AVP, Marine - 162

DGA Careers Inc.; Toronto; On-site; CAD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

DGA Careers Inc. has partnered with a major Canadian carrier to launch a brand-new national Marine underwriting practice in Toronto. The AVP will define appetite, build wordings and processes, and plant the flag for Marine within a well-capitalized platform.

You will lead strategy, manage mid-market to multinational risks, and cultivate broker relationships across Canada. This is a high-visibility role with growth potential and rewards, including a competitive base salary and a meaningful annual

Qualifications

• 10+ years of commercial underwriting experience, with marine or complex specialty lines exposure.
• Track record underwriting and managing large, complex commercial risks.
• Established Canadian marine market relationships are a real asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy, build-out, and day-to-day underwriting of a new national Marine portfolio, focusing on mid-market, large, and multinational risks.
• Underwrite complex Marine cargo and freight forwarder risk for corporate clients (typically $200M+ revenue).
• Shape underwriting appetite, tools, guidelines, and referral frameworks with technical and pricing teams.
• Build and deepen broker relationships across Canada, a relationship-driven market central to the line's success.
• Partner with Underwriting, Pricing/Actuarial, Reinsurance, Claims, and Risk to keep the portfolio profitable and well-governed.
• Cross-sell and collaborate with the broader Commercial Lines underwriting team.
• Once the foundation is proven, build out a team of underwriters to support growth.

Skills

Marine underwriting

Leadership

Strategic underwriting

Relationship management

Education

Bachelor's in Business/Finance or related; CIP

Job description

AVP, Marine - Build a National Marine Practice from the Ground Up

The Opportunity

A major Canadian insurance carrier is launching a brand-new Marine underwriting practice and looking for the Leader who will build it.

This is a true greenfield mandate. There's no book to inherit and no legacy strategy to untangle, you'll define the appetite, build the wordings and processes, and plant the flag for Marine within a well-capitalized commercial insurance platform. You'll have access to established international Marine capability and wordings to adapt for the Canadian market, backed by the resources of a national insurer with a strong existing corporate risk and P&C portfolio.

If you've ever wanted to put your name on a franchise rather than just manage someone else's, this is that chance.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading the strategy, build-out, and day-to-day underwriting of a new national Marine portfolio, with a focus on mid-market, large, and multinational risks
• Underwriting complex Marine cargo and freight forwarder risk for corporate clients (typically $200M+ in revenue), acting as the go-to technical resource on Marine for programs and MGAs
• Shaping underwriting appetite, tools, guidelines, and referral frameworks in partnership with technical and pricing teams
• Building and deepening broker relationships across Canada, this is a relationship-driven market, and your name and reputation will be central to the line's success
• Partnering with Underwriting, Pricing/Actuarial, Reinsurance, Claims, and Risk to keep the portfolio profitable and well-governed
• Cross‑selling and collaborating with the broader Commercial Lines  underwriting team 
• Once the foundation  proven, building out a team of underwriters to support continued growth

What You’ll Bring

• 10+ years of commercial underwriting experience, with strong Marine and/or complex specialty lines exposure
• A track record underwriting and managing large, complex commercial risks
• Established Canadian marine market relationships and brand recognition are a real asset
• Comfort being externally visible, this role is as much about representing Marine in the market as underwriting it
• People leadership experience, including coaching and developing underwriting talent (or readiness to build a team from scratch)
• University degree in Business, Finance, or related field; CIP (or equivalent) required, CRM or similar an asset
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and communication skills
• Bilingualism is an asset

Why This Role

• Autonomy: a high degree of freedom to shape underwriting approach, appetite, and broker strategy from day one
• Platform: the backing and resources of a major national carrier, without inheriting legacy baggage
• Visibility: direct, personal impact, this line's success and your name will be closely linked
• Growth: a mandate that starts with you and is expected to grow
• Compensation: competitive base salary flexible for the right profile, meaningful annual bonus target, generous vacation and a full benefits and pension package

DGA Careers has been proudly serving the Canadian insurance industry for over 40 years, specializing in providing insurance recruiting services to major insurers, insurance brokerage firms and independent adjusting firms. With offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Edmonton, and Calgary, DGA Careers is well positioned to conduct searches with a national scope. Our unrivalled professional network across Canada provides us with the ability to reach vital key influencers and passive candidates nationally.