Senior Product Specialist

Canada Life; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 66,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education reimbursement

Health benefits

Mental health benefit

Volunteer day

Pension plan

Employee discounts

Job summary

Canada Life in Toronto (hybrid) is seeking an experienced Product Manager to own health and wellbeing product lifecycle, turning user and client insights into strategic roadmaps and market plans. You will influence cross‑functional teams and external providers to deliver value, manage changes, and drive product success.

The role requires strong analytical skills, stakeholder management, and the ability to navigate ambiguity while aligning with business priorities.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in product management, product development, group benefits, insurance, health and well‑being solutions, or a related business discipline.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex products or initiatives with multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and external providers.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to connect varied information, identify patterns, assess business impact, and develop practical recommendations.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and make sound judgments when established approaches do not fully address the situation.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively, build alignment, and move decisions forward without direct authority.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills, including the ability to simplify complex product, contractual, operational, and market information for different audiences.
• Strong customer and market orientation, balancing client and member needs with business priorities, risk and feasibility.
• Highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, issues, and dependencies in a changing environment.
• Collaborative, curious, accountable, and comfortable moving between strategic thinking and hands‑on execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead lifecycle management of health and well‑being products, focusing on experience, readiness, and performance.
• Turn experience into insight by identifying patterns across client, member, field, and provider interactions.
• Shape product direction with customer, market, competitive, and operational insights for roadmaps and go‑to‑market approaches.
• Assess market, legislative, compliance, contractual, and provider changes and coordinate cross‑functional implementation.
• Manage external providers and governance, service performance, and contract requirements.
• Lead through influence to align internal and external partners across multiple priorities.
• Provide product expertise and translate technical and contractual detail into actionable business guidance.
• Create clear product communications, reference materials, and training to aid usage and understanding.
• Maintain current product documentation and contribute to improved tools and processes.

Skills

Product management

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Ambiguity navigation

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem-solving

Education

Post-secondary degree

Job description

Permanent Full Time

What You Will Do

• Manage products across their lifecycle: Support the ongoing management, maintenance, enhancement, and evolution of assigned health and well‑being products, with clear accountability for product experience, readiness, and performance
• Turn experience into insight: Identify patterns across client, member, field, operational, and provider interactions. Move beyond reporting individual events to explain what they mean, why they matter, and where action is required
• Shape product direction: Bring credible customer, market, competitive, and operational insights into product planning. Contribute to priorities, roadmaps, use cases, enhancements, and go‑to‑market approaches
• Lead product change: Assess the impact of market, legislative, compliance, contractual, provider, and operational changes. Develop recommendations and coordinate cross‑functional implementation from concept through launch and post‑implementation review
• Manage external providers: Build productive provider relationships and support effective governance, service performance, issue resolution, product enhancements, contract requirements, and alignment on shared priorities
• Lead through influence: Bring together internal partners and external providers, clarify decisions and accountabilities, resolve issues, manage dependencies, and maintain momentum across multiple concurrent priorities
• Provide product expertise: Act as a trusted subject matter expert for complex product questions, escalations, RFPs, client needs, and internal decision‑making. Translate technical, contractual, and operational detail into clear business guidance
• Enable the field and business: Develop clear product communications, reference materials, presentations, and training that help partners understand product value, positioning, changes, and appropriate use
• Strengthen product management practices: Maintain current product documentation, identify opportunities to improve tools and processes, capture lessons learned, and contribute to a consistent and insight‑led product management discipline

Who We're Looking For

• Proven experience in product management, product development, group benefits, insurance, health and well‑being solutions, or a related business discipline
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex products or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and external providers
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, including the ability to connect varied information, identify patterns, assess business impact, and develop practical recommendations
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and make sound judgements when established approaches or guidance do not fully address the situation
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively, build alignment, and move decisions forward without direct authority
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and facilitation skills, including the ability to simplify complex product, contractual, operational, and market information for different audiences
• Strong customer and market orientation, with the ability to balance client and member needs, business priorities, risk, feasibility, and provider considerations
• Highly organised and able to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, issues, and dependencies in a changing environment
• Collaborative, curious, accountable, and comfortable moving between strategic thinking and hands‑on execution
• Post‑secondary degree, diploma, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of Canadian group benefits, health insurance, virtual care, mental health, or broader health and well‑being markets
• Experience with product lifecycle management, market analysis, business cases, implementation, vendor governance, or contract management
• Relevant product management, project management, business analysis, benefits, or insurance credentials
• Experience developing executive‑ready recommendations, product communications, training, or go‑to‑market materials
• As this position is posted in several locations, we specify that bilingualism is an asset (fluent in French and English) but is required for Quebec only as the position will regularly serve our clients with French and English‑speaking needs

Given the size and scope of our organization, we have the flexibility for this position to be located in the following head office locations: Montreal, Winnipeg, London, Toronto. This role follows a hybrid work model, with an in‑office presence required three days per week.

The base salary for this position is between $65,800 - $109,700 annually. This represents base salary only and does not represent other variable compensation components of our total compensation ( i.e. annual bonus, commission etc). If you are selected to move forward in our recruitment process, your recruiter will be able to discuss additional details of our total rewards program with you.

Career opportunities will be open a minimum of 5 business days from the date of posting, closing dates will vary depending on the search activity. All applications received will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Grow with Canada Life

We’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the financial, physical and mental well‑being of Canadians. Our company is trusted by 1 in 3 Canadians and contributes to the strength of communities across the country.

We’re looking for people who live our values everyday: we step up, we do the right thing, and we deliver – for our customers, communities and each other. Are you someone who always strives to do the right thing, who steps up for themselves and others, and who delivers with impact? Then we want to hear from you!

What we offer

We’re committed to supporting our employees through every stage of their career. Here’s what you can expect as a full‑time or part‑time permanent team member:

• Career Development: Opportunities for career advancement, access to industry‑leading learning programs and up to$2,000 annually towards education reimbursement.
• Health & Wellness:Flexible health and dental benefits, plus a $5,000 mental health benefit to support your well‑being.
• Time Off:In addition to regular vacation and personal days, we support community involvement with a volunteer day.
• Financial Security:Company‑matching pension plan,share ownership program and additionalinvestment options.
• Rewards and Recognition: Employee recognition programs, service milestone celebrations, employee discounts and more!
• Emphasis on Community: We provide a workplace where employees feel connected and supported through Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), mentorship programs, social clubs and events.

Learn more about Canada Life.

We’re committed to removing barriers and ensuring equal access to employment. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation during the application process may contact [e-mail]. All information provided will be handled in accordance with applicable laws and Canada Life policies.

Canada Life

would like to thank all applicants, however only those who qualify for an interview will be contacted.