Senior Life & Health Underwriter

About the role

Swiss Re is recruiting a senior Life & Health Underwriter for its Africa business, based in either the Cape Town or Johannesburg office. The role evaluates complex mortality, morbidity and financial risks for life and health reinsurance across Sub-Saharan Africa, supporting the company's strategic objectives through high-quality underwriting decisions, risk assessments and technical advice to clients and internal stakeholders.

Key responsibilities

• Evaluate complex mortality, morbidity and financial risks for life and health reinsurance business
• Collaborate with pricing, actuarial and claims teams to deliver sustainable and profitable portfolio outcomes
• Act as a technical underwriting consultant to cedants, supporting best practices, training, audits and process improvements
• Support treaty negotiations and product development with underwriting expertise
• Mentor colleagues and help build underwriting capability within the team
• Present at industry conferences, seminars and client workshops, and give portfolio management insights to internal stakeholders

Required profile

• 5-10 years of experience in Life and Health Underwriting, with a strong understanding of complex mortality and morbidity risk assessment
• Deep financial and medical underwriting expertise, able to evaluate sophisticated, high-value cases
• Strong local market knowledge of the South African and Sub-Saharan Africa insurance and reinsurance landscape
• Ability to lead, coach and mentor, and to represent the company externally at industry events

Nice to have: L&H product development or project management experience, experience mentoring junior underwriters, external representation at industry events, and familiarity with treaty negotiation processes.

What we offer

• Annual base salary in South Africa of ZAR 700,000 to ZAR 1,160,000, depending on profile and role scope
• A performance-based variable compensation component
• Employer contribution towards pension fund and Discovery Medical Aid (eligibility varies)
• Hybrid work model, with at least three days per week in the office