Bilingual Director, Advanced Underwriting

Sun Life Financial; Montreal (administrative region); Hybrid; CAD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Flexible benefits

Stock ownership program

Pension plan

Annual bonus

Vacation + 5 care days + 10 illness/9

Job summary

Sun Life Financial in Montreal, QC, is seeking a Director, Advanced Underwriting to lead medical and financial risk selection, drive strategic underwriting decisions, and mentor a high-performing team. You will work with management, product, and reinsurance partners in a hybrid environment, with opportunities for professional development and industry leadership.

Candidates should have 10-15 years life underwriting experience and relevant qualifications, and bilingual French-English for Quebec

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• 10-15 years of experience as an Individual Life Underwriter
• ALU certificate and pursuit of FALU/FLMI designations
• Bilingualism (French, English) required for Quebec interactions

Responsibilities

• Analyze insurance applications and evidence of insurability
• Apply underwriting expertise across medical, financial and lifestyle factors
• Negotiate decisions with reinsurers per treaties and internal rules
• Explain decisions to advisors and Clients’ physicians as required
• Build relationships with leaders, distribution teams and advisors
• Identify improvements and propose solutions
• Provide mentorship to other underwriters
• Attend High Net Worth case reviews and share knowledge

Skills

Analytical thinking

Decision making

Client focus

Leadership

Mentorship

Communication with stakeholders

Underwriting knowledge

Collaboration

French-English bilingual (Quebec)

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

ALU/FALU/FLMI designation pursuit

Tools

ALU certificate

FALU/FLMI designations pursuit

Job description

You are as unique as your background, experience and point of view. Here, you’ll be encouraged, empowered and challenged to be your best self. You'll work with dynamic colleagues - experts in their fields - who are eager to share their knowledge with you. Your leaders will inspire and help you reach your potential and soar to new heights. Every day, you'll have new and exciting opportunities to make life brighter for our Clients - who are at the heart of everything we do. At Sun Life, we're driven by our Purpose: helping our Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. Our values shape how we work: caring, authentic, bold, inspiring, and impactful. When you join Sun Life, you'll work with passionate colleagues and empowering leaders who support your growth and celebrate your contributions, so you can make a meaningful difference in our Clients' lives. Discover how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world.

Job Description

Location: hybrid, work from home

As a Director, Advanced Underwriting, you’ll be joining one of Canada’s top insurers. We’re known for not only our strength in the market, but our commitment to our people. Underwriting goes beyond risk assessments here. We’re focused on making thoughtful, well-informed decisions that provide financial security to Canadians and their loved ones. By joining Sun Life, you become part of a high-performing team, led by passionate professionals with extensive experience in the field, industry knowledge, and a passion for mentorship. Our continuous learning pathways and skills development opportunities ensure endless growth for you as you advance in your career. This role will be reporting to our Chief Underwriter and Claims Risk Officer. We’re looking for someone with extensive experience in both medical and financial risk selection. You must be comfortable working with management, product, and reinsurance partners to deliver positive outcomes on challenging files. A commitment to Client-first, proactive communication and partnership with our advisors and distribution team are critical aspects to this role. Life’s brighter under the sun

Joining our team at Sun Life means you can expect:

• A hybrid working environment, giving you the best parts of in-office collaboration and work from home flexibility
• Flexible Benefits from the day you join, meeting the needs of you and your loved ones
• Our stock ownership program and pension plan give you the chance to invest in Sun Life with company matching opportunities
• An annual bonus based on company and individual performance
• Paid vacation based on experience, 5 care days available for self-care or care of others (e.g. family or others you may support) and 10 personal illness days to support your well-being
• Our unique sabbatical program gives you the opportunity to take up to 6 weeks off, every 5 years
• Investment in not-for-profit organizations that are important to you
• Maternity/Paternity top-up program so you can focus on your growing family

What will you do?

• Analyze insurance applications and evidence of insurability
• Apply holistic underwriting expertise in all areas of underwriting including medical, financial and lifestyle factors to make sound and competitive underwriting decisions
• Negotiate decisions with our reinsurers, in accordance with reinsurance treaties and internal rules
• Effectively communicate and explain decisions to advisors and/or Clients’ physicians, as required.
• Build strong relationships with business leaders, distribution teams, and advisors while delivering exceptional service and expertise
• Identify continuous improvement opportunities and bring forward recommendations for solutions
• Contribute to a positive environment through teamwork, a spirit of innovation, and professional development
• Attend and participate in regular High Net Worth case reviews to share knowledge and support team development.
• Provide mentorship other underwriters

What do you need to succeed?

• Decision Making Authority >$10,000,000 + for Life, $1,000,000 of Critical Illness
• Exceptional analytical, judgement, problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Client and results focus, proactive service orientation to support our business goals
• Strong knowledge of medical and financial risk factors
• The ability to work in a fast-paced environment, meet tight deadlines and balance completing priorities
• Strong interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with our internal and external partners
• 10-15 years of experience as an Individual Life Underwriter
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• Specialized training: ALU certificate and commitment to ongoing education with a goal of attaining the Fellow, Academy of Life Underwriting (FALU) and Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI) designations

As this position is posted in several locations, we specify that bilingualism (French, English, both oral and written) is required for Quebec only for the frequent interactions with English and French-speaking colleagues or internal partners across Canada or worldwide.

Other Details

Some travel and representation at industry and sales events When a new position becomes available which matches your background and experience, the base pay range will be disclosed and correspond to the opportunity Sun Life will consider you for. In addition to Base Pay, eligible Sun Life employees participate in various incentive plans, payment under which is discretionary and subject to individual and company performance. Certain sales focused roles have sales incentive plans based on individual or group sales results. Diversity and inclusion have always been at the core of our values at Sun Life. A diverse workforce with wide perspectives and creative ideas benefits our Clients, the communities where we operate and all of us as colleagues. We welcome applications from qualified individuals from all backgrounds. Persons with disabilities who need accommodation in the application process, or those needing job postings in an alternative format, may e-mail a request to [e-mail]. We are proud to be a hybrid organization that offers our employees the choice and flexibility to work from both the office and virtually based on the needs of the business, our Clients and you. We may use artificial intelligence to support candidate sourcing, screening, interview scheduling. We thank all applicants for showing an interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Job Category: Underwriting - Individual Posting End Date: 16/10/2026

Shine together At Sun Life, you can be your most brilliant self. Our supportive, flexible, and inclusive work environment is one where you – and your career – can thrive. Whatever your aspirations, collaborative leaders and colleagues are ready to help you learn, grow, and succeed. Make life brighter We’re a global company with a passion for people. Our purpose is to help Clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. As a team of 30,000 across 26 countries, our impact is far-reaching, and locally relevant There’s power in numbers. As part of Sun Life’s growing team, you have an impact on people in your community and around the world. Shape the future With an optimistic eye on a brighter future, we drive to innovate. Be part of leading change, push boundaries and try new ways of working. Use data to drive bold actions. Be agile and pivot as we test and learn. At Sun Life, we’re driving transformation, sustainability and innovation for our Clients, employees, partners, and communities. Join us. Together, we can make the future brighter. Join a top employer for a brighter future. Visit Sun Life Careers