Senior Manager, Plans & Programs_Western Canada

Aviva Canada; Edmonton; Hybrid; CAD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Base compensation

Annual bonus

Retirement savings

Share plan

Health benefits

Wellness program

Career development

Vacation days flexibility

Job summary

Aviva Canada is seeking a Senior Manager, Plans & Programs to lead underwriting excellence in Western Canada. You will guide profitability, growth, and performance across Programs and Portfolio Solutions, while coaching underwriters and strengthening broker relationships for sustainable results.

Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing team, drive business development, and ensure governance with policies and risk management practices. Hybrid work model offered.

Qualifications

• University degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• CIP designation required.
• 8-10 years of commercial Property & Casualty underwriting experience.
• 2 years minimum of people leadership experience.
• Experience managing Programs, Portfolio Solutions, MGA, Delegated Authority, or Specialty business.

Responsibilities

• Manage profitability, growth, retention, and underwriting performance of assigned Programs and Portfolio Solutions.
• Ensure underwriting quality, service standards, and portfolio management align with guidelines and authorities.
• Monitor portfolio performance including premium growth, loss ratios, and profitability metrics.
• Provide technical oversight on complex underwriting opportunities, wordings, and coverage solutions.
• Lead and develop a team of underwriters with performance plans and training.
• Build and maintain broker and client relationships; present proposals for opportunities.
• Support portfolio planning, budgeting, and forecasting; monitor monthly/annual results.

Skills

Underwriting leadership

People leadership

Broker relationships

Business development

Analytical thinking

Negotiation

Communication

Decision making

Education

University degree

CIP designation

Job description

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.

Our Global Corporate & Specialty (GCS) business unit has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Manager, Plans & Programs based in the Western region.

The Senior Manager, is responsible for the profitable growth, underwriting quality, and performance of the Plans & Programs portfolio across Western Canada. As a recognized underwriting leader, this role drives business development, strengthens broker and program partner relationships, and leads a team of underwriters in delivering sustainable growth and underwriting excellence.

Combining deep technical expertise with strong commercial acumen, the Senior Manager serves as a trusted advisor to brokers, clients, and colleagues, while coaching and developing underwriting talent and contributing to the continued success of the Programs business.

What You’ll Do

Portfolio Leadership & Underwriting Excellence

• Manage the profitability, growth, retention, and underwriting performance of assigned Programs and Portfolio Solutions business.
• Ensure underwriting quality, service standards, and portfolio management practices align with corporate objectives, underwriting guidelines, and delegated authorities.
• Monitor portfolio performance, including premium growth, rate adequacy, loss ratios, retention, and profitability metrics.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance on complex underwriting opportunities, referrals, manuscript wordings, and coverage solutions.
• Analyze market trends, emerging risks, and portfolio results to identify opportunities and recommend actions to improve business performance.
• Oversee underwriting audits, quality reviews, and remediation activities as required.
• Support underwriting consistency and governance through effective application of policies, procedures, and risk management practices

Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop a team of underwriters.
• Establish performance expectations, annual goals, and development plans that support employee growth and business needs.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, succession planning, and talent management activities.
• Deliver technical training and identify development opportunities to enhance underwriting capability across the team.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture that promotes accountability, engagement, and continuous learning.
• Act as a trusted technical resource and escalation point for underwriting staff.

Business Development & Relationship Management

• Build, maintain, and strengthen relationships with brokers, clients, program administrators, and other strategic partners.
• Lead the development and presentation of business proposals for prospective and existing business opportunities.
• Maintain a robust pipeline of new business opportunities while supporting the growth of existing Programs and Portfolios.
• Conduct broker stewardship meetings, marketing visits, business reviews, and client presentations.
• Identify opportunities to expand profitable business within established appetite and underwriting guidelines.
• Promptly address and resolve broker and client issues to support long-term partnership success.

Business Planning & Operational Effectiveness

• Support the execution of business plans designed to achieve production, profitability, pricing, and growth objectives.
• Contribute portfolio insights and market intelligence to support business planning activities.
• Monitor and report on monthly and annual portfolio performance, identifying variances and recommending corrective actions where required.
• Support budget planning and forecasting activities for assigned portfolios.
• Develop and maintain underwriting authority statements appropriate to team member capabilities and experience.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance operational efficiency, service delivery, and underwriting effectiveness.

Collaboration & Risk Management

• Promote a strong risk management culture and ensure compliance with underwriting authorities, governance standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor portfolio risk exposures and support strategies to improve underwriting results and mitigate emerging risks.
• Partner with Claims, Actuarial, Risk Engineering, CTU, and other stakeholders to ensure sound underwriting and portfolio management decisions.
• Support internal audits, broker reviews, peer reviews, and governance activities as required.

What You’ll Bring

• University degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• CIP designation required.
• 8-10 years of commercial Property & Casualty underwriting experience.
• 2 years minimum of people leadership experience.
• Experience managing Programs, Portfolio Solutions, MGA, Delegated Authority, or Specialty business.
• Strong understanding of underwriting principles, portfolio management, pricing, coverage analysis, and risk selection.
• Proven ability to manage profitable books of business and achieve growth objectives.
• Strong broker relationship management and business development skills.
• Excellent analytical, communication, negotiation, and influencing abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

What Makes You Stand Out

• FCIP, CPCU, CRM, or other professional designation considered an asset.

What You’ll Get

• The salary band for this position ranges from $100,000 – 140,000. Please note that individual salary is determined by factors such as job-related knowledge, skills and experience, as well as internal equity.
• Compelling rewards package including base compensation, eligibility for annual bonus, retirement savings, share plan, health benefits, personal wellness, and volunteer opportunities.
• Outstanding Career Development opportunities.
• We’ll support your professional development education.
• Competitive vacation package with the option to purchase 5 extra days off per year.
• Employee driven programs focused on gender, LGBTQ+, origins, diversity, and inclusion.
• Corporate wellness programs to support our employees’ physical and mental health.
• Hybrid flexible work model.

This job advertisement is for a new vacancy which has been posted both internally & externally.

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.