Intermediate Underwriter

Manulife; Canada; Remote; CAD 71,000 - 118,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health

Dental

Vision

Mental health

Job summary

Manulife's Individual Insurance team is seeking an Intermediate Life Underwriter. You’ll independently assess life insurance risks within authority, including moderate impairments, with a signing authority of $1M–$2M. You’ll work with advisors and internal partners to deliver sound decisions and excellent service.

You'll use modern underwriting tools, maintain regulatory compliance, and pursue ongoing professional development in a flexible, inclusive environment.

Qualifications

• Must be an experienced Life Underwriter with Life signing authority of $1M.
• Knowledge of medical risk assessment, including anatomy, diseases, tests and treatments.
• Solid understanding of financial and non-medical risks in life insurance underwriting.
• Ability to assess diverse cases, including moderate impairments, and make independent decisions within authority.
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills with clear rationale.
• Ability to interpret current technical information and escalate when needed.
• Clear written and verbal communication; ability to explain underwriting decisions professionally.
• Customer-service mindset and ability to build credibility with advisors and partners.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, and ownership of priorities and turnaround times.
• Comfort with underwriting systems, digital tools, and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Independently assess and classify life insurance risks within assigned authority following Manulife guidelines.
• Evaluate medical, financial, occupational, avocational, travel, and lifestyle information for a broad range of cases.
• Apply sound judgment and document rationale; refer complex cases.
• Manage case workload independently balancing risk, quality and service.
• Communicate requirements and decisions clearly to advisors and internal partners.
• Build positive working relationships and own case follow-ups and service issues.
• Comply with applicable laws, regulations, privacy and disclosure standards.
• Share knowledge and contribute ideas to improve processes and outcomes.

Skills

Life underwriting

Medical risk assessment

Financial risk assessment

Independent decision making

Analytical thinking

Communication

Customer service mindset

Organization

Tech literacy

Bilingual English/French

Education

University or college degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Job description

Continue building your career with Manulife’s Individual Insurance team, a leading provider of insurance for Canadian families, individuals, and businesses, recognized for innovative products, service, and professional advice.

As an Intermediate Life Underwriter, you’ll bring established underwriting experience and Life signing authority of $1–$2 million. You’ll independently manage a broader range of cases within assigned authority, working with National Accounts, Managing General Agencies (MGAs), and Traditional Producers.

Bring your technical knowledge, sound judgment, and customer-focused approach. You’ll assess more complex risks, communicate decisions confidently, and contribute practical solutions that support customers, advisors, and business outcomes.

Why Underwriting at Manulife

At Manulife, underwriting is where expertise, trust, and impact come together. In this role, you won’t just review files — you’ll own complex, meaningful decisions that help individuals and families secure their financial futures with confidence.

You’ll work with innovative underwriting tools and technologies that support strong judgment and better customer outcomes, allowing you to focus on the higher‑value work your expertise is built for.

We’re equally invested in your growth. With clear career progression, hands‑on learning alongside experienced peers, and strong support for professional development, Manulife offers an environment where underwriting careers are built for the long term — supported by flexible ways of working and a collaborative, people‑first culture.

What You’ll Do

• Independently assess and classify life insurance risks within assigned authority, following Manulife’s underwriting philosophy, guidelines, and standards.
• Evaluate medical, financial, occupational, avocational, travel, and lifestyle information across a broader range of cases, including moderate impairments.
• Apply sound judgment to underwriting decisions, document your rationale clearly, and refer cases beyond your authority or requiring additional expertise.
• Manage your case workload independently, balancing risk assessment with quality, productivity, and service expectations.
• Communicate requirements and decisions clearly and professionally, helping advisors and internal partners understand the underwriting rationale.
• Build positive working relationships and take ownership of case follow-ups and service concerns.
• Follow applicable legislation, consumer regulations, privacy requirements, and disclosure standards.
• Share technical knowledge with colleagues and contribute practical ideas to improve processes, consistency, and customer outcomes.

What You’ll Bring

• Demonstrated experience as a Life Underwriter, with a minimum Life signing authority of $1M
• Working knowledge of medical risk assessment, including anatomy, medical terminology, diseases, diagnostic tests, treatments, and medications.
• Sound knowledge of financial and other non-medical risks and their application to life insurance underwriting.
• Experience assessing a range of cases, including moderate impairments, and making independent decisions within assigned authority.
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills, with clear, well-supported decision rationale.
• The ability to interpret and apply current technical information and recognize when additional guidance or escalation is needed.
• Clear written and verbal communication and the ability to explain underwriting decisions professionally.
• A customer-service mindset and the ability to build credibility and positive relationships with advisors and internal partners.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, and ownership of priorities and turnaround times.
• Comfort with underwriting systems, new business processes, and digital tools, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and internet-based applications.
• Adaptability and a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

Assets

• Enrollment in or completion of LOMA, ALU, or other insurance-related courses.
• A university or college degree in a related discipline.
• Medical education, training, or experience.
• Participation in industry meetings, seminars, or conferences.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and French.

If the successful candidate is in Québec, proficiency in both languages will be required to support clients from various provinces outside of Quebec.

Career Growth

Through broader case exposure, ongoing learning, and feedback, you’ll continue strengthening your technical expertise, judgment, and ability to manage increasingly complex risks.

Development toward a Senior Life Underwriter role will focus on greater case complexity, decision quality, expanded authority, strong advisor relationships, and broader contributions to the team. Progression will depend on demonstrated readiness and business needs, rather than time in role alone.

What Matters to You

• Putting customers first by listening, engaging, and acting for their benefit.
• Learning continuously and finding better ways to work.
• Taking ownership and achieving results together.
• Acting with integrity, doing what is right, and speaking up.
• Supporting a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace.

When you join our team

• We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.
• We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well‑being and inclusion are more than just words.
• As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see

The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy‑related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact [e-mail].

Referenced Salary Location

Canada, Full Time Remote

Working Arrangement

Remote

Salary range is expected to be between

$70,500.00 CAD - $117,500.00 CAD

Employees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact [e-mail] for the salary range for your location.

Manulife offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans. We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence. If you are applying for this role in the U.S., please contact [e-mail] for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.

Benefits and Perks

• Health
• Dental
• Mental health
• Vision
• Short- and long-term disability
• Life and AD&D insurance coverage
• Adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits
• Employee/family assistance plans
• Incentive programs and earnings tied to business and performance
• Paid time off program includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days
• Statutory leaves of absence
• Retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions)
• Financial education and counseling resources

We use data and analytics technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and automated processing tools, to analyze and process the information you provide to us or third parties in the application process. For more information, please refer to our personal information collection statement.