Head of Reinsurance

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an experienced Head of Reinsurance to join a leading life insurance business on a permanent, full-time basis
, based onsite in Sandton, Johannesburg
. This is a senior leadership role responsible for executing the organization's reinsurance strategy across South Africa and Mauritius
, with direct exposure to executive decision-making.

This role is suited to a commercially minded reinsurance professional with deep life reinsurance expertise
, strong market relationships, and the ability to translate portfolio insights and market conditions into sound strategic, risk, and profitability outcomes.

This is not a technical specialist-only role
. The successful candidate will be expected to operate at a strategic and executive level
, leading treaty negotiations, advising senior leadership, enforcing governance, and developing a high-performing reinsurance team.

• Lead the negotiation of reinsurance treaties and risk-sharing arrangements, including structuring, pricing, and commercial terms
• Execute the company’s reinsurance strategy in alignment with business objectives and defined risk appetite
• Act as a senior advisor to executive management on reinsurance structures, market conditions, and risk transfer options
• Perform and oversee experience analyses and other portfolio investigations to support risk and profitability management decisions
• Build and maintain strong relationships with reinsurers and key internal stakeholders
• Contribute to technical reinsurance management, including interpretation and application of reinsurance and risk-sharing agreements
• Produce and review monthly reinsurance reporting and management insights
• Collaborate closely with actuarial, underwriting, claims, finance, legal, compliance, and risk teams
• Enforce reinsurance-related policies, procedures, and internal controls
• Lead, mentor, and develop direct reports within the reinsurance function
• Support reinsurance operations across South Africa and Mauritius, including occasional travel where required

• At least 7 years of relevant experience within the life insurance or life reinsurance industry
• Strong hands-on experience with reinsurance treaties and structures
  , including quota share, surplus, and excess of loss
• Proven experience leading or materially contributing to reinsurance treaty negotiations
• Demonstrable exposure to executive-level advisory and strategic decision-making
• Degree in Actuarial Science, Finance, or a related field
• Nearly or newly qualified Actuary, CA, or equivalent qualification (advantageous)
• Strong analytical, financial, and actuarial modelling capability
• Excellent negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and leadership skills
• High integrity with sound judgment and decision-making ability
• Based in Gauteng or willing to relocate, with availability for full-time onsite work in Sandton

Outsized is an independent talent marketplace connecting leading organizations with high-quality independent professionals across technology, finance, risk, and operations. We partner with banks, insurers, and financial institutions across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East to deliver critical transformation and delivery projects.