Head: Outwards Reinsurance

The Head of Outwards Reinsurance is responsible for the design, placement, optimisation, and governance of all outwards reinsurance arrangements across Santam Limited's global insurance and reinsurance portfolio. Working closely with the Santam Re & International Chief Executive Officer, Santam Group Chief Risk Officer and Santam Group Chief Underwriting Officer, this role ensures that the reinsurance strategy effectively supports the Santam Group's capital, volatility, and growth objectives. The role maintains core relationships with global reinsurers, institutional brokers and internal stakeholders, leading all aspects of treaty and facultative purchasing, reinsurance analytics, portfolio insight, and regulatory compliance.

Location: Cape Town or Johannesburg

• Maintain, optimise and structure the group wide outwards reinsurance program and ensure alignment with the group's underwriting, capital, and risk objectives.
• Lead the annual treaty and facultative renewal cycle, including programme design, market engagement, pricing negotiations, and final placement.
• Assess and optimise the structure of proportional, non proportional, and facultative covers based on the needs analysis performed for each division or entity within the group.

• Collate and review the reasonableness of actuarial and exposure modelling work supporting reinsurance purchase decisions (e.g., catastrophe modelling, loss modelling, stochastic simulations).
• Analyse portfolio performance, accumulation trends, loss patterns, and emerging risks to inform reinsurance appetite for each division while ensuring compliance with the group's risk appetite statement.
• Interpret internal and external data sources to improve reinsurance optimisation and develop pricing leverage.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with global reinsurers, brokers, and advisory partners.
• Lead market presentations, due diligence sessions, and reinsurer engagement materials.
• Monitor reinsurance market trends, capacity changes, pricing cycles, and competitor behaviours to anticipate strategic implications and communicate insights to key decision makers.

• Ensure end to end documentation, contract certainty, and timely execution of reinsurance placements.
• Oversee reinsurance accounting, bordereaux quality, and claims recoveries in partnership with the finance and claims teams.
• Maintain compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and group policies related to the outwards function.
• Maintain and optimise an environment that fosters industry leading standards for reinsurance governance and decision making.

• Lead and mentor the reinsurance team, promoting technical excellence and continuous development.
• Identify, initiate and drive actions that support a highly engaged team.
• Partner with underwriting, actuarial, finance, financial risk management, and the group risk team on strategy alignment and execution.
• Provide executive level reporting to group committees, boards, and other stakeholders.
• Drive a culture of analytical rigour, transparent communication, and commercial decision making based on sound data and a clear view of functional and group strategy.

• Minimum of more than 5 years of experience in reinsurance, ideally with practical experience optimising and placing outwards programmes for P&C insurers or bancassurers.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating programme placements through the renewal cycle, driving towards a positive outcome for the reinsured.
• Good understanding of the reinsurance marketplace in South Africa and globally, and knowledge of the global reinsurers who offer capacity in chosen classes and markets.
• Strong relationships with both institutional brokers and global reinsurers.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills, presentation skills, and ability to present to C suite executives and international market presentations.
• Bachelor's degree in actuarial science, risk management, insurance, finance or a related quantitative field; actuarial qualifications (FIA/FASSA) are a distinct advantage.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills, with vision to see solutions beyond current system/process capabilities.
• Adaptability and resilience in a fast paced, evolving environment.
• Experience leading and mentoring diverse, high performing teams and supporting team members, including indirect reports.
• Willingness to travel locally within South Africa and internationally as required.

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.

The Sanlam Group is committed to achieving transformation and embraces diversity. This commitment drives us to achieve a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. The Group's Employment Equity plan and targets will be considered as part of the selection process.