Risk Engineer
Date:
24 Apr 2026
Location:
Sandton, Gauteng, ZA
Company:
Sanlam Group
What will you do?
Santam Specialist Solutions has a career opportunity for a Risk Engineer in the Santam Corporate Property business area which will be based in Wanderers Office Park, Illovo, Gauteng.
The primary purpose of the Risk Engineer role is to provide specialist engineering risk assessment and loss control expertise that supports effective underwriting, reduces loss exposure, and contributes to sustainable and profitable risk management.
What will make you successful in this role?
Key responsibilities:
- Providing an internal technical information service to Portfolio Managers, Portfolio Executives, and Underwriters regarding risk control standards and requirements as applicable and relevant to insurance and the underwriting of corporate risks
- Planning and controlling work activities of external/ contracted independent surveyors
- Ensuring that the standards of Fire and Engineering surveys are maintained throughout, and setting minimum Information and Risk description requirements
- Prioritization of Survey requests and allocation of Survey activities
- Attending to the personal development needs of junior engineers in terms of their interpersonal skills, report writing ability, and analytical skills.
- Maintaining a survey information system and risk engineering database
- Preparation of Risk Recommendations, Requirements, and Monitoring of their Implementation
- Liaising with industry bodies and reinsurers about effective Fire and Risk protection and mitigation standards
- Performing ad-hoc Fire and Risk surveys (including post-loss surveys) and generation of reports.
Qualifications & Experience
- FCII, ACII, or other relevant tertiary qualification, registration with an industry body is preferable
- ± 5 years’ experience in insurance risk assessment and loss control environment
- Knowledge of fire protection and engineering principles in corporate risk and industrial environments, and understanding of insurance risk exposures, including Machinery Breakdown
- In-depth understanding and knowledge of the Deemed to Satisfy Rules of the National Building Regulations and other applicable legislation and regulations
- Ability to calculate and assess Maximum Probable Loss exposures, including interdependencies
- Thorough understanding of risk management and risk control principles
- Good understanding of business processes and business continuity
- Ability to communicate and negotiate with brokers and internal and external clients. A key role is the value addition through providing effective and practical risk improvement solutions
- Keeping abreast of industry and new technical standards and developments regarding Fire Protection and Loss Prevention
- Provide an in-house technical information system and develop and maintain systems which support this service.
- Ability to communicate with internal and external clients and stakeholders in a way that will establish understanding and co-operation.
- Must have well-developed and proven analytical skills and preferably have had formal training in analytical techniques and process safety studies (MOC/ FMEA / HAZOP).
- Must have had exposure to design procedures and application of design and engineering standards, especially in relation to fire protection, including SANS, ASIB, NFPA, and FM Standards. Experience and understanding of those standards in relation to chemical, petrochemical, and bulk petroleum facilities would be a definite advantage.
Skills & Competencies
- Analytical Thinking
- Problem Solving & Risk Judgement
- Systems & Interdependency Thinking
- Technical Advisory & Stakeholder Engagement
- Professional Report Writing
- Collaboration & Relationship Management
- Attention to Detail
- Professional Credibility & Integrity
- Accountability
- Resilience & Adaptability
- Client & Business Focus