VACANCY | HEAD OF ENGINEERING | TYGERVALLEY, CAPE TOWN | PERMANENT
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Job description:
The Head of Engineering holds full strategic and operational accountability for the development and execution of the engineering underwriting strategy. This role ensures the achievement of business goals relating to product innovation, underwriting quality, risk selection, pricing integrity, cost control, and service delivery. A key focus is to drive technical excellence, promote efficiency, and embed systems and processes that support sustainable growth and client satisfaction.
In addition to driving technical leadership, the incumbent is responsible for guiding the underwriting team with clear direction, applying sound risk assessment practices, and ensuring alignment with regulatory and insurer mandate requirements.
Responsibilities:
- Lead the implementation of the engineering underwriting strategy in alignment with business objectives.
- Support business growth through the acquisition of new clients and renewal of existing business (including quotes, endorsements, and negotiations).
- Oversee and continuously improve the underwriting and claims processes to maintain high service standards and technical accuracy.
- Develop and manage strong relationships with brokers, partners, and internal stakeholders to enhance collaboration and client retention.
- Provide strategic input on complex underwriting cases and support the resolution of high-level administrative and claims queries.
- Drive the analysis of performance metrics including loss ratios, commissions, complaints, and customer feedback to improve underwriting outcomes.
- Ensure quality assurance across underwriting practices, training, compliance, and operational execution.
- Lead and mentor a high-performing underwriting team through effective coaching, skills development, and knowledge sharing.
- Oversee the preparation of monthly reports and performance reviews, presenting insights to executive leadership.
- Manage and interpret insurer mandates, ensuring adherence to authority limits and policy guidelines.
- Support marketing initiatives, promotional events, and brand positioning strategies relevant to the engineering portfolio.
Skill sets required:
- Relevant tertiary qualification in Insurance, with a preference for additional qualifications in Engineering and/or Law.
- Additional certifications in risk management or insurance-related disciplines will be advantageous.
- Atleast 10 years of experience in the insurance industry, with a strong focus on engineering or construction-related underwriting.
- Proven technical expertise in assessing engineering risks, interpreting insurance policies, and navigating market practices.
- In-depth knowledge of underwriting processes claims management, and broker engagement.
- Demonstrated leadership experience in a regional or senior managerial role.
- FAIS compliant, holding RE5 and/or RE1 certifications (as applicable to the role).
- Solid understanding of Treating Customers Fairly (TCF) principles and POPIA regulatory compliance.
Who is Western National Insurance:
In 2012, Western National was purchased by PSG Financial Services who together with Santam make up the shareholding. This shareholding reaffirms our credibility, commitment to service excellence and impeccable work ethic. Western specialises in short-term Insurance products and operates through a network of brokers and intermediaries, in both South Africa and Namibia. We have a vested interest in our partners’ success.
www.westnat.com
How to apply:
Candidates interested must apply on the PSG Careers website https://www.psg.co.za OR browse vacancies https://bit.ly/3bD2iAk by no later than 23 June 2025. If you are not contacted within 4 weeks of your application, please accept that your application was not successful.