Senior Underwriter

Sun Life Financial; Montreal; Hybrid; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Flexible benefits from day one

Share ownership program

Pension plan (company matching)

Sabbatical program

Maternity/paternity top-up

Job summary

Sun Life in Montreal offers a hybrid work model with in-office and remote collaboration. As a Senior Underwriter, you will analyze medical, personal, and financial data to determine life and critical illness eligibility, manage risk, and work with reinsurers for complex cases.

The role requires bilingualism (FR/EN) for Quebec interactions and a track record of timely decisions. You will collaborate with internal partners, maintain current underwriting knowledge, and contribute to continuous

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of individual life insurance underwriting experience.
• Signing authority in life insurance and critical illness insurance.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines and manage multiple tasks.
• Bilingual in French and English for Quebec interactions.

Responsibilities

• Analyze medical, personal, and financial information to assess eligibility for life and critical illness insurance.
• Assess and classify risk using underwriting guidelines and obtain additional information as needed.
• Make timely decisions within your authority and refer files for co-signature when needed.
• Collaborate with reinsurers to negotiate outcomes for complex cases.
• Engage internal partners to deliver a client-focused underwriting experience grounded in expertise.
• Communicate decisions clearly to advisors and clients' physicians, explaining rationale.
• Document decisions with clear rationale and maintain confidentiality.
• Promote continuous improvement in underwriting quality, efficiency, and innovation.

Skills

Analytical skills

Negotiation skills

Risk assessment

Medical knowledge

Customer service

Education

ALU certificate

FALU/FLMI path goals

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 Senior Underwriter, you will join one of Canada’s largest insurers. We are recognized not only for our strength in the market, but also for our commitment to our employees. We offer various paths for advancement, including individual life insurance, health insurance, risk management, people management, innovation, and field sales. In addition, we have a strong mentorship program so you can learn from other experienced underwriters. If you’re ready to take the next step in your career journey, while being supported in an environment that values it’s people, their ambitions, and expertise, this is where you belong. Life is brighter under the sun

By joining our team at Sun Life, you can expect:

• A hybrid work environment, offering you the best of in-office collaboration and the flexibility of working from home
• Flexible benefits from your first day, meeting your needs and those of your loved ones
• Our share ownership program and pension plan give you the opportunity to invest in Sun Life through company matching contribution opportunities
• An annual bonus based on company performance and individual performance
• Paid vacation based on experience, 5 care days available to take care of yourself or others (e.g., your family or others you may support), and 10 personal sick days to support your well-being
• Our unique sabbatical program gives you the opportunity to take up to 6 weeks of leave every 5 years
• An investment in non-profit organizations that matter to you
• A maternity/paternity leave salary top-up program so you can focus on your growing family

What will you do?

• Analyze medical, personal, and financial information to assess eligibility for life insurance and critical illness insurance applications, relying on quantitative and qualitative data to make informed decisions
• Assess and classify risk using underwriting guidelines and your professional judgment; obtain additional information (e.g., medical evidence) or refer files as needed
• Make timely and well-founded decisions within your authority and submit files that exceed those limits for co-signature
• Collaborate with reinsurers to negotiate the best possible outcomes for complex or adverse decisions
• Engage internal partners, business leaders, and advisors to deliver an advisor- and client-focused experience grounded in expertise, empathy, and trust
• Communicate decisions clearly and confidently to advisors and, when necessary, to clients’ physicians — explaining the rationale in a respectful, transparent, and easy-to-understand way
• Respond to inquiries from advisors and managing general agents while protecting confidentiality
• Document decisions and related rationales, ensuring notes are clear and concise and demonstrate a thoughtful assessment of risk
• Promote continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to improve underwriting quality, efficiency, and consistency. Also contribute ideas that support innovation, automation, and better outcomes for clients, advisors, and Sun Life
• Maintain strong medical knowledge and stay current on underwriting approaches, trends, and risk factors

What do you need to succeed?

• At least 3 years of experience as an individual life insurance underwriter
• Existing signing authority in life insurance and critical illness insurance
• Analytical skills, judgment, problem solving, and decision making
• Influencing and negotiation skills
• Knowledge of medicine and risk factors
• Service-oriented attitude and interpersonal skills allowing you to work collaboratively with our internal and external partners
• Demonstrated ability to meet tight deadlines and work under pressure while prioritizing multiple tasks
• Specialized training: ALU certificate (or commitment to obtain it), with the goal of obtaining 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

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: 18/11/2026

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 part of Sun Life’s growing team, you have an impact on people in your community and around the world. 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.

Together, we can make the future brighter.