Senior Underwriter

Sun Life Financial; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Sun Life Financial as an Individual Life Underwriter, where you'll evaluate applications for life insurance while working in a hybrid environment. You will analyze risk, negotiate decisions, and collaborate with various stakeholders to deliver exceptional service. This role offers significant growth and development opportunities in a supportive culture that values diversity and inclusion.

Benefits

Flexible Benefits

Pension Plan Participation

Stock Ownership Program

Paid Vacation

Care Days

Sabbatical Program

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience as an Individual Life Underwriter.
• Existing Life and Critical Illness signing authorities required.
• Specialized training: ALU certificate preferred.

Responsibilities

• Analyze applications for Life and Critical Illness Insurance products.
• Assess risk and negotiate decisions with reinsurers.
• Liaise with financial security advisors for effective communication.

Skills

Analytical

Judgement

Problem-solving

Decision-making

Influencing

Negotiation

Interpersonal Skills

Detail Oriented

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Underwriting System

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. 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

Looking to grow your career? At Sun Life, our first focus is our people. We partner with you to build YOU. Our underwriting schools and focus on continuing education are seen as industry benchmarks. Our technical training supports your progression on both product knowledge and signing authority. It’s not just about the WHAT, Sun Life invests in the HOW with an emphasis on leadership and core competency skills development. The right combination of training and YOU help Sun Life be industry best.

At Sun Life you’ll get to be part of a supportive culture and community that celebrates each other’s successes and supports one another through learning opportunities. We also offer a hybrid working environment. Enjoy flexibility to work from home and in the office!

What will you do?

• Analyze medical, personal and financial information to evaluate eligibility for applications submitted for Life and Critical Illness Insurance products
• Assess and classify risk. Gather additional information, obtain medical tests or refer cases as required
• Approve cases within authority limit. Submit cases exceeding limits to be co-signed
• Where decisions are unfavourable for the client, try to negotiate a better decision from our reinsurers, in accordance with reinsurance treaties and internal rules
• Liaise with business leaders and advisors delivering exceptional service and expertise
• Communicate and explain decisions effectively to financial security advisors and/or client’s physician as required
• Respond to inquiries from financial advisors and general agents without revealing confidential content
• Document decisions in underwriting system
• Contribute to a positive environment through team work, and a spirit of innovation, continuous improvement and professional development
• Maintain medical knowledge and stay current on underwriting approaches

What do you need to succeed?

• 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.
• Minimum 3 years of experience as an Individual Life Underwriter
• Existing Life and Critical Illness signing authorities
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• Analytical, judgement, problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Influencing and negotiation skills
• Knowledge of medicine and risk factors
• Service-oriented attitude with interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with our internal and external partners
• Proven ability to meet tight deadline, work under pressure prioritizing multiple tasks
• Detail oriented and accuracy
• Specialized training: ALU certificate and commitment to ongoing education with a goal of attaining the Fellow, Academy of Life Underwriting (FALU) and Fellow, Life Management Institute (FLMI) designations

Reasons why should you join us under the sun

• A caring, supportive, and inclusive culture
• Supportive leadership who’s focused on your success and well-being
• Endless growth opportunities with multiple career paths in our dedicated channel, independent channel, high net worth and underwriting risk management teams
• Continuous improvements that focus on enhancing your work and our clients’ experience #makeadifference
• Sustainability commitments to create a cleaner, more inclusive and sustainable future for our communities

We also offer a number of programs and offerings to help our Employees achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives, some of these include:

• Flexible Benefits from the day you join to meet the needs of you and your family
• Pension Plan participation starts immediately, and you are automatically enrolled. We help you save more with Sun Life automatic and matching contributions and by including both your salary and bonus when making contributions
• Stock Ownership Program gives you the chance to invest in Sun Life and get a company match
• Pay for performance reward
• Paid vacation based on experience, 5 Care Days available for self-care or care of others (i.e., family or others you may support) and 10 Sick Days to support your well-being
• Our unique Sabbatical Program gives you the opportunity to take up to 6 weeks off, every five years
• Investment in not-for-profit organizations that are important to you

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! Several work options are available and can be discussed throughout the selection process depending on the role requirements and individual needs.

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:

07/07/2025