries.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide technical underwriting expertise and advice for all Classes of Insurance.
• Assist Relationship Managers in explaining complex underwriting principles and decisions to intermediaries.
• Balance growth and profit when making decisions by considering the supporting business and regional strategy.
• Analyse profitability of multi-claimants or renewal of individual policies and recommend corrective actions to Regional Managers and Relationship Managers.
• Discuss proposed amendments to pricing models and new covers with Specialist Underwriters.
• Manage: prepare (exception) complex and high value quotes and policy conversions.
• When necessary, discuss and explain Risk Reduction Requirements (RRR) from survey reports and negotiate with brokers to obtain buy-in: escalate queries only if unable to resolve to Specialist Underwriters. 
• Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with underwriting guidelines 
• Review new business written

Requirements

• Qualifications
• Grade 12 (Matric Certificate) qualification 
• Higher Certificate in Insurance or equivalent 
• Bachelor’s degree or relevant insurance related diploma (advantageous) 
• Driver’s licence (requirement)
• FAIS compliance is a business requirement.
• Regulatory Examinations (RE) qualification

Experience

• 3 - 5 years’ experience working in a commercial underwriting department assessing risks, determining pricing and terms across all classes of insurance (Property, Casualty and Motor) 
• Computer literate (MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint – intermediated proficiency levels) 

Knowledge

• Thorough Personal and Commercial Lines technical, product and wording knowledge
• Working knowledge of Re-Insurance is and Motor Fleet underwriting

Skills

• Analytical thinking - ability to analyse and apply information and data
• Appreciation of insurance and underwriting principles
• Business partnerships
• Commercial and profit driven
• Conceptual thinking 
• Curious about new developments and technologies and application to risk management
• Excellent inter-personal skills
• Execution and deadline oriented
• Flexibility
• Good communication skills (verbal and written)
• Hunger for improvement
• Impact & Influence 
• Information seeking
• Innovation - innovative flair or ability to unlock this in business and people
• Keen attention to detail
• Negotiation skills 
• Planning and organising - ability to cope with conflicting demands and to prioritise tasks
• Presentation skills
• Solution oriented
• Teamwork and cooperation  
• Tenacious
• Self-Confident

Competencies

• Delivering results and meeting customer expectations
• Relating and networking
• Analysing
• Applying expertise and technology
• Achieving personal work goals and objectives

Build a successful career with us

We’re all about building strong, lasting relationships with our employees. We know that you have hopes for your future – your career, your personal development and of achieving great things. We pride ourselves in helping  our employees to realise their worth. Through its five business clusters – Sanlam Fintech, Sanlam Life and Savings, Sanlam Investment Group, Sanlam Allianz, Santam, as well as MiWay and the Group Office – the group provides many opportunities for growth and development.

Turnaround time

The shortlisting process will only start once the application due date has been reached. The time taken to complete this process will depend on how far you progress and the availability of managers. 

Our commitment to transformation

At Santam we are committed to transformation and embracing diversity. This commitment is what drives us to achieve a diverse workplace with employment equity as a key goal to create an inclusive workforce, representative of the demographics of our society. In achieving our employment equity goals we give preference to applicants from the designated groups in alignment with the Divisions Employment Equity targets.