AVP, Insurance Risk

Aviva plc; Markham; Hybrid; CAD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive compensation

Pension and retirement savings

Hybrid work model

Health and wellness benefits

Leadership development

Diversity initiatives

Volunteer opportunities

Vacation and well-being offerings

Job summary

Aviva Canada is seeking an AVP, Insurance Risk to provide independent oversight of insurance risk across the business. You will partner with the CRO to strengthen risk management framework and governance, focusing on pricing, reserving, exposure management and model risk.

Lead risk deep dives, develop evidence-based opinions, challenge strategic decisions, and engage senior stakeholders across Risk, Actuarial, Claims and Underwriting to promote informed decision-making and robust risk culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and relevant professional designation in risk, actuarial science, underwriting, pricing, finance or related discipline.
• 10+ years’ experience in risk leadership within General Insurance.
• Strong understanding of risk governance, risk appetite frameworks and regulatory expectations.

Responsibilities

• Review and challenge insurance risk management and optimization across Aviva Canada.
• Provide specialist oversight across areas such as pricing, reserving, exposure management and model risk.
• Develop evidence-based risk opinions on material matters and business decisions.
• Lead risk deep dives and communicate findings with recommended actions to senior stakeholders.

Skills

Risk leadership

Actuarial knowledge

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

FCAS/FCIA/FSA/CRM

Job description

Experience Aviva Individually we are people, but together we are Aviva. Individually these are just words, but together they are our Values – Care, Commitment, Community, and Confidence. At Aviva Canada, we put people first, our employees, our customers, and our communities. We’re proud of a culture built on care, inclusion, and collaboration, where your voice matters and your growth is supported. We’re not just about insurance; we’re about making a real difference by protecting what matters most.

The Opportunity

The AVP, Insurance Risk provide independent oversight, review and challenge of insurance risk across Aviva Canada. The role supports the Chief Risk Officer in strengthening the management and optimization of insurance risk and maintaining the effectiveness of the Risk Management Framework, with a focus on one or more insurance risk specialisms.

What you'll do

• Review and challenge the management and optimization of insurance risk, identifying opportunities to strengthen practices and outcomes.
• Provide specialist oversight across one or more areas such as pricing, reserving, exposure management, reinsurance, capital management and model risk.
• Develop clear, evidence-based risk opinions on material insurance risk matters and business decisions.
• Lead targeted insurance risk deep dives, synthesize findings and recommend proportionate actions or improvements.
• Identify emerging trends, risks and opportunities, and articulate their potential impact on performance measures and risk appetite.
• Engage senior stakeholders across Risk, Actuarial, Claims, Pricing and Underwriting to promote effective risk ownership and informed decision-making.
• Apply constructive, independent challenge while building collaborative relationships across the three lines of defense.
• Support the Chief Risk Officer in providing effective oversight across Aviva Canada and monitoring the continuing effectiveness of the Risk Management Framework.
• Support the development, maintenance and enhancement of Insurance Risk policies, standards, risk appetite metrics, limits and governance processes to ensure alignment with Aviva’s Risk Management Framework.
• Monitor key insurance risk exposures, limits and risk appetite metrics, providing timely insight, challenge and escalation where emerging issues or trends are identified.
• Provide subject matter expertise and an independent Risk perspective to governance forums, committees and senior leadership discussions related to insurance risk matters.
• Assess and challenge material business initiatives, model changes, underwriting strategies, pricing approaches and other significant changes from an insurance risk perspective.
• Promote strong insurance risk management practices and enhance understanding of insurance risk across the business through partnership, insight and constructive challenge.
• Provide timely and well-supported risk opinions for senior stakeholders and decision makers.
• Conduct insurance risk deep-dive assessments with clear findings, implications and recommended actions.
• Promote sound risk management by challenging assumptions, decisions, and practices where appropriate.
• Identify, assess, and elevate emerging risks, opportunities, and risk appetite implications to relevant stakeholders.
• Deliver risk oversight and insights that support the Chief Risk Officer and strengthen the effectiveness of the Risk Management Framework.
• Monitor, report, and elevate insurance risk exposures, limit positions, and risk appetite concerns in a timely manner.

What you'll bring

• Bachelor’s degree and relevant professional designation (e.g., FCAS, FCIA, FSA, CRM) or equivalent education in risk, actuarial science, underwriting, pricing, finance, capital or a related discipline.
• 10+ years’ experience in risk leadership within General Insurance, with expertise in areas such as actuarial, underwriting, pricing, capital, reserving, reinsurance, exposure management, or model risk.
• Strong understanding of insurance risk, risk governance, risk appetite frameworks, and regulatory expectations, with knowledge of broader enterprise, conduct, and operational risk management.
• Proven ability to review, challenge, and influence complex business decisions, providing objective oversight while driving issues through resolution.
• Exceptional analytical, commercial, and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to identify emerging risks and opportunities and translate complex technical matters into clear business advice.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication capabilities, including experience influencing senior leaders and building credibility across diverse stakeholder groups without direct authority.
• Sound judgment, agility, and collaborative leadership style, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, highly visible, and regulated environment.

What you'll get

• Competitive executive compensation package, including annual incentive opportunities.
• Comprehensive pension and retirement savings programs.
• Flexible hybrid work model.
• Industry-leading health and wellness benefits.
• Professional development and executive leadership growth opportunities.
• Inclusive employee resource groups and diversity initiatives.
• Volunteer opportunities and community impact programs.
• Competitive vacation and wellness offerings.

Aviva Canada may use AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools to assist us throughout the recruitment process to screen, assess or select applicants for a position.

Aviva Canada welcomes applications from all qualified individuals and has a process in place to provide accommodations for persons with disabilities at all stages of the hiring process and during employment. If you require an accommodation during the interview or hiring process, please contact your Aviva Talent Acquisition Partner so that an appropriate accommodation can be arranged.

We help our 19.5 million customers to save for the future and manage the risks of everyday life. To give these customers the best possible products and service we know we must make Aviva the most attractive choice for talented, entrepreneurial people with diverse backgrounds and an evolving range of expertise and insight. So, we’re passionate about helping our 23,000 people to do the best work of their lives, to enable them to make a positive difference to the lives of our customers.