Our Pretoria based client is seeking a visionary Head of Underwriting to lead Commercial and Agricultural Insurance portfolios. This is a unique opportunity to shape innovative risk solutions, drive sustainable growth, and set new standards of affordability and resilience in the underwriting space.

Purpose

Lead and strengthen the underwriting function for Commercial and Agricultural insurance, ensuring delivery of industry-leading service standards, exceeding policyholder and broker expectations, and achieving operational excellence through improved productivity, reduced turnaround times, cost efficiency, and strict compliance with corporate and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Assess and underwrite commercial and agricultural risks in line with guidelines and sound judgment.
• Collaborate with brokers, reinsurers, and legal advisers to interpret complex contractual clauses.
• Drive continuous process improvement through new procedures and systems development.
• Produce accurate management information to support strategic decisions.
• Monitor global and local risk events impacting Commercial and Agri portfolios.
• Ensure underwriting services meet agreed service standards across all channels.
• Maintain robust data recording and compliance processes.
• Lead, mentor, and develop underwriting team members.
• Oversee pricing, product development, and reinsurance arrangements.
• Manage departmental budgets and ensure procurement compliance.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong leadership with ability to inspire and manage teams in high-pressure environments.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Deep knowledge of commercial and agricultural insurance markets, regulations, and trends.
• Analytical and problem-solving ability with proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Ability to translate business strategies into operational plans and drive change effectively.

Qualifications

• NQF Level 5 qualification in insurance or related field.
• RE5 (Representative Exam) and RE1 (Key Individual Exam).
• Class of Business (COB) certification for Commercial and Agricultural insurance.
• Minimum 8–10 years underwriting experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.