Job Title

HEAD OF OPERATIONS - INSURANCEREPORTS TO: COOLOCATION: LONDONThis career opportunity is available at Santam Syndicate 1918 for a Head of Operations - Insurance who will be based in London & have right to work in the UK.What Will You Do?Responsible for building and leading the operations of Syndicate 1918 (a new Lloyd's Syndicate), covering underwriting operations, credit control, reinsurance administration and market integration across open market, delegated authority, consortia, reinsurance and Quota Share business. The role will include oversight and co-creation of technology-related processes, giving critical input into tooling decisions and architecture, together with the IT & Data Manager.Partner across underwriting, finance, actuarial, compliance and claims to establish scalable, efficient and compliant processes aligned to Lloyd's standards and regulatory requirements.This role requires a strategic thinker and operator capable of working at pace, to establish a best-in-class greenfield operating model and ensuring seamless execution while building scalable capabilities for future growth.Syndicate Start-Up & Operations:Design and implement the operating model across all aspects.Create scalable processes for underwriting support, policy admin, reinsurance admin and credit control.Lead Lloyd's readiness, regulatory submissions, operational resilience and operational governance.Define KPIs, SLAs, controls and oversee systems/vendor implementation.Underwriting Operations:Oversee underwriting operations across open market, delegated authority, consortia, reinsurance and Quota Share.Ensure accurate risk data, workflow controls, referrals, sanctions and documentation.Manage consortia lead/follow requirements, data exchange and governance.Support inward/outward reinsurance ops including setup, processing and controls.Ensure reporting, bordereaux accuracy and high-quality MI across all business classes.Credit Control Operations:Manage credit control across all business types with focus on data accuracy, EPI management, settlement due-dates, cash allocation and debt recovery.Oversee delinquency, aged debt escalation and broker engagement.Deliver MI on debt ageing and settlement performance aligned with Finance.Support compliance with Lloyd's PMD and internal credit governance.QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:Relevant Degree6+ years' experience in insurance or reinsurance operations within the Lloyds or London Market delivering operational change and transformation, such as:Process redesign and automationData quality and reporting improvementsCost efficiency and scalability initiativesDegree-qualified in a relevant discipline (e.g. Business, Finance, Insurance, Risk Management, Economics) or equivalent professional experienceProfessional insurance qualifications highly desirable, such as: ACII / FCII (Chartered Insurance Institute), Lloyd's Market Association (LMA) or London Market–specific qualificationsStrong regulatory knowledge, including Lloyd's Minimum Standards, FCA / PRA regulatory framework, Solvency II / UK Solvency UK requirementsDemonstrated understanding of the Lloyd's operating environment, including: Managing agents, syndicate governance, coverholders, and delegated authority arrangementsChange and transformation qualifications (e.g. Lean, Six Sigma, PRINCE2, Agile) beneficial but not essentialKNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:Delivering results and meeting customer expectationNetworkingApplying expertise and technologyAchieving personal work goals and objectivesAttention to detailPlanning and organising skillsProblem SolvingNegotiatingBusiness Acumen/KnowledgeBusiness AnalysisPERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:Drives resultsDeciding and initiating actionLeading and supervisingCollaboratesClient focusFlexibility and adaptabilityCultivates innovationStrategic decision makingAnalytical thinkingInfluencing/ gaining commitmentBusiness acumenCoaching and developmentWHO WE ARE:Santam syndicate 1918 is a new wholly owned and capitalised entity of Santam Insurance, the largest insurance company in South Africa with a 107 year heritage. 1918 is strategically important in expanding and developing Santam's international footprint, through access to the London market talent, distribution network and Lloyd's global insurance and reinsurance licenses.Our syndicate is a London managed and run business, with a strong, experienced leadership team, focused on underwriting discipline, whilst allowing our teams to feel empowered and accountable for their actions. We are building a collaborative team where underwriting, claims, actuarial and other functions work closely, to help achieve superior underwriting results.