Learning & Development Facilitator: Underwriting: SLS: Sanlam Risk & Savings: Bellville

Job Purpose

The successful candidate is a high energy trainer with experience in establishing clear training plans and developing effective supporting training material to deliver impactful training interventions. The candidate should have a strong understanding of underwriting workflow processes, rule engine and underwriting guidelines and philosophy.

The successful candidate must have a proven track record of consistently achieving production and quality targets and should have successfully functioned in previous mentoring roles, with the success based on the growth and development of mentees.

In addition, the successful candidate must have a passion for training and demonstrate the required facilitation and coaching skills. This includes the ability to identify and recommend improvements to existing processes or underwriting‑related aspects, with suggestions that have been considered by Management and successfully implemented.

What will you do?

1. Training of new Underwriter appointees 

• Develop training matrix plans according to defined training needs for Underwriter trainees appointed from other companies, as well as for existing Underwriters.
• Stakeholder agreement including Chief Underwriter, Operations Manager and First Line Managers.
• Present induction sessions. 
• Focus on technical training: Medical, financial, part-time hobbies, traveling outside RSA, products and benefits training along with various guidelines and philosophy as per Sales channel.
• Focus on process or workflow training in various underwriting system related aspects to enable the trainee to operate the Underwriting system efficiently.
• Provide training material and where applicable hand-outs best suited to the audience.
• Provide case studies to test knowledge and understanding.
• Assess learner competence and/or understanding after modules have been covered.
• Act as mentor to vest process and application of guidelines in decisions.

2. Training of existing Underwriting team/ department

• Provide specific training to individuals or groups of underwriters based on feedback from the Chief Underwriter, Auditors and/ or feedback from the Liaison underwriters and/ or Help desk.
• Align the above with Individual Development Plans (IDP’s) of the underwriters, and any other aspects based on the IDP that needs training or re-training e.g. new signing authority approvals.  
• Make recommendations on “Soft Skill” training with input from with the First Line Managers based on specific needs.
• Compile training material for underwriters which needs to be signed off by the Chief Underwriter before implementation.
• Liaise with Business Change to clarify system changes and/or product rules.
• Provide release-training material and where applicable hand-outs, PowerPoint slides and videos.
• Assess learner competence and/or understanding where necessary.

3. Training of Tele Interviewers 

• Compile training modules with the focus on Soft Phone, workflow, and underwriting rules based on script.
• Serve as mentor until sign-off.
• Monitor quality by listening to sample of calls for technical correctness.
• Identify training needs based on calls.

4. General 

• Update the Underwriting Knowledge Portal regularly with new implementations.
• Attend training conferences to upskill personal training skills, and use of new training methodology and/or technology.
• Do underwriting production to stay abreast with changes and monitor new implementations.
• Conduct research and be aware of medical related articles pertaining to underwriting within the media, and correspondence received from reinsurers to share with the team and upskill knowledge.
• Engage with the Chief Underwriter and Medical team which are responsible for the underwriting standards of Sanlam and close the loop between claims and underwriting where gaps or training needs are identified.

Note:

The environment necessitates overtime in peak periods.  The amount of overtime hours depends on the business need in terms of the volumes received. 

What will make you successful in this role?

Qualifications:

• Training/Facilitation or HR related qualification will be an advantage.

Experience:

• 7–10 years’ underwriting experience in long-term life insurance.
• Sanlam underwriting experience will be a strong advantage
• Proven experience in both medical and financial underwriting, including business insurance.
• Proven experience in sharing underwriting expertise through medical and financial case studies.
• Exposure to established signing authorities of R10 million or higher.
• Exposure to various assessment instruments and learning methods will be an advantage.

Knowledge:

• Relevant regulatory legislation and compliance knowledge.
• Solid understanding and interpretation of financial statements.

Competencies:

• Communicates effectively.
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
• Business insight.
• Decision quality.
• Analytical thinking.
• Cultivates innovation.
• Plans and aligns.
• Concern for accuracy.
• Customer focus.
• Collaborates.
• Drives engagement.
• Drives results.
• Team success.
• Being resilient.
• Tech savvy (MS Office – PowerPoint advanced level).

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.

Core Competencies

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.

Closing Date: 18 May 2026 

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