Manager: Product & Underwriting JG6

The role

This exciting opportunity is available within Strategic Partnerships (a department of Santam Partnership Solutions) at our Alice Lane (Sandton) office.

The role will be responsible for implementing strategies, tools and processes that increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the Partner Solutions ecosystem.  

What will you do?

The role will be responsible for overseeing the underwriting, product management and data management functions within Santam Partner Solutions.  

The incumbent will be responsible for leading the development, profitability, governance, and performance of insurance products while ensuring effective underwriting oversight and data-driven decision-making. The role integrates underwriting expertise, product lifecycle management, and data governance to drive sustainable growth and profitability, customer value, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence. 

The Strategic Partnership Unit within Santam Partnership Solutions is focused on growing and developing client base from segments that are not traditional to the Santam base. The strategic direction is to unleash growth through partner ecosystems and customer bases providing innovative, customer centric insurance solutions that promote financial inclusion and contribute towards us creating new operating income streams.  

The ideal candidate will provide operational leadership, manage a multidisciplinary team, and works closely with internal actuarial and product teams, risk and compliance, finance and partner management teams to achieve business objectives. 

What will make you successful in this role?

• Delivery and execution of SP business plan. 
• Drive business growth by developing and implementing relevant inclusive insurance product solutions.
• Manage technical underwriting operations and ensure compliance, whilst balancing Santam and its partners’ profitability and growth targets.
• Develop and maintain effective pricing and risk management strategies across various partner portfolios
• Support current pricing, client segmentation and optimisation models
• Performance monitoring of financial, underwriting and distribution indicators
• Continuous process improvement and strategy evaluation
• Participate in new business/ partner initiatives and projects where actuarial input is required
• Interacting with underwriting, pricing and claims departments throughout the group with the objective of constantly incorporating market trends into the product solution value chain
• Supporting the development of product solutions for various market segments and channels
• Providing direction around developing and maintaining of internal data assets to support predictive modelling initiatives
• Lead and manage a team of employees including but not limited to
    - performance management
    - engagement
    - development, coaching and mentoring

Qualification and Experience

• Qualified/near-qualified actuary or equivalent qualification e.g. Maths, Statistics, Data science
• 4 to 5 years’ experience in a technical role, preferably in general insurance at a middle to senior level
• Ability to communicate complex ideas across a range of technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Experience with data and modelling software, e.g. SAS, WTW Emblem / Radar, SQL, Python or similar

Skills

• Excellent report writing and presentation skills
• Leadership skills within own team and cross- functionally
• Strong data management skills
• Underwriting management
• Planning and organising skills
• Attention to detail
• Strong modelling skills as well as performing experience analyses and other statistical investigations

Competencies

• Drives results
• Relating and networking
• Applying expertise and technology
• Problem Solving
• Negotiating
• Collaborates
• Cultivates innovation
• Business and commercial acumen
• Data Analytics
• Flexible and adaptable
• Networking
• Stakeholder management
• Technical underwriting experience

About the company

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!