Senior Counsel, Life Insurance

IVARI; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 170,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Health and dental benefits

Pension and employee savings plans

Annual bonus opportunity

Professional development

Collaborative culture

Job summary

ivari is seeking a Senior Counsel to join its small, collegial legal department in Canada. The role provides strategic and day-to-day legal support across life and health insurance, with leadership responsibilities for a team and direct reporting to the Associate General Counsel.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years of relevant experience, strong regulatory and product development background, and a commitment to practical, risk-based guidance in a fast-paced financial services environment.

Qualifications

• LLB or JD degree required and bar admission in Ontario.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in life and health insurance.
• Extensive experience advising on insurance regulatory, market conduct and compliance matters.
• Experience supporting product development, including drafting policy contracts and reviewing marketing materials.
• Experience handling policyholder matters and insurance operations.
• Knowledge of estates law as it applies to life insurance products.
• Strong leadership skills with mentoring and developing teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.

Responsibilities

• Build strong relationships with business partners and provide practical, risk-based legal advice that supports business objectives.
• Lead legal support for policyholder matters and insurance operations.
• Lead legal support for product development initiatives, including drafting, interpreting and revising policy contracts and providing legal support throughout the product lifecycle.
• Lead legal review of marketing materials.
• Work closely with the Compliance department on market conduct matters and regulatory developments.
• Perform thorough legal research to support informed decision-making.
• Stay informed about industry trends and legal developments.
• Provide leadership, coaching and performance management for team members; support special projects as they arise.
• Represent ivari at industry association committees and working groups.

Education

LLB or JD degree

Called to the Bar in Ontario

LSO membership in good standing

10+ years life/health insurance experience

Insurance regulatory & compliance experience

Product development drafting contracts

Reviewing marketing materials

Policyholder & operations legal matters

Estates law knowledge for life products

Job description

Let us introduce ourselves. With 300+ employees across Canada, ivari is a company that’s making a difference in the world of life insurance. How? By finding and hiring employees who are passionate about helping people protect their families, and by giving them the best, most supportive workplace possible.

ivari is part of Sagicor Financial Corporation, a leading financial services provider with over 185 years of history operating across the Caribbean, US, and Canada. We offer a wide range of products and services, including life and health insurance, annuities, pension administration and investment services.

At ivari, everyone is welcome! It is our mission to attract, develop, and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and the communities in which we do business. We offer an inclusive and accessible work environment where all employees and customers feel valued, respected, and supported.

Here’s the job opportunity…

This position is an existing vacancy.

As a Senior Counsel at ivari in this position you will be working in a small, collegial legal department of a fast-paced financial services company, providing legal advice to internal customers in a timely and professional manner, with an opportunity to engage in both strategic and day-to-day business and compliance issues. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced life insurance lawyer with at least 10 years’ experience who is motivated to provide excellent service, is dedicated to continuous learning and enjoys applying knowledge and expertise to financial services in a culture that offers work/life balance.

You will report directly to the Associate General Counsel and be responsible for the leadership, coaching and development of team members. This is a management position requiring strong leadership, mentoring and people development skills.

You will…

• Build strong relationships with business partners and provide practical, risk-based legal advice that supports business objectives.
• Lead legal support for policyholder matters and insurance operations.
• Lead legal support for product development initiatives, including the drafting, interpretation and revision of policy contracts and providing legal support throughout the product lifecycle.
• Lead legal review of marketing materials.
• Work closely with the Compliance department on supporting and advising on market conduct matters and regulatory developments.
• Perform thorough legal research to support informed decision-making.
• Stay informed about industry trends and legal developments.
• Provide leadership, coaching and performance management for team members. Provide legal support for special projects as they arise.
• Represent ivariat industry association committees and working groups.

What we are looking for…

• An LLB or JD degree.
• Called to the Bar in Ontario.
• Membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant working experience, including experience in the life and health insurance industry.
• Significant experience advising on insurance regulatory, market conduct and compliance matters.
• Experience supporting product development, including drafting policy contracts and reviewing marketing materials.
• Experience handling policyholder, insurance operations and other insurance- related legal matters.
• Knowledge of estates law and its application to life insurance products, beneficiary designations and death claims.
• Business-minded, with the ability to provide practical solutions that support business objectives while appropriately managing legal risk. Demonstrated leadership experience, including supervising, mentoring, coaching and developing team members.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven organizational skills with the ability to effectively manage multiple and changing priorities.
• Self-motivated and able to provide timely, practical legal advice to stakeholders at all levels in a professional and client-focused manner. Strong analytical skills to assess complex legal issues.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and build strong working relationships.
• Bilingual reading and drafting skills are an asset.

What we pay…

Salary range: $170,000 - $190,000

What's in it for you…

At ivari, it's important for us to keep our people motivated, recognized and rewarded. We offer competitive base salaries plus a bonus, one of the many reasons ivari is a great place to work.

We also offer health and dental benefits for the entire family from Day 1! But that’s just the beginning. When you join the ivari team you also get…

• Competitive compensation and annual bonus opportunity
• Comprehensive health and dental benefits [for you and your family]
• Pension and employee savings plans with company matching contributions
• Hybrid work arrangement with dedicated in-office collaboration days
• Competitive vacation and paid time-off programs
• Professional development and continuous learning opportunities
• Collaborative culture where individual contributions have visible impact
• Wellness programs supporting physical and mental health

Who you are…

Someone who enjoys a culture where everyone is genuinely respectful, and you can be your authentic self every day. Your contributions and opinions are not only sought but valued. You know the importance of, and live by, our core values of…

• Bringing clarity and focus to your work
• Taking ownership and doing what you say you will
• Remaining flexible
• Collaborating with others

Does this sound like you? We’re looking for great people to join our team!

Our commitment to inclusivity is reflected in the safeguards, policies and commitments we have in place to remove barriers and provide equal opportunities to prospective and current employees, without discrimination.

A Human Resources representative is available to consult with applicants who require accommodation in the application or recruitment process. Any information shared by the applicant about an accommodation will be treated as confidential. If you do require an accommodation, please email [e-mail] .

** ivari does not utilize AI in our recruitment process to screen, select, or assess applicants